> Subject: Wisdom from Lee Kuan Yew's Daughter> > >
My house is shabby, but it is comfortable > There is no end to wanting - after the Ferrari and the> Birkin bag, what next? > By Lee Wei Ling> >
In 2007, in an end-of-year message to the staff of the> National Neuroscience Institute, I wrote: 'Whilst boom> time in the public sector is never as booming as in the> private sector, let us not forget that boom time is> eventually followed by slump time. Slump time in the public> sector is always less painful compared to the private> sector.' > > Slump time has arrived with a bang. > While I worry about the poorer Singaporeans who will be hit> hard, perhaps this recession has come at an opportune time> for many of us. It will give us an incentive to reconsider> our priorities in life. > > > Decades of the good life have made us soft. The wealthy> especially, but also the middle class in Singapore, have had> it so good for so long, what they once considered luxuries,> they now think of as necessities. > A mobile phone, for instance, is now a statement about who> you are, not just a piece of equipment for communication.> Hence many people buy the latest model though their existing> mobile phones are still in perfect working order. > A Mercedes-Benz is no longer adequate as a status symbol.> For millionaires who wish to show the world they have taste,> a Ferrari or a Porsche is deemed more appropriate. > > The same attitude influences the choice of attire and> accessories. I still find it hard to believe that there are> people carrying handbags that cost more than thrice the> monthly income of a bus driver, and many more times that of> the foreign worker labouring in the hot sun, risking his> life to construct luxury condominiums he will never have a> chance to live in. > > > The media encourages and amplifies this ostentatious> consumption. Perhaps it is good to encourage people to spend> more because this will prevent the recession from getting> worse. I am not an economist, but wasn't that the root> cause of the current crisis - Americans spending more than> they could afford to? > I am not a particularly spiritual person. I don't> believe in the supernatural and I don't think I have a> soul that will survive my death. But as I view the crass> materialism around me, I am reminded of what my mother once> told me: 'Suffering and deprivation is good for the> soul.' > > > My family is not poor, but we have been brought up to be> frugal. My parents and I live in the same house that my> paternal grandparents and their children moved into after> World War II in 1945. It is a big house by today's> standards, but it is simple - in fact, almost to the point> of being shabby. > Those who see it for the first time are astonished that> Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew's home is so humble. But it> is a comfortable house, a home we have got used to. Though> it does look shabby compared to the new mansions on our> street, we are not bothered by the comparison. > > Most of the world and much of Singapore will lament the> economic downturn. We have been told to tighten our belts.> There will undoubtedly be suffering, which we must try our> best to ameliorate. > But I personally think the hard times will hold a timely> lesson for many Singaporeans, especially those born after> 1970 who have never lived through difficult times. > > > No matter how poor you are in Singapore , the authorities> and social groups do try to ensure you have shelter and> food. Nobody starves in Singapore . > Many of those who are currently living in mansions and> enjoying a luxurious lifestyle will probably still be able> to do so, even if they might have to downgrade from wines> costing $20,000 a bottle to $10,000 a bottle. They would> hardly notice the difference. > > > Being wealthy is not a sin. It cannot be in a capitalist> market economy. Enjoying the fruits of one's own labour> is one's prerogative and I have no right to chastise> those who choose to live luxuriously. > But if one is blinded by materialism, there would be no end> to wanting and hankering. After the Ferrari, what next? An> Aston Martin? After the Hermes Birkin handbag, what can one> upgrade to? > Neither an Aston Martin nor an Hermes Birkin can make us> truly happy or contented. They are like dust, a fog> obscuring the true meaning of life, and can be blown away in> the twinkling of an eye. > > When the end approaches and we look back on our lives, will> we regret the latest mobile phone or luxury car that we did> not acquire? Or would we prefer to die at peace with> ourselves, knowing that we have lived lives filled with> love, friendship and goodwill, that we have helped some of> our fellow voyagers along the way and that we have tried our> best to leave this world a slightly better place than how we> found it? > > > We know which is the correct choice - and it is within our> power to make that choice. > In this new year, burdened as it is with the problems of> the year that has just ended, let us again try to choose> wisely. > To a considerable degree, our happiness is within our own> control, and we should not follow the herd blindly. > > The writer is director of the National Neuroscience> Institute. > > > > >
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