Took a cab yesterday and met this really old uncle. He had Yishun sign on the front. Got on and asked if he was going home. He told me he was not feeling well so would like to just travel nearby his house at Yishun. Then he said sometimes he just felt like dropping dead and he would be better off. Told me he got a baby to take care of, a 70 years old baby, his wife. He himself is 74 years old. Got 2 sons that cant help both of them at all. When he asked for social financial help from the government, they are not eligible. Cos he is working and has got 2 kids. So the scheme needed both of them to be jobless and no children. Anyway, he said the amount is only 200 over dollars. Which cant even help him pay the one room flat at 100+ yishun. He is driving taxi 18 hours or more a day and already cant afford to pay for both their medical expenses. His wife can no longer walk and she crawled everywhere in the house.
When I got down my fare was $4 plus, I gave him $10 and asked him to keep the change. I think that was the smallest amount I can do so as not to hurt his pride. I climbed down as he insisted on giving the change. Then, after I was further down he opened his door and shouted thanks. A small amount yet he was so thankful. Give that to one of my ungrateful niece and I would rather grind and eat it myself.
At this era in Singapore, I would think none of this would be happening. Yet, it is so real and it's happening under our noses. For everyone here, money is a problem, everyone is blatantly in debt. Blame it on the children? No, blame it on the need of money that forces everyone in Singapore to be that selfish. Of course, there are rich people that are still not taking care of their parents, but that is not the point. It's not about can but dont want to, it's about want but not able to.
