Utopia

It has been eleven years since I packed my bags, hopped onto a bus, and built a life in this little red dot of an island.  In many ways, this place known for its transparency, efficiency, safety and wealth is the envy of the world, a utopia.  I should not bite the hands that feed me - because indeed it has given me many, many valuable opportunities - but truth be told, we often mock the cocooned world it has become as a result of its success.

A cursory look at the contrasting headlines in today's newspaper tells you the depth of problems its residents deal with, compared with what the world outside grapples with. 

Many examples can be found everyday.  When Malaysians confronted the ruling government for fair elections in May, the local headlines were about the loss of the Prime Minister's dog.  Next to the news about six Hong Kongers being hurt as they struggled against nature in yesterday's number 8 typhoon were an equally large printed space about how the food tray return initiative at local hawker centres had failed.

Of course, we should slaughter some chickens to thank the gods that we live in a place where violent and serious crimes are rare, and when the biggest news of the month is the annual sales.  Believe it or not, I do mutter my thanks quietly to myself every so often.  

What is important to us now is to make sure the kids know, well, what is truly important in our world.  To see beyond the comfort and blessings we have, to be thankful for all the good fortune and conveniences, and to be willing to give back to those who need it.  Travel achieves that in some ways, which is why history and culture is so important when we visit different places.  Only when we know the good and bad, the successes and failures, the right and not-so-right, that we can have a balanced view to make our decisions, in utopia or otherwise.

* HDB = Housing Development Board.  Public housing built by the Singapore government.