Pronunciation: 'E-kw&l

Function: adjective

1 a (1) : of the same measure, quantity, amount, or number as another (2) : identical in mathematical value or logical denotation : EQUIVALENT b : like in quality, nature, or status c : like for each member of a group, class, or society

No one is equal. There is no such thing as equality. Such a society does not exist. Nothing is equal, nor will we ever be equal. Look at the structure of the society now, in this world. Do you see equality? I don't.

Sure, I know that there must be leaders to lead. But there will never be equality. There will not be a time where we will all exist equally, as the same.

That cannot be.

Even in our modern society, in modern cities. Look around you, what do you see? There are the cleaners, the roadsweepers. Then there are those who do not own cars, those who walk, or take public transport. Next, will be those who own cars, large houses on prime grounds in rich districts. Finally, there is the government. I know I'm probably bypassing plenty of other stations along the way, but that is how the structure of our society is today.

Ask any class in Singapore, any student, what they want to be when they grow up, and the immediate answer will be either a lawyer, doctor, or some other high paying job. Some respectable job. No one ever tells you they aspire to be a cleaner. Nowadays, even the term 'artist' is almost unheard of. People want secure jobs. Being a civil servant is easily the most secure income one could come across. Ask them why they do not want to be a cleaner, and they will turn their noses up at you, wondering if you aren't a bit loopy.

That is what life is like. We employ people from Bangladesh, Indonesia, Phillippines and such. Poor countries, with poor citizens, willing to do any job to earn some money. They take the jobs we are too proud to do. They build our houses, shopping malls and pave our roads. They even look after our children, while we go and earn more money so that our children are able to have more toys.

This is how the average parent shows love in Singapore. Their child must have the best toys, the best computer programmes, the best games. While their maid does the washing, the feeding, so much so that they know more about the average Singaporean's kitchen and home than we do!

Don't you think that's sad?

We have become no better than arrogant 'lords' and 'ladies' with servants to do our every bidding. Of course, I'm just being general, but, really, nowadays, almost everything is done by foreign workers.

Aren't you worried that one day, Singaporeans might not even know how to do ordinary tasks such as washing or cleaning?

Some people already don't, anyway. A few weeks ago, I overheard one lady complain to her friend that she 'wasn't trained for marriage (i.e. cooking, cleaning, washing) until she was married'! This woman was already around 30 years old! Don't you think this is a bad sign?

What of the children, those in my generation? Will they grow up not even knowing how to cook the simplest of dishes, simply because when they were young, their mothers told them to 'let the maid do it'?

Now, wouldn't that be a pretty picture? One entire self-sufficient country, full of people who haven't a clue how to keep their own houses clean, and are helpless without their maids!

That sounds awfully comforting.

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