IS GRACIOUSNESS all about clearing plates and trays at public eating places only? To be a gracious society, we have to have wholesome, gracious residents, be they citizens or otherwise.....
Selfishness often overrules graciousness, and to mould a gracious society... we have to look at the foundations - within a family first.
I was at Parkway Parade foodcourt on a Sunday afternoon with my two young children, waiting patiently for empty seats. As on most weekends, it was very crowded. I spotted two empty seats and decided to approach the man next to them to see if he could give up another seat, on which his bag was placed, to us. To my surprise, he replied bluntly: "No, I need to put my bag there.".
I asked again if he could put his bag on the floor as there were only two seats, but there were three of us. However, his answer was a straight "No".
Such selfish acts serve as negative examples to the younger generation. How are we going to move towards a gracious society?
Seats not given up to pregnant ladies or mothers with young children on buses, as everyone pretends not to see them; dog owners allowing their pets to poo on pavements; people throwing cigarette butts on the floor, spitting and even snorting their mucus out of their vehicles while on the road. These selfish acts are seen and experienced every day, everywhere. When a young child is being exposed to such negative experiences every day, how can they still uphold good values? They will soon start to learn that selfishness is a way of life, and that "if everyone is doing this, why can't I?".
Our school teachers are trying very hard to instil good values to students through civics and moral education, and surely parents themselves have a part to play. However, with parents who are negative examples to their own children, how can we then shift from being a less gracious to a more gracious society?
Our youth are our future, but they too need proper guidance when they are young and eventually, they too will become guardians. We must break away from this vicious cycle of being less gracious, and each and every individual's effort is necessary. Parents, therefore, are the best guardians and persons to guide society along the path towards graciousness.
