The Singapore Prime Minster dishes out dating advice
I had to post this when I perused the Straits Times today after lunch:
*Make time to go out and meet new friends
*Join a dating agency, be it the Government’s Social Development Unit/Social Development Service or a private agency.
*Have realistic expectations. You have to make an effort for the relationship to work.
*Bring your social graces up to scratch. For instance, do not wear slippers when taking your date out for a romantic dinner at a nice restaurant.
*While it is easy to get carried away by romantic images in movies - where you meet someone of your dreams, instantly fall madly in love, get married, maybe have twins and live happily ever after - we are ordinary people in real life. We may not have instant sparks the first time. But you take your time, discover the person for who he or she is, nurture the relationship, and then maybe love may blossom.
Although the Prime Minister’s National Day rally speech covered many other important topics, this is one part that is getting a lot of attention back home.
In true pragmatic Singapore-style, Lee Hsien Loong gives his two cents’ worth on how to date in Singapore. The second point was a must because it’s a civil service plug while the rest are just hilarious.
Who would think of wearing slippers to a nice restaurant? Yes, I think Singaporeans always struggled with social graces but it sounded like a corny example. As I giggled over this with ambien over MSN messenger, she reminded me that this was for everyone to understand. True, he’s not speaking to a bunch of academics.
But, I loved the innuendo on Brangelina — but Mr Lee, they didn’t get married lah — which I agree, what are the chances of nabbing Brad Pitt and baking a pair of twins in your oven?
Because we are just ordinary people in life. Yup, this is certainly part of the Singapore mindset. You’re not special, so work hard, and you can eventually afford an HDB flat, a car, and a family. Maybe an overseas holiday once a year even.
Last night, I tuned into a short segment of the PM’s speech on the Straits Times website and the kangaroo exclaimed, “He sure goes into a lot of detail!” To which I said, “It’s a small country!”
Here are the other highlights we caught:
*The Singapore government cannot keep giving “ang baos” (red packets; in this context, Growth Dividends and Utility Rebates) because these are short term measures.
*The Prime Minister urged his countrymen to work hard because Singapore is unlike her lucky oil-rich allies.
*The ERP (electronic road tolls) rates are up but road taxes are down so more Singaporeans can afford cars.
*Personal taxes are at an all-time low — lower than Hong Kong even.
What are my thoughts on the speech? He addresses everything your average Singaporean might be interested in and does it in a paternal-style lecture that you can imagine on an office memo. This one cracked me up, “Please put emphasis on marriage, on family: Make these your priorities, have a full and happy life.”
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August 19th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
Yup, it is interesting to see how PM Lee ended the speech with the advice on Singaporeans leading a full and happy life.
August 19th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
It’s quite common to hear Singaporeans complaining and being unhappy. I always feel Singaporeans tend to be a bit negative about life in general. Maybe it’s because it feels hard to obtain the comforts of life…
August 20th, 2008 at 9:15 am
Thanks for the interesting read. I have to agree on your comment, that Singaporeans complain a lot! I am guilty and very aware of that myself. However, after having lived in Paris, and NYC at different stages of my life, I have to say that I still find Singapore an easy place to live in. Mainly because we are a small country, efficient, and safe from natural disasters and crime. However, being a small country has it’s down sides too. For example, education system may be excellent; and we have produced many scholars and such, but if you look at the new generation on the whole, our people are NOT street-smart, aware, curious and motivated in life. This may be due to the fact that Singaporeans’ lives are (made to be belived), very small…and perhaps securing a decent 9-5pm job, working hard for the HDB and the typical family is what life should be about, whether one is happy or not. Personally, I do not see this as a good quality of life, but if the “Boss” PM Lee says that it is, then it is, and from the start, we have already been trained as “robots” from school, so why should we be different now? Why be risk takers and be brave? In all honesty, I do not support this, and I do hope that situation would change in time to come…
August 20th, 2008 at 9:59 am
I totally agree — Singapore is an easy place to live in but I think a lot more thought should be put into other areas besides education.
I mean, look at the Olympics. As usual, the media will tear into why we cannot produce our own sporting talent and have to rely on foreign talent. My parents did not encourage me to take up any extra-curricular activities, let along sports — all they wanted me to do was to study (and I am sure many others were in my shoes). But it was to my detriment because I became very awkward socially and only picked up interpersonal skills when I started working.
Yup, HDB+car+kids is not a formula for everyone. I can see how it works for those who would thrive within it, but it’s not the only path in life.
I think as Singapore progresses and even more foreigners flock over, I am sure such global influences will help us evolve to think wider and be less risk adverse.
August 20th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
aye, what did he say about Brangelina? With the conservative asian mindset we have here, i don’t think he actually wants to see a lot of brangelinas, having ten kids without having the proper marriage formula ah! heehee…
as for the “you are ordinary people” and “lead a happy life”, it seems sad that to lead a happy life, we need to have the HDB and car and family and work hard thing…but then, we must remember he is talking to the community in general…not just the mavericks (!)
August 23rd, 2008 at 1:31 pm
LOL
What a funny one here!!
“For instance, do not wear slippers when taking your date out for a romantic dinner at a nice restaurant.”
What if we wanted to have a romantic dinner by the beach where thongs are a must…
hmmmm
This is cool. I will go find this speech online.