To excuse her behaviour on account of her youth is an insult to all the young people who still believe in honesty and integrity
By SIOW LI SEN 05 October 2009
The BT newsroom last week, as in many other offices all over Singapore, had its share of debate over Ris Low who had been unceremoniously dumped by the organisers of Miss Singapore World. A male colleague wondered what the fuss was, falling into the camp of those who say nothing matters other than her looks.
‘After all, this is a beauty contest,’ he said in exasperation.
But a young National Serviceman said that he was outraged at the idea that someone who spoke English so appallingly would represent Singapore. And when the news broke that Ms Low was a credit card fraudster, that reinforced the younger man’s low opinion of the 19-year-old teenager.
Two men with quite opposite views of Ms Low but representative of the bulk of comments on her.
The fact that the NS guy - who is of a similar age to Ms Low - did not let her looks distract him from holding out for other qualities expected of a beauty queen was - well - refreshing.
It is important to have standards, all the more so among the idealistic young who sometimes like to adopt a cool and cynical pose, though they may not feel like it inside.
Too often, they, and the older set, have the view that anything and everything can be forgiven as long as one is good looking.
For those who champion Singlish, can they picture the image of a translator standing next to her in the Miss World finals, if Ms Low had made it that far.
Let’s be very clear - no one outside Singapore (and Malaysia) understands Singlish. There are many in Singapore who don’t understand Singlish either, but that’s another story.
Another opinion often aired during the sad episode was why put the poor girl down?
The argument was that she is young, and so should be given some leeway; also, credit card fraud is not such a major crime that she should be stripped of her title.
Some young children do lie and steal and are let off but by the time they get to be teenagers, they should have developed a sense of right and wrong.
If, along the way, hurdles such as bipolar disorder, which Ms Low said she suffered from, stopped the development of a conscience, at least now she knows to seek help.
But to excuse her behaviour on account of her youth is an insult to all the young people who still believe in honesty and integrity.
Perhaps it is a sad sign of our times when having lots of money is more important and admired than caring about how it is earned.
Think of last month’s story where a six-year-old girl became a media darling in China on her first day of school by expressing her aspiration to become a ‘corrupt official’ when she grows up. Media reports quoted bloggers as saying the girl was reflecting social reality.
But few noted that, in China, they also execute corrupt officials.
It may not be such a bad thing for Ms Low to have been exposed now for a relatively minor infraction, though it is unfortunate that it took place under the relentless public spotlight.
If not, she may not realise that one actually does have to pay some dues in life, and that, eventually, they always do catch up.
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Real lesson behind the Ris Low affair
To excuse her behaviour on account of her youth is an insult to all the young people who still believe in honesty and integrity
By SIOW LI SEN
05 October 2009
The BT newsroom last week, as in many other offices all over Singapore, had its share of debate over Ris Low who had been unceremoniously dumped by the organisers of Miss Singapore World. A male colleague wondered what the fuss was, falling into the camp of those who say nothing matters other than her looks.
‘After all, this is a beauty contest,’ he said in exasperation.
But a young National Serviceman said that he was outraged at the idea that someone who spoke English so appallingly would represent Singapore. And when the news broke that Ms Low was a credit card fraudster, that reinforced the younger man’s low opinion of the 19-year-old teenager.
Two men with quite opposite views of Ms Low but representative of the bulk of comments on her.
The fact that the NS guy - who is of a similar age to Ms Low - did not let her looks distract him from holding out for other qualities expected of a beauty queen was - well - refreshing.
It is important to have standards, all the more so among the idealistic young who sometimes like to adopt a cool and cynical pose, though they may not feel like it inside.
Too often, they, and the older set, have the view that anything and everything can be forgiven as long as one is good looking.
For those who champion Singlish, can they picture the image of a translator standing next to her in the Miss World finals, if Ms Low had made it that far.
Let’s be very clear - no one outside Singapore (and Malaysia) understands Singlish. There are many in Singapore who don’t understand Singlish either, but that’s another story.
Another opinion often aired during the sad episode was why put the poor girl down?
The argument was that she is young, and so should be given some leeway; also, credit card fraud is not such a major crime that she should be stripped of her title.
Some young children do lie and steal and are let off but by the time they get to be teenagers, they should have developed a sense of right and wrong.
If, along the way, hurdles such as bipolar disorder, which Ms Low said she suffered from, stopped the development of a conscience, at least now she knows to seek help.
But to excuse her behaviour on account of her youth is an insult to all the young people who still believe in honesty and integrity.
Perhaps it is a sad sign of our times when having lots of money is more important and admired than caring about how it is earned.
Think of last month’s story where a six-year-old girl became a media darling in China on her first day of school by expressing her aspiration to become a ‘corrupt official’ when she grows up. Media reports quoted bloggers as saying the girl was reflecting social reality.
But few noted that, in China, they also execute corrupt officials.
It may not be such a bad thing for Ms Low to have been exposed now for a relatively minor infraction, though it is unfortunate that it took place under the relentless public spotlight.
If not, she may not realise that one actually does have to pay some dues in life, and that, eventually, they always do catch up.
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