Singapore's stage managed "happiness"

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As recent as Jan 9, 2013 Singapore has been found in respected international surveys to have earned the dubious distinction of being the saddest country in the world. Please see article in Forbes magazine, 1/9/2013/ "The Happiest and Saddest Countries in the World" http://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherhelman/2013/01/09/the-worlds-happiest-and-saddest-countries-2/2/

If that wasn't enough they also have the double honors of being the least emotional people in the world, please see Guardian newspaper article of 11/21/2012, Guardian newspaper reports "Singapore is the world's least emotional country in the world" http://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/nov/21/singapore-least-emotional-country-poll

But here is where the advantage of having a state controlled media comes in. You can literally not only write anything you want, in Lee Kuan Yew's dictatorship, you can instantly turn the saddest people into the happiest in the world as well!

And not unexpectedly, Singapore state controlled newspaper the Straits Times of Oct 31, 2013 reports "Singaporeans seen as happiest among residents in four Chinese majority countries". Please see http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/singapore/story/singaporeans-seen-happiest-among-residents-four-chinese-majority-terri.

I quote "More than half of all Singapore respondents saw themselves as the happiest while a third chose Taiwan".

And as proof of their astounding claim they have conveniently published a picture of beaming faces of ethnic Chinese Singaporeans at the last national day parade proudly waving Singapore flags and grinning from cheek to cheek. What they have forgot to tell as is that these convenient characters are all card carrying members of Lee Kuan Yew's ruling party and they would have got up that very instant and done the foxtrot on the spot if that was what was demanded.

And what is not conveniently mentioned of course is the perks that go with such performance in the  orchestra; perhaps more secure jobs, career promotions and more money and benefits all around. Surely for such benefits, it is not too much to ask to smile broadly for the camera and wave a few flags!

I remember seeing such happy faces carrying their state flags in unison in another place. It was a picture of North Koreans on their republic day. They too appeared very happy indeed and I am sure they would have no problem claiming that their citizens are the happiest in the world too.

Since no mention is made of the other races who also happen to be living in Singapore, I am confident that if it is necessary to prove that they too are the happiest, that too can be arranged by lining up the necessary Lee Kuan Yew card carrying ethnic Malay and Indian members with the necessary photograph to prove the point.

 

Audience members cheering at this year's National Day Parade. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND LUI

Gopalan Nair
Attorney at Law
A Singaporean in Exile
Fremont, California, USA
Tel: 510 491 8525
Email: nair.gopalan@yahoo.com     

                                        

 

 

Audience members cheering at this year's National Day Parade. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND LUI

 

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