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Gratitude, idealism not mutually exclusive

A dichotomy between gratitude for the past and present and an idealism about the future is assumed and presented in the letter “Be grateful, S’poreans; do not seek unrealistic ideal” (Jan 15).

A dichotomy between gratitude for the past and present and an idealism about the future is assumed and presented in the letter “Be grateful, S’poreans; do not seek unrealistic ideal” (Jan 15).

This recurring trope that exhorts Singaporeans to appreciate what they have instead of agitating for or working towards a future where the status quo may be different strikes me as problematic.

It assumes gratefulness for the past and yearning for change to be mutually exclusive. This could not be further from the truth.

I identify as what the writer would term an unrealistically idealistic Singaporean, and I do not dispute her attribution of Singapore’s achievements, and what privileged citizens can enjoy today, to the pioneers and those who made the status quo what it is today.

Most of us can be thankful for and proud of that legacy and narrative. However, should this preclude me from having ambitious ideals for our shared future?

Gratitude for this country’s foundations is not synonymous with resting on our laurels.

The writer emphasises the high standard of living; indeed, our predecessors’ work has allowed for many, though not most, to be satiated with wealth and material goods.

However, standard of living cannot be conflated with quality of life — one’s well-being beyond the purely material dimension — which includes happiness as well as one’s sense of belonging and community.

The existence of the former cannot negate the necessity of the latter, and it is no one’s place to undermine the legitimacy of seeking the latter, especially for those on the margins of society.

I am relatively young, but in my observation of our dynamic world, it seems that progress of any form is rarely attained by maintaining the status quo.

The Singapore narrative, forged by our pioneers from its conception to now, is premised on seeking an ideal that seemed unrealistic at the time; trails are not blazed by adhering to the footpath or by being contented with how far one has come.

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