Tuesday, May 16, 2006

Problems

Last week at around 6pm in the evening,I was having dinner at Bishan's Junction 8 food court. I needed the early dinner to rush down for a class nearby. As I was about to finish my bowl of Yong Tau Hu, I heard a loud thud at the entrance of the food court. A strong gust of wind had blown down a metal stand which was holding 2 large signboards and it was by then, blocking the entrance of the foodcourt.

A middle aged women sitting next to the entrance, looked away, seemingly oblivious to the obstruction lying on the floor under her nose.

"Daddy, I go and pick!" A little boy squealed enthusiastically to his father.

"Don't go and pick! Not your problem you go and pick for what?!! You want to invite trouble is it?" admonished the father.

As I finished up my food, I stood up, walked over to the entrance and picked up the metallic stand, so that I could make my way out of the foodcourt. The little boy ran over and picked up the signboard for me.

As I walked away, I thought about the women and that little boy's father. Sometimes, people can be so indifferent to the problems that exist in our world. These problems are not created from their own side and they look away expecting someone else to solve those problems.This in my opinion is the greatest flaw of mankind.

When we litter, that piece of tissue does not vapourize into thin air. When we refuse to flush, that piece of crap does not swim down the pipe on its own. Some of us are programmed to think that we do not have to take responsiblity of these problems because someone else will always be there to claim responsibility and solve it for everyone. I doubt that these 2 people would do anything if a bomb exploded in their neighbour's house.

It is hard to imagine how our society will progress if everyone do not take ownership of the problems evident in front of our very own eyes.

So fuck all these people who are waiting for others to clear the mess that they had created...

"The world is a dangerous place. Not because of the people who are evil; but because of the people who don't do anything about it."-Albert Einstein

Posted by Kenneth at 4:53 PM