Switzerland

MM Lee (bless his soul and may peace be upon his name) mentioned something about Singapore being neat and tidy like Switzerland. what's wrong with being like Switzerland? i was watching this travelogue thing and the guy was in Switzerland. it brought back fond memories of my brief time there.

that place has so much identity. its people are such warm people. granted, they are blessed with the beautiful Alps and cows. but it's the people that makes the difference. they are efficient yet warm and personnal. so who says that it is not possible to have a heart while being efficient?

and they have so many international brands. banks, pharmaceuticals, etc. why should Singapore not aspire to be like them? so... again, rather than only aspire to bring in the best shows in the world, the best companies in the world, let's have our own, let's start exporting our own brands, our own high and pop culture. let's set the trends, let's be trailblazers, rather than just follow what other people do.

and when i say export culture, i don't mean PCK the musical. that is trying to copy others. why another musical? why not do what the blacks did in America and invent our equivalent of jazz? do something that NO ONE has done and have everyone the world over want to emulate us. Japan did a great job with their anime. let us create for ourselves our equivalent of anime, of jazz. let THAT be our buzz!

Singapore. a tiny little island. a land of much constraints, many contradictions. a tiny place. a place i call HOME.