Uniquely, Not Unique!

I have always thought that the thing most unique about Singapore and Singaporeans is that we are NOT unique. At first instance, this may sound like an oxymoronic statement.

Singapore is a small nation but so are at least 50 other nations, eg Brunei, Cyprus, Luxembourg, etc (ie population of less 1.5 million). Singapore is indeed a multi-cultural metropolis but so are Australia, Malaysia, US and UK.

Just in case you think you detect a pinch of demission, it is not. On the contrary, as a Singaporean, I am extremely proud of the fact that we are ordinary. At the recent Olympics in Beijing, two rather ordinary looking blokes - Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt achieved what most would consider super-human feat. In every aspect, they are just like you and me - and yet they are able to perform extraordinarily.

So what is unique about Singapore? Through our ordinary people, our one-party government, and in spite of our limited landscape and almost no natural resources we are able to make a little red dot perform extraordinary feats and if I may further indulge in my metaphoric reference to the two olympians, in record breaking time too.

I take pride that we are uniquely not unique.

Crosby Ong
(Please excuse my poorly updated blog)

Yes, I'm Singaporean! Blog Contest
Check out other Singaporeans at mySingapore.sg

Eulogy: Lawrence George Garlick, 1930-2008

Aunt Margie, John, Sue, Julie and other members of the Garlick family.

We only lost Uncle Laurie a few days ago and despite the fact that I am about eight and the half thousand kilometres away from him, I already missed him. I am sure we will miss his quiet presence, the smile and laughter of the gentle giant and the exemplary way of life of an ordinary hero – I most certainly will.

He probably did not know how much he inspired me as a husband, a father, a grandfather, a friend, a gentleman, a Christian in his unassuming ways. The most extraordinary thing about him was how ordinary he was. He was able to celebrate life without pomp and pizzazz. He exuded so much warmth, kindness and love. I have always felt in him, a certain inexplicable conviction and resolve in the God he believed. The way he handled his disease that plague his last days bore witness to all these.

Every day when I turn-on my PDA, I am greeted with my favourite quote from a book written by John Le Carre entitled The Russia House, “Today, one must think like a hero to behave like a merely decent human being”. Uncle Laurie was my hero. Uncle Laurie, thank you for sharing your home, your family and your life with me.

Aunt Margie, John, Sue and Julie, I grieve with you. I will miss chatting with him over the phone. I will miss hoping that I will see him again either in Singapore or in New Zealand. I will miss his calm, soothing voice. I will miss his jokes and laughter. However, in his honour I will continue to live my life like he did. Like him, I shall learn to live and behave like a merely decent human being.

May his God bless and keep Laurie Garlick, and his family he loved so much.