EASIER TO BE A PARENT IN S'PORE THAN IN THE US

Friday January 28, 2005

I refer to the letter from Jason Lee Boon Hong, "Classification is not the answer" (Jan 26).

The crux of his letter is that "parents should accept the onus of inculcating in their children a sense of responsibility and moral or religious values"; the Government should not intervene; and Singaporeans just need to loosen up.

Let me preface my response with some personal history.

I was a Singaporean - I spent my first 21 years in Singapore, and I have lived the past 20 in the United States. I have two children - aged four and six.

I will gladly trade places with Mr Lee if he can ensure that my children get the sense of responsibility and moral or religious values that he has referred to.

I think many of us would agree that the majority of parents all over the world try their best to teach and guide their children along the right path.

However, it would be naïve of us to believe that all it takes to do so is a parent's time and effort.

There are a lot of difficult things in life to deal with - going to work every day to a job that we may or may not hate; dealing with the constant feeling of not "getting ahead"; and a host of other things too innumerable to mention.

However, right up there at the top of the list has to be the desire to be a good parent.

There have been many nights when I have stayed awake worrying how to protect my children from the guns, drugs, violence and all the rest of its kind that is rampant in the US.

I do understand it is a parent's job to ensure that we raise responsible, productive members of society and that we cannot shelter our children from everything.

However, make no mistake, it certainly is a lot easier to be a parent in Singapore than in the US.

The point I am making is that we should be careful of what we wish for.

Though the grass may seem greener on the other side, for example, less government legislation and intrusion, Singaporeans should proceed cautiously.

There is a price to pay for the freedom you desire.

Roy Srini

Michigan, USA

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