AUNTY AGING CREAM

In his 1996 New Year Message then Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong highlighted the need for Singapore to become a gracious society by the 21st century. He emphasised that Singapore should not only continue to develop its economy, but should complement it with growth in personal development and in social behaviour. Interestingly, is to measure how much, we have changeD in the the last 13 years towards gracious living.The recent issue of “Who are you calling auntie” in ST stirred some interest in me ( eeerrr my age group I mean ). Though quite frankly, I have not been addressed as auntie yet by hawkers and newspaper vendors ( so some monthly budget on anti aging cream / supplement was worth it) but I am sure in a matter of a year or two, it will come, inevitable. Let me try to tackle this my very best and hopefully something gets done and I get the title only from my lovely nieces and nephews and friends’ children. In our attempt to move towards being a gracious society , I believe in making small changes in our daily routine. Calling some strangers aunties or uncles though, in local terms, is loaded with respect and affections? could be appaling to some people like me. The simple truth is, the word auntie conjures up an image of an older woman with permed hair , who talks loudly in public places, + weird sense of fashion . My apology. Worst is , a blanket approach used, by calling someone older , slight or much older than yourself, aunty. What lies beyond the bounds of logic however ,is, when someone older, address me as auntie. Where is the graciousness in that? Let us start with Sir and Mam ,mmmm that sound better and more respectful too.