On my way to work on Friday, I got off the train as usual at Tanjong Pagar MRT to the sounds of a man shouting on the platform. He was in a wheelchair, and was addressing the crowd that was in and around the lift. They were not giving way for him to enter the lift. He continued to speak loudly and gesticulated for the able-bodied commuters around him to use the stairs and escalators. I told a Train Security attendant what was going on and her reply was "He should wait, there are many customers, you know."
I think commuters and officials have forgotten why the lifts were installed in MRT stations in the first place - to give the handicapped access to public transport. Built to provide a smooth exit from stations to adjacent buildings, as in the case at Tanjong Pagar, able-bodied commuters have come to take advantage of this convenience too. However, they forget when to give up this privilege or even ignore the needs of the handicapped. Worse still, the response from the Train Security attendant implies that right of use of these these purpose-built facilities rests with able-bodied commuters.
Looks like we have a long way to go when it comes to being gracious and putting the needs of others before our own.
3 comments:
the term "gracious singaporean" is a myth. it does not exist. because of rising taxi fares, I decided to take bus last month, and I was already 7 months preggy and looking like an elephant, I had to shamelessly ask for a seat.. I usually don't but my back was aching. So, the moral of the story is, we are like China and HK.... we have to fight to get it lor. what to do! In China, there is a "Wen Ming" (be gracious,m be cultured) campaign, maybe we should have it as well. :)
that's what happens when you stifle individual thought for the betterment of the economy, but detriment to the social dynamics... of the whole society.
how to forget the initial campaign that spawned this whole "gracious society" rubbish - the courtesy campaign & singa the courtesy lion. well singa has no pants - sorry but how to be courteous much less gracious when you run around in public without any pants on?
summary of singaporeans - such a joke.
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