Sights of Singapore

National Day - 09th August 04

It's the nation's birthday in another 9 hours. What amazing progress we have made as a nation for the past year. We got through the frightening SARS & fought it; standing unified as a nation.

There are definitely images that belonged exclusively to Singapore. I was at Bedok interchange's food centre this morning. An elderly & feeble man came up to my table and shoved me 4 packets of tissue, 4 for a dollar. I gave him $1 and took the tissue packs. Also, I saw another elderly man going around the tables to pick up the aluminium drink cans that the diners had finished. I reckon he's collcting them for the meagre cash he's able to get by selling them to recycling companies.

I'm sure these aren't unfamiliar scenes to most Singaporeans; cos i'm sure all of us had the chance to dine at a food centre at one time or another.

Sometimes, i wonder if these elderly folk have a place to stay or the food centres are their place of rest every night. Don't they have children whom can feed & clothe them sufficiently, so that they wouldn't have to peddle tissue packs at food centres at the risk of falling & shoving around by inconsiderate crowd.

Have we done enough for these old folks? Have we imparted the correct morals to our future generations on how to treat the old folks? We are fast becoming a nation with ageing population, are we ready for the challenges; as we celebrate the nation's 39th birthday?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SINGAPORE !!