Selfishness -- the death nail of any society

I have the chance to come back to North America for nearly 2 months. Its a good time to reflect on many cross-cultural issues, and the future of Singapore.

Americans are self-centered. In a sense, they mind their own business, and think through what they want, and do it without much regards to others. Singaporeans are self-centered. We mind our benefits, and regardless of how others are doing. These are subtle differences.

A Chinese friend of mine recap her story. When she is moving out of a Chinese hostel, she tried to sell her tv. It was only 8 months and she state a pretty low price. A buyer came, likes it, and ask for a $5 reduction. She replied, "Do you think my price is reasonable?" "Yes," and the buyer chuckled. She was mad.

The Americans type of self-centeredness is one which make plans for oneself, without having to tie it down to any other persons. If you like to travel, and prefers to be alone, you are free to do so yourself. In Singapore, you are obligued inform your friends, or risk being branded as selfish.

The Singapore type of self-centeredness is one which care only of your own interests. E.g. if in the interests of helping someone and ended up being cheated, you may be screamed at by your family or close friends for being unwise. "Closely guard your wealth and knowledge, and not to release them easily to outsiders, for people might steal them and turn them to your disadvantages."

In observing the western culture, much of its success and growth has to do with exchange of goods, knowledge, and concern about others. Bureacracy, fear of retribution, and selfishness in Asia slows down these activities. Chinese invented gunpowder and compass but to what avail? We do not share them readily to others and they never get into best use. Sharing is importance for any particularly society to prosper, someone else may succeed more than you, but by sharing, you ensure the entire society will be successful, in turn benefitting yourself.

The diffence between western and asian society is already quite dramatic. I think a lot lies in the willingness to talk about their own inventions, sharing techniques, and helping the less fortunate through charity and education. When you search the net for information about "how to," most of the postings were western.

I wish Singapore would be successful one day. But now I am pretty much convinced we would be lucky to maintain our lead, as long as we do not learn to be less selfish. We need to share information, ideas, and opportunities without too much concern about us loosing out. We need more people of these calibre.