Dimsumdolly

the different morsels of the life of a foodie

To the polls…not

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Today, many Singaporeans are off to the polls. Unfortunately, because I didn’t register in time as an overseas voter, I’m not able to vote today. I’ll be struck off the electoral list for not voting this time and will have to write it to get reinstated again for the next elections.

It’s been interesting reading all the news about the rallies and speeches. Frankly, politics is tough business and I give a pat on the back to anyone who dares to stand up and run for office. Even to those whose rhetoric I do not buy.

One of the books I’m currently reading is “The Singapore Story” by Lee Kuan Yew. What spurred me on to read it was because I realise I didn’t know details about Singapore’s road to independence. I had this book many years ago but had forgotten most of it. With this year being as special as it is, what with LKY’s passing, the many SG50 celebrations, the spectacular National Day parade, and the general elections, it made me want to revisit the book and refresh my memory. I think it’s important to know the history to better understand the existence of the laws, policies, institutions and statutory boards we have in Singapore today.

From what I’ve read, those were tough but interesting times. A great time of change where a bunch of disparate people came together to build something from scratch.

On Monday I was chatting with some colleagues and one of them asked, “If you could go back to live in a certain time period, which would it be?” One said he wanted to go back to the times of the Industrial Revolution where it was possible to make a huge difference to the world with a certain invention, e.g. the rail road, and also earn heaps of money in the process. Another colleague said he would like to be a mediaeval knight as the Mediaeval Age were when knights had a strict code of honour and would go around meting out social justice. It was a simpler time. Two others said, why not remain in the present? Today we have all this wonderful technology.

I said I would like to go back to the 1960s as it seemed like a fun era. The 60s seemed like a time where many new ideas and technology sprouted. The music was fun, think the Beatles. Popular culture was on the rise, with TV and movies becoming mainstream entertainment. Politically, there was lots of change around the world such as the civil rights movement of the blacks in the US. I love the fashion – retro prints, shift dresses, boxy jackets, capris etc. Plus it was an era where women were beginning to take more greater roles in society and were given more opportunities in educational institutions and the workplace.

On the way to work this morning, I also thought, “You know what? It’d have been great to be in Singapore in the 60s. It was still somewhat of a backwater, but it was an exciting time of change, a fight for independence, and the coming together of people of different creed and race to build a nation.” Due to Singapore’s economic necessity, women were given opportunities to be educated and employed. I’m thankful to have been born a girl in Singapore, as opposed to somewhere like India!

While I’m not able to vote today, I hope the next government in charge will put in place policies that will render Singapore a more inclusive society, while continuing to build on the progress the country has made thus far.

Happy Polling Day my fellow Singaporeans!

Author: DSD

Contact me: dimsumdolly@gmail.com.

One Comment

  1. Pingback: Daily SG: 12 Sep 2015 | The Singapore Daily

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