Why not look inwards?

MM (may peace be upon him) said something in parliament today which i felt that i had to respond. he said that we should look to draw in the best shows from all over the world to give singapore its buzz. my question is: should we not look to make OUR shows the best shows in the world? should we not be pouring our efforts and energy into making 'Made In Singapore' shows, art, culture, etc. what people, cities, countries, civilisations the world over want to import and emulate? should we not devote our energies into becoming the net exporter of pop and high culture, of becoming the trailblazers? i think that that is what makes the great cities great.

just look at america. why is it great? because a) it has the money, b) it has enough firepower to blow you to kingdom come and c) it is able to get people the world over to buy into its culture (of McDonalds, MTV, Hollywood, etc.).

if Singapore is to become great, then we need to be the trailblazers and come up with things which other people would want to emulate. and i do not mean tangible goods. i mean culture. the day that we get brits and americans speaking singlish, we would know that we are a great country. the day we get the brits and americans the world over dying to eat char kway teow instead of a burger, then we know that we are a great nation. can that be done though?

i believe it can. i believe we can.