woah, i just read beedict's blog, and there's so many points i agree with! lol great minds think alike.

anyway, point is, he talks about singapore culture, especially regarding qualities that EVERYONE chases after blindly. like leadership. EVERYONE wants a leadership position, EVERYONE thinks you should be a leader, EVERYONE lauds this way misunderstood quality and blindly worships it. you're lousy if you're not a leader. you suck if you follow in someone's footsteps.

i used to be very quiet see. okaay, i still am now. my primary and secondary school report cards ALWAYS said things along the lines of "sweet, smart, cheerful, but needs to participate more in class and speak up". all these 'mild' qualities my parents couldn't appreciate, they only saw the part about needing to speak up, and express youself, or take the lead and be bold. i ALWAYS got irritated about teachers asking me to speak up and my parents asking me to speak up. nowadays it seems like being quiet is absolutely WRONG and everyone should just blatantly express whatever thought comes to their mind. who cares if that just ends up creating this gigantic chaotic world of noise and half-formed ideas? like leadership, where there must be good followers, the world needs good listeners too. so some people who think their oh-so 'creative', 'bold' and 'daring' should just stop deluding themselves and start learning other important traits like listening and reflection as well.

i especially dislike locals who go abroad to study, then they come back with fake accents and say, "the system there is SO different. singaporeans are so meek, singaporeans should be more creative!"

firstly, ditch the fake accents.
secondly, there's nothing wrong with being a good follower.

of course, things must always be done in moderation la. just like a leader obssessed with power becomes a tyrant, a follower who simply blindly obeys becomes a doormat. there are skills involved in following too y'know.