Lava Flow

Onboard my usual SBS Bus Service Number 147, after an appointment in Chinatown, some ladies in their mid-thirties or so boarded the bus. I was among the few standing on the right side of the lower deck, where the middle right portion is for standing passengers. As per the most common sight, the rear of the lower deck could accomodate more, but few passengers bothered to shift in. The 3 or 4 ladies squeezed their way through to the rear end, voicing aloud in Mandarin "See, the rear still has so much space, why do the rest don't want to shift in?"

Nothing spectacular, amazing, fanatic, crazy - just the normal day-to-day scene in public places, especially for public transport, less the loud comments that some dare or are crazy enough to make. But the word is that the crazier ones are those who don't spare a thought for others. And the craziest ones are those who always have words of being gracious, or those parents who teach their children about grace, courtesy, politeness etc but YET don't practise the exact qualities themselves, sometimes even demonstrating the exact opposite right in front of their children.

Should our home be a starting point for parents to inculcate those desired qualites in children? Or should we leave it to the formal and official educators in the schools? Nevertheless, it's essential that parents should set a example for their children to follow. This brings us to the focal point: Are parents leading a good example? Are the young parents of our modern society doing the right thing? Good intention there might be, but the style, delivery and approach might be going way too off.

To be fair, there are indeed kind souls right here who bother to offer their seats to the elderly, handicapped, pregnant ladies, or ladies carrying their beloved baby etc. There are parents who bother to constantly "drum" in the classic teachings to their kids. The usual saying goes "YOU pay peanuts, YOU get monkeys". Parents' efforts in educating and bringing up their children would be shown and proven ultimately, though years or many years later.

I seriously wonder when we would see that our SBS buses need not allocate designated seats to the elderly/pregnant ones and display prominent signs for "us" to offer the seats to the former. When that day comes, then I can proudly "declare" that OUR society has indeed progressed, in the humanity aspect. 2020? Am I too far fetched here? A big NO, I don't think so. We are not that different from our counterparts in SEA, Asia, US etc. But the environment(not the physical environment as in geographical surroundings) and ambience differ. And that is a major obstacle for us to conquer, that is if we aspire to progress to a more gracious, compassionate and accommodating society.

DREAM 2020?

Whoever unaware of the above-mentioned charity show must be ignorant of the happenings around him. Every commercial interval on TV broadcast, radio broadcast, TV mobile, newspapers, magazines and almost any other mass media approach is utilised for this and past alike events.

I don't wish to be just ranting on and on about the Charity aspects of the show etc. But is it getting too commercialised and monetary-based nowadays? Almost all the publicity I saw on TVs is about the enticing lucky draw prizes that "donors" have opportunities to "place their bets" on - from the luxury dream car to the extra cash based on past donations.

"What a great casino to begin with, way before the integrated resort/casino is even given the green light here."

BUT, the touching videoclips, showing some of the victims of the various diseases, during the length of the Charity Show, drill into the hearts, minds and conscience of the audience (both present in the auditorium and those with their tearing eyes on the TV screens). The figures shoot up.

BUT, the "incredible stunts, tricks and magic " that the participating celebrities engage in, with emotions and atmosphere running high, with idols of a significant proportion of Singaporean youths and teenagers, the figures shoot up again. With an even "greater" rate than the previous?

From a marketing viewpoint, several rounds of applause given. Emphasize the "monetary gains" dangling before the show, then throw the "emotional and conscience bomb" during the show, then wrap it up with "give it a try if you haven't, the prizes are waiting for you" for 1 or 2 weeks after the show.

So how many donors wait for charity shows before they donate? How many donors donate for the "right" reasons? How many donors "donate" back the prizes they have won? How many donors do beyond "calling and smsing"?

AND is the service charge imposed by the Telcos "reasonable" for a "Charity Show"? Do I remember wrongly that during the Tsunami Crisis, the service charge was not imposed? Do I remember wrongly that the minimum amount of donation via sms/call has always been increasing? Do I remember wrongly that till now, I haven't sms/call in once yet to make my donations?

I await eagerly and enthusiatically the SHOW when I would make my donations willingly. Would that appear in front of me soon? Not when the mindset of typical Singaporeans remains the same or deteriorates.

Challenge me if you may wish.