butterfly__________

Saturday, May 06, 2006
10:08 AM

An indian lady , with tears in her eyes,asked people to go into her house and look at her living conditions. One chair. No tv. No fan. No table. No radio. No nothing. Her husband had lost her job and couldn't find one for 2 years already. They pawned everything they had so that life can continue.

A man, three children, one wife with cancer. The eldest daughter had to work continuously for 5 months before she could start school at her poly because she was unable to pay her school fees. Sleep is a rare luxury to the man, because he works in the day, works in the night, in order to provide for the family.

He starves everyday in school and gobbles down bread once he gets home because he does not have any allowance. His dignity does not allow him to borrow money. He is 12.

I have not experienced any of those. My heart aches.

3 youths tried to rob my brother last night. They were filled with tattoos. They asked my brother what model his handphone is. My brother told them Sony Ericsson. They said, "Give me the phone." My brother stared at them. A fight almost started. Fortunately, my smart brother called the police and asked his friends to come and help him.

What is happening to the social and moral values of youths of this country? You would not know, because you are in a sheltered family, with money, with food, with warmth. What about those youths we will never get in touch with our in our entire lives. Except perhaps I would, because my brother has all these friends.

True, I have a wonderful family. My parents work hard, part of the working class ,to provide for us. I am thankful that God gave us a good government that brought Singapore so far. Noone said anything to discredit it. I am afterall a product of this country.

No words. No proclamations. How does one know the other care?
Only assumptions.

No leader is unfallible. I can tell you that.
No one is perfect. It's only when everyone plays a part, that democracy prevails, that our country continues being a good country. Our country.

Go ask your parents how hard they work.
Do you even see them regularly? Talk to them?
Do you know how difficult it is to pay bills on time?
Do you know the feeling of the being unable to pay your fees on time?
The helplessness. The uncertainty. The lack of assurance.
You wouldn't. What about others?
I for one know that my parents work extremely hard to pay the bills on time, worried sick everyday that they might get sick, because there wouldn't be money to pay for the medical bills. Hence my paranoia towards illness.

Humans indeed have greed and over-ambitions.
Which is why both sides need to ensure that they have lesser of greed. Or the non-existence of it.

Mr Low Thia Kiang said at the rally last night," Ferdinand Marcos of Phillipines became corrupted . He eliminated all the opposition parties. Phillipines did not used to be like this. It used to be rich and vibrant, until him."

Do you know that the females in Phillipines did not used to have to be maids?
How about one day you and me become maids too in other countrys? Being far away from your families? Exploited? I don't know about you, but I sure would not want to be a maid.

We have to try our best to prevent that from happening.How? You know the answer.What's with size? What's with our brains? Surely you know how to DISCERN. Surely you are able to JUDGE.

Integrity.
Dignity.
Motivation to help the country.

Rallies are useful in helping you understand all parties's take on Singpaore's status quo and future.
They tell me alternative views about happenings.
They help me to weigh my options.
By showing up, I am at least saying that I care about my country. Perhaps you care too, but in a different way.
They make me realise the sad and pitiful things that happen around me and I am so oblivious towards them.

About 60 000 turned up at Serangoon last night. 100 000 at Hougang.A little lesser at Yishun, the fervour is not lesser. Bus 853 to Serangoon. Car to Ang Mo Kio. Bus 11 due to the jam. 8 hours of standing. 5cm of mud caked my legs. Tears of pity. Mood of anger. Confusion. Enlightenment. Gratefulness. Hope. Hope. Hope.

For a better future.

butterfly___________