Singapore Democrat, 4 Nov 2008, Chee Soon Juan
Historic. Inspirational. Change.
These are the words used to describe Mr Barack Obama's election as the 44th President of the United States.
Historic because only a few decades ago, black people were not even allowed to occpupy the front of the bus, let alone the White House.
The Reverend Jesse Jackson who was at the side of Dr Martin Luther King, Jr when he was slain by a sniper's bullet watched Mr Obama give his victory speech with tears streaming down his cheeks.
Inspirational because Mr Obama reached across a broad section of American society and appealed for support across the demographics of race, age, gender, and class. He called on the better nature of his fellow citizens to support his message of hope for a better America and a better world.
But of the three, change is what most signifies this election. It is the one most important thing that Americans wanted in electing their new leader. The faces of anticipation and determination as voters stood in line, many for hours, just to cast their ballot; of awe as they realised the historic nature of the election; and of jubilation as they heard their President-elect invite them to “join in the work of remaking this nation.”
Elections, true democratic elections, are more than just choosing between politicians. The ability to get involved in the process, to campaign for the party you support, to openly congregate to debate the issues, and finally to see your vote make change is gratification that defies quantification.
It builds pride in one's country and support for the institutions that provide stability. It bonds a people, it encourages change.
Can we in Singapore find anything to learn from all this? Listen carefully and we just might:
“And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn,” the new leader says, “I may not have won your vote tonight, but I hear your voices. I need your help. And I will be your president, too.” In Singapore, our government refuses to build lifts that stop on every floor for the elderly because one of its candidate is not voted in.
Mr Obama points out that the “true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyielding hope.” In Singapore, our leader measures his success by the number of billions he accumulates in the reserves.
The new president exhorts his people to look forward to the future because change “cannot happen if we go back to the way things were.” The true genius of America, he extols, is that "America can change." In Singapore, when we talk of change our government never fails to remind us of the Maria Hertogh and Hock Lee bus riots that happened more than half-a-century ago.
America elects a 47-year-old leader who promises: “I will listen to you, especially when we disagree.” In Singapore, we prop up an 85-year-old who declares: “We do what is right, never mind what the people think.”
In America, people come together to argue, to celebrate, and to change. In Singapore, the police arrest you and the judges imprison you.
While Americans take pride in their vote and protect that right jealously, we in Singapore look nervously over our shoulders and wonder whether our votes can be traced.
While Mr Obama lifts up his people: “Yes we can,” our government pounds down: “No you cannot!”
While Americans tonight all over the world celebrate their nation, Singaporeans cannot wait to leave theirs and our youths profess no loyalty to this island.
Fifteen years ago, I wrote a book called Dare To Change. I warned that without change we will pay the price of progress. Fifteen years hence, our government continues to refuse contemplating change.
Change. It's not just a word, it is the key to survival. Americans know it, the world knows it. But Singaporeans are still too frightened to embrace it and fight for it.
But change is one of those things that will seek us, even if we don't seek it. The difference is that when change comes involuntarily, its consequences don't bring promise.
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