I drift slowly in the vast expanse of wind, air, wind and music. The sound of windchimes mingles with my thoughts as the pen nib eases its way across crisp paper. I am free, my mind drifting between the melodious voices of stories waiting to be recovered and telephone directory thick stacks of paper, filled with words like 'surface runoff', 'rioting', and the verses of poets long dead and gone.

I close my eyes and drift, quite happy and content to remain where my mind is anchored. However, it is brought back down to earth with a sharp jerk when my eyes are caught by the heading 'Give us a break' in the newspapers.

Allow me to quote: 'It is time for the Government to take action to address the situation and give the people relief from their difficulties.'

--Yong Yit Kuen, Today, May, 12, 2003.

Yes, stop pointing those fingers of accusation at the Government everytime some other stupid thing goes wrong! This was found in the 'letters' section of the Today paper. My dear fellow, are you aware that this is, in fact, called the 'letters' and not 'complaints' section?

Yes, I know, the Government is supposed to help us, help the country, don't worry, I know. I am also aware that these are difficult times for Singapore, what with SARS, the economic downturn and all the rest of it, but for the sake of heaven, hell and everything in between, don't go complaining to the Government everytime something doesn't work out in your favour!

Now then, perhaps this gentleman did have a valid point to complain about, as his 'letter' was about the fare hike and how much more it was costing to get to work everyday. It's just unfortunate that he ended off his 'letter' by telling the Government to 'take action' to 'give people relief from their difficulties'.

That is just wrong.

We shouldn't be running to the Government everytime something goes wrong or we don't like this new rule or that new law. That's exactly like a young child running to his father everytime someone annoys or bullies him! Of course, as always, the father will protect his son. But, as we grow older, you notice that we gradually grow out of this habit, don't we?

Singaporeans, on the other hand, have had an identity, a country for thirty seven years, and we're still running back home whenever we aren't happy. It happens very often here. Singaporeans never take their own actions, never make the first move. They have an extremely long list of complaints to file; ranging from the most foolish suggestion of putting up signs to warn people not to sneeze or cough in the trains (this was sometime last year), to extending this year's June holidays, to the SARS quarantine.

Singaporeans appear to be very self-centred. It's always about me, myself, and I.

"Oh, I'll just forget about the SARS quarantine, I can't miss my favourite movie!"

"Never mind about that! Write a letter to the Government and they'll take care of it!"

"Hey! Extend the June holidays! I don't have enough time to go out with my friends!"

Don't Singaporeans sound like spoilt children? The Government does all it can to give us a better life. Lee Kuan Yew fought to give Singapore her independence, our forefathers died because they believed Singapore should not be controlled by invaders from a foreign land.

Our Government has been fathering us for thiery seven years. Thirty seven years of meetings to ensure Singapore would be able to succeed in the world markets.

Thirty seven years, and this is how we repay them? With talks of migration and silly suggestions that cannot work out or do not make sense?

True, we do not have everything. We do not have freedom of speech, and our markets are too small and competitive to allow any new businesses to come in. We follow trends like children following strangers with sweets-blindly.

But we are a nation. They fought for this, and this is how we thank them? With complaint after complaint when a tiny matter is out of place?

Very few of the 'letters' I've read truly offer constructive criticism. Very few. Too few to reassure the Government that we are a thinking society and not a group of blind mice.

We are a nation in name only. We use Singapore as a stepping stone. Many being thinking of leaving as soon as the weather turns bad. We are fair-weather friends.

No wonder Lee Kuan Yew was worried we wouldn't be able to cope with hardship-this economic downturn is hardship for our pampered nation.

Perhaps we need to be taught a lesson. Perhaps the Government has helped us too much. Perhaps we need to question our own loyalty to this country, our actions. Perhaps we need to ask ourselves what being a nation is actually about.

What does being a Singaporean mean to you?

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