Lost generation or future leaders: Our call
By Verghese Mathews
The Straits Times - 30 Dec 04
Review

THE word tsunami has so unexpectedly and so tragically become an emotive word in our personal lexicons. We are all deeply affected, one way or the other, and the tragedy, coming as it did at the end of the year, is a dramatic reminder of our individual and collective fragility when faced with nature's anger. We are humbled and a myriad of fleeting thoughts flash through our minds, particularly of our sheer impotence when pitted against the wrath of the elements.

Even some unrelated phobias are bared by this tragedy. I am reminded of my daughter and my son - young adults who could have been in Phuket or elsewhere that fateful morning but were not. I think of their friends - other people's daughters and sons.

I think of all the young Singaporeans I do not know and probably never will. I fear for all of them and tell myself that natural calamities can come suddenly upon them, and pray that if such should be their fate, they will be able to manage or cope with the devastation to their and their neighbours' lives.

In Singapore, our geographical location shields us from most natural disasters. We also have a truly efficient and effective system that can cope with disasters.

I know this for sure and, hence, what I earnestly pray for in my heart and soul is that in their natural search for fulfilment, typical of the eternal search of all youth, our children can be spared the tragedies which are brought about by their folly, their ill-preparedness or their lack of moral courage.

More importantly, I fear that there is another type of calamity for Singapore if our youth grow up to be just like us, when what they have to cope with is a vastly different environment, and ill-preparedness can be as disastrous as any tsunami.

I ask myself whether as parents, as teachers, as priests and as political leaders, we have prepared and equipped the younger generation with the skills to recognise calamities that can be avoided. Most importantly, have we prepared them to be morally courageous, a trait without which being able to think critically would be more academic and, indeed, self-serving?

Alternative views

HAVE we, with our misplaced intentions to protect our children, unwittingly or even deliberately passed on to them this culture of never questioning authority, not expressing alternative views, not challenging conventional wisdom? In the process, and in our eagerness, have we raised a nation of excellent doers and learners, like us, and stopped short of a nation of meaningful and effective critical thinkers we ourselves could have been?

I met a group of very bright and confident young people the other day. They will go places, they will win awards and they will do their parents proud, but I honestly could not tell whether I was looking at the lost generation or the young people our political leaders hope will bring about this 'thinking' renaissance in Singapore - young people ready and willing to challenge the sacred cows and question conventional wisdom.

Maybe it was because I did not know them personally that I could not tell the difference. Maybe they are all adept at critical thinking, but will they voice their considered views?

In recent months, I have many a time heard this call asking our young to speak up and be counted. My heart goes out to these young people every time I hear this. I ask myself whether once again we are placing our heavy carts before their unsteady horses? Are we expecting them to risk their careers and their youth without first preparing them for their role as critical thinkers and challengers of ideas? Are we confident, first and foremost, that an environment for constructive criticism is in place? Are we not placing unfair demands on our young if such an environment is lacking?

These are questions we need to answer in our individual minds but that would not be sufficient. More importantly, as parents, as teachers, as priests and as politicians, let us become role models ourselves by expressing clearly and candidly the fruit of critical thinking. Let us show our young that this can be done politely and constructively, and that some lives will be the better for it.

I am confident that there are many young critical thinkers in our society who are testing the waters. I know several of them - these are our immediate hope. Let us help them. Let us speak up - we have to, if we love our children and our country.

-- The writer, until recently Singapore's Ambassador to Cambodia, is a visiting Fellow at the Institute of South-east Asian Studies. The views expressed here are his own.