张老师谈“新加坡人‘笨’吗？”

台湾有个叫李敖的家伙，骂我们笨，然后又“澄清”说，新加坡人只是‘种’不好。
很难相信，有人会无聊到这种程度。
我不会想加入反驳或者唾骂李敖的行列，因为没有必要作无谓的争辩。
新加坡人笨不笨，不用一个李敖来判定。
我们自己能够反省，不对吗？

我们的‘种’来自五湖四海，所以我们是一个移民社会。
有人会认为，这样遗传下来的人种就不够“纯”，但这真的有关系吗？
建国的几十年来，几代国人一步一脚印地耕耘，有了今天的成就已经足以为证。
我们未必都很聪明，但是我们够卖力。
勤恳、踏实的作风，比耍小聪明更能够经得起考验。

我们是制度的奴隶吗？
新加坡是一个非常讲究法制的国家，甚至有人调侃我们是一个"fine" （罚款）city。
但试想想，倘若少了制度的基础，社会的秩序从何而来？
没有社会秩序，人们连最根本的安宁生活都无法确保，谈什么社会的进步？
也许，我们有“错”的地方，在于我们有时候过于拘泥制度，表现得太死板和缺乏创意。

奉公守法，和“笨”还是有差别的。

I cannot agree with Li Ao's statement about Singaporeans being "stupid".
In my opinion, what he has expressed is a rather narrow-minded opinion which shouldn't stem from a self-professed learned man as himself.
Being law-abiding is not euivalent to being stupid, though I cannot deny, Singaporeans are sometimes prisoners of our over-adherence to the "system" which indeed inhibits creativity to an extent.
To be fair, this is NOT "stupidity" per se.
And with regards to Li's further "clarification" that Singaporeans are not stupid but are of inferior "seed" , I once again beg to differ.
We are a migrant society no doubt, our forebears come from many sources to congregate on this island, building it up to what we see today.
The effort is in itself highly commendable.
For Li to take a blanket sweep of affairs by declaring our "seed" as bad, it is equivalent to denouncing the sweat and blood our forefathers poured into nationbuilding.
This, I find most impudent.

Having read the entire report on Li Ao's statement, I am very amused indeed.
And by thinking through the whole issue, Ｉmust say I am still very proud to be Singaporean.