A Positive Difference

Dear friends who have been actively engaging my thoughts and sentiments, (TC, Oxford Dude, Angelina, Adrian, sgcynic, , Miss Liberty, Singashadow, Anlibeth, Wai Tuck, skeptic, Tan SM)

First and foremost, i would like to sincerely thank you for taking your time to read my 2 cents of personal thoughts and feelings about my views on life and Singapore as a young Singaporean.

I understand and empathize with the frustrations you go through, the bread and butter issues, i am no scholar nor do i come from a well to do or perfect family, but just like you all, I am Singaporean. I struggle with family and finances too.

I was lamenting to my friend recently that i found it extremely depressing when 90% of the comments i see here have been very angry and negative. She replied to me that Singaporeans are a spoilt and complain alot.  I found this to be justifiable considering the negativity I have received when i share my personal views. Before anyone gets all angry first.. WAIT till you finished reading my whole message!

I share a facebook post, credits to C.E below and bring to attention certain areas which jumped out at me..

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Recently, there was an article on CNN about anonymous bloggers coming out story. They featured a few bloggers who have been anonymous until recently. They decided to reveal their true identities for a variety of reasons.

The recent incidents don’t just give us insight into how the world has changed today. In the past, we had writers write using a pseudonym because of reasons like gender. Today, some bloggers have been hiding behind the mask of anonymity for also a variety of reasons.

Recently, a judge ruled that Google had to give up the name of one of their bloggers on Blogspot. First amendment rights people are probably screaming foul!

We’re so consumed by the idea of freedom of speech, opinion and our rights that we forget something. Spidey’s uncle Ben puts it best “With great power comes great responsibility”. So where’s the power you might ask? If there’s no power in the written word, why do we have a saying that goes “the pen is mightier than the sword”, or why do we still have contracts that bear the written word?

If the written word wasn’t powerful, why did the Nazis go after German students who were writing and distributing pamphlets that went against their values?

Whether we are hiding behind the mask of anonymity for whatever reasons, we have to remember that what we write does carry power. It carries the power to influence.

I often meet people who tell me how frustrated they are that our newspapers in Singapore are censored. I smile and say that we as a society as a whole lack the maturity and the social consciousness to write and read objectively. I am glad to a certain degree that my home newspaper is somewhat censored. Even with the degree of censorship, I have witnessed how journalists here in Singapore have not been socially responsible.

So why am I writing about this now? I was recently reminded of what Martin Luther King said “Our lives will end the day we become silent about things that matter.”

This matters to me because as a trained journalist who had to take courses in ethics, law, writing, inter-cultural communications, human communications etc. I feel saddened whenever I come across a writer who totally has no respect for the written word and uses it callously.

Maybe they don’t teach what I learnt in journalism school anymore. But I sure remember that my professors taught me that as a writer, my words carried power. They taught me that because it carried power, I had to learn to know what kind of responsibility that carried.

Don’t undermine the power of the written word. Take time to process what you read, ask questions. Ask why did the writer pen down what he/she wrote. Ask what actions, emotions or thoughts can be a result of the author’s writing? Ask, on what basis did the author base his/her writing on? Ask, why should you change your point of view? Ask, on what basis are you basing your point of view on?

Good writing is never derogatory. Good writing provokes thoughts, questions, emotions, actions.

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Below are the 3 points that really impacted me when i read my friend’s post. Deep down, this is what i truly feel about sharing my views here and engaging yours as well.

1) we have to remember that what we write does carry power. It carries the power to influence.

Just as how you and I are able to share our thoughts freely, what we say has the power to influence. Every comment, every post, with it your words carry weight. That is why i always value everyone’s views and thank you for them, even the negative ones.

Ultimately, I am not sure whether it is “cool” to just agree with all the negative sentiments, or whether it is to avoid being blasted by other netizens for saying something positive about Singapore.

But the fact is that this is our country! Rather then bathe in the pool of negativity, why cant we still be objective and positive, remind ourselves about the good that Singapore has but yet still work on her flaws and see our lives and our country improve?

Any psychological research shows that a positive mind is better in any situation over a negative one. Half empty all we see is doom and gloom, but being half full we keep the faith and see this country transform into one we can be proud of to call our home. One that your children and my children, your families and mine will call Home and cherish.

2) I was recently reminded of what Martin Luther King said “Our lives will end the day we become silent about things that matter.”

Even when faced with this multitude of negative sentiments, I choose to believe that you air your views because you care about this country. Our country. It concerns our livelihood, our friends, our families. And that at the end of the day, this is our lot.

When i travel to third world countries, i always wonder why I was born in Singapore and not these other countries? Why am i given an education and my basic needs all taken care off? Why do i have so many opportunities compared to those who struggle to find their next meal? Surely I am blessed so that i can be a blessing to others.

These are the things that matter, the poor we see in our estates, the less fortunate families or even the outcasts of society. Instead of waiting for someone else to help them, why dont YOU join me and make a positive difference in their lives.

Whether it is youth at risk, the homeless, autistic children, single mothers or even humanitarian missions in third world countries. You and I have the ability to be pro-active and transform Singapore and this world.

From volunteering at a VWO, NGO, a charity or initiating a community project, I have learnt not to underestimate simplest efforts can mean so much to someone else.

3) Don’t undermine the power of the written word. Take time to process what you read, ask questions. Ask why did the writer pen down what he/she wrote. Ask what actions, emotions or thoughts can be a result of the author’s writing? Ask, on what basis did the author base his/her writing on? Ask, why should you change your point of view? Ask, on what basis are you basing your point of view on?

Last but not least, i hope with the above statement, you dear readers can see where i am coming from. Just like my friend C.E, i am someone who believes in Singapore, Singaporeans and truly I care about this country i call Home. And i want it to be a better place for myself and my children.

Yes we want to see Singapore changed, but the best place to start is with ourselves. And that these sentiments we share, good and bad, we can translate them into positive action.  And i hope you dear readers would join me in being this positive change.

“To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived this is to have succeeded.”
- Ralph Waldo Emerson