A polite reminder
Little attention was focused on Singapore Kindness Week this year. To be frank, the majority of Singaporeans were probably not even aware of the event last week.
It may sound like another piece of social engineering but in this case it is a much-needed one, I say. After living here for more than three years, I am still not used to the lack of courtesy displayed by the average Singaporean.
The National Courtesy Campaign was first initiated in 1979 by then prime minister Lee Kuan Yew. The aim was to create a pleasant social environment 'with Singaporeans considerate to each other and thoughtful of each other's needs'. Television commercials, sitcoms, school activities and competitions during the year helped raise people's awareness of the need to be courteous and considerate in various social situations. This annual campaign was officially merged with the Singapore Kindness Movement in 2001.
I do not know how bad the situation was 20 years ago, but I can confidently say many improvements are still needed. While there is no doubt that most Singaporeans are pretty generous with their wallets when it comes to donating to charities and helping each other, they are less gracious in their day-to-day behaviour.
One typical example is their unwillingness to give up their bus or rail seat to those in greater need. Only a few days ago, I (nine months pregnant) was pushed aside by a middle-aged 'gentleman' boarding a bus. He then proceeded to rush to the only available seat, sat down and closed his eyes, a popular technique, along with being absorbed in a newspaper. Also, the sight of me having to lift a child and pushchair up some stairs with a second child in tow does not warm hearts, let alone get anyone to open a door.
For a nation that aspired to provide a first-class service, courtesy is not evident in shops, where most employees seem to think that asking for a size not on display is a crime. The American 'smile' may be forced, but it is something most tourists have come to expect, and Singaporeans should be aware of it as they position themselves on the tourism map.
What is most surprising is that children are certainly taught social graces at school. From an early age, they are encouraged to be kind and courteous towards their friends, and say 'please' and 'thank you'. I am delighted by the progress my three-year-old has made in the local school environment.
Unfortunately, children are more likely to copy their parents' behaviour and somehow the transition to adulthood seems to erase those basic niceties.
