Once upon a time, when this Lycan met his more-than-a-decade kindred friend for dinner at Botak Jones in Braddell, we agreed that even when one is elite, avoid being elitist. Being elitist, as per our own Hokkien translation, simply means being ‘kwai lan’ [Hokkien: obnoxious].
I would classify the following as an example of elitism or being elitist, even though I suspect my kindred friend may disagree.
Excerpts [Today Online 20.04.2009]
… Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong was in earnest as he advised this participant, and the other 80 or so youthful participants at the dialogue session with Young NTUC, to be flexible when job-hunting in a downturn. He urged them to “take up any job that is available”, as there would always be “opportunities to upgrade later on”.
Say an employer asks why you’ve not been working for the past one year – do you answer that there were “no jobs available”?
“Employers will not believe because there are always jobs available,” said Mr Gan. “Employers will think … if in a crisis situation you’re willing to sit at home and do nothing, it means that you’re not flexible.”
For instance, Mr Gan revealed his “dream job” had been to teach, but the closest he got to it was as Minister of State for Education.
Friend Auntie Fang commented that this is as good as Barack Obama saying, “his greatest wish was to be the President of the High School Chess Club and the closest he end up is being the President of the United States.”
I burst out laughing. Yet at the same time I remembered during a recession not too long ago, a particular spawn of the Lim clan who then happened to be NTUC Chief and Mini$ter Cho-Bo-Lan of No-Portfolio (not the current one), said he could not understand why people on the edge of desperation would not even take up $800 jobs while foreign workers from China are jumping on it.
My answer then to him then was this: Do something to lower the cost of living, and Singaporeans will be a lot less fussy about the jobs and salary. Unlike Kiam Gan and his fellow mini$ter$, we aren’t the highest paid people in our respective lines in the world. Everyone, even the youngsters, basically look for jobs that would cover more that just the cost of living, or else it would be nothing but a pathetic existence which is all work and no… life!
On top of which, if Gan is really so keen about being a teacher, perhaps he should pray very hard that he will lose the next election. When that happens he can sign up to be a teacher or even start his own tuition centre. Even better, is that he lose to the slipper-man, and that will allow some kids to boast to their peers: Look! My teacher was the mini$ter who lost to slipper-man!!
Jokes aside, if Gan really lost in the elections, and the economy is so bad that he can’t even manage to be either a teacher or a tutor (impossible for a top calibre Tali-PAP mini$ter like him), Gan can still do what he preaches by signing on as a janitor in a school and wait for opportunities to upgrade later.
Frankly, there’s no greater encouragement than being a living example! Gan can prove to us he has what it takes! I am pretty damned sure he will be stayer and won’t just quit on us by migrating!
Recommended Reads:
Terence69: AWARE Wasn’t Aware
The Itch To Write: DBS publicly criticises AWARE’s new Head
Well thanks to our government for setting “suck” a nice direction to advocate luxury lifestyle on our young generation. Our “monie$-ter” probably failed to release that whatever they are facing now actually reflects largely on themselves.
My point is, our “pride-monies-ter” cannot run a country like running a corporation although both entities shared many similarities and strategies, ultimate we are the citizens of a country, not an “employee” of a country.
If our “pride-monies-ter” and “monie$-ter” continue to work only for $$$$, emphasize nothing but $$$$, and all out nothing but $$$$, than what we see today is just the beginning ……. and I won’t be surprise our “monie$-ter” will soon forget what they say today
*LOL* He should change his name to Gan Dua Pao. Though personally, I believe just the very smug thought of considering yoursel a elite is already being elitist. And I think the better phrase to use is “Lao Lan”.
At times I believe its just pure inability to understand people on a basic level. Having always (or for a long time) been in a position where there is no worry anymore about the basic needs for living in a society like Singapore, they are unable (or are no longer able) to feel the ground on which the people whom they claim to represent, tread. Its similar to the idiocy of having drivers design or plan public transport for pedestrians. Few people if any, are able to look beyond their own level of experience, joy or pain to truely understand the needs of another.
Whenever we read, hear about or watch an heir presumptive (as opposed to an heir apparent) being placed in a corporation’s most basic job level and working his way through the ranks and file to reach the top, we naturally gain a certain respect for this person. We naturally lose this level of respect for the same person, if he “forgets” where he has been before. And watching an heir apparent hold the reins of power and make idle claims about caring for his employees, naturally makes most people’s skin crawl.
If only we can make our “leaders” go through a similar process. While being able to see the big picture is a good trait to have, not all of us can relate to that big picture (even if we can see it), when we are faced in a daily struggle to manage our small pictures everyday. And if your big picture is only going to make me look at small ugly pictures all my life, its only obvious I’d have a natural desire to shove that big picture of yours where it anally belongs.
Terence69´s last blog post: AWARE Wasn’t Aware