~Harlows~

How's everyone been? After a few months of being buried 6 feet deep in work, I've finally decided to set up a new blog. Guess the previous one conked out because they didn't pay the bills. *sigh* ... the least they could do is let us know in advance so we could redirect our posts elsewhere. Oh well, no point grumbling about the love poems and witty articles that faded into oblivion. I'll just have to write new ones ... hee.....

A blog is a powerful means of communication. There's really no point in saying that it's a private diary. Take the WSM saga for example. A few of my colleagues were rather upset at the tone of her rebuttal to Derek, the MNC manager. As usual , the green, black and whites would become blue and black from all the flak and battering by the general public about the insensitive folks who were born with a silver spoon and live in their own dream world and have their needs served on a plate.

I hail from the GBW camp but I was born with a wooden bowl rather than a silver spoon. I do acknowledge that I'm indebted to public funds, no less, for the wonderful education and exposure that I enjoyed and took for granted in my schooling days. However, without trying to play down the sobriety of the topic, my own take on this is that the lady is still very much a sheltered teenager who has yet to understand Derek's concerns completely. For that matter, the concerns of many Singaporeans whose rice bowls are vulnerable to the influx of skilled foreign talent.

Surely the focus should not be about the silver spoon that stirreth her storm in a teacup. Rather, we could examine what's really brewing and try to spice it up to add a bit of flavour to it. (Did I just say value add? Occupational hazard .....) With all the education I have received, I cannot be certain that I will be employed for life either. However, I do know that our Gahmen has been trying to introduce schemes via the WDA and other agencies to enhance the employability of our citizens. It would be inevitable given our open economy that there will be an influx of brilliant aliens, whose IQ and capabilities are simply out of this world, to join us. Isn't it better that they are on our side rather than against us?

Having said that, I guess we do need to examine our own definition of the poverty line and what really are basic needs. We have more millionaires around us (wish I knew more of them) but there are also more uncles and aunties who are either applying for aid or suffering silently. I was really touched when I read about the widow who decided to donate a sizeable portion of her donation to the needy. Really a remarkable gesture indeed.

My grandparents would be content with having 3 meals on the table daily. My folks would want to do that and bring us through the necessary education to be able to fulfil their parental duties. Anything else would be a bonus. Guess that's what Derek was talking about? Or did he mean being able to support a hefty mortgage, tuition, swimming and ballet lessons for the kids and an expensive car to boot?

Methinks I would probably understand Derek's position better soon. Give me a few more years. I may see things differently by then too.