I refer to the article, "Have we become a nation of numbers?" (The New Paper, 20 Apr).
Is our daily life measured, guided and governed by quantity? Our usual and typical conversation revolves around subjects like money-generating stocks, bonuses, sought-after condominiums, top-ranking schools, examination marks, latest handphone features, and their like.
Our society is so obsessed with quantity that we pile mountains of food on our plates at buffets and eat like the hungry ghosts in the seventh month. It's no wonder my colleague from the UK says people here live to eat.
In the A-level results announced in March, we witnessed students crying their hearts out, not because of poor scores, but because they had lower grades in comparison to their classmates. These days, our students' objective is to pass examinations, not learning.
Living in a life of quantity has repercussions for our young, who demonstrate an ill-mannered, calculative mentality and inconsiderate behaviour, and who doesn't feel a sense of shame or responsibility, even after causing the death of someone.
Has our remarkable economic progress turned us into a nation without substance and character?
There's an old maxim: Those who live by the gun, will die by the gun. Businesses that preach numbers will die in the name of numbers.
Similarly, those live, eat, sleep, breathe and obsess with quantity, will also die and eventually be buried by quantity.
This really gets me thinking. I am still thinking.
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