I was really amused and disappointed by a short forum letter found on the newspaper on Wednesday, 13th of February. A reader wrote in his fears that Ah Meng's decomposing body, being buried near the Seletar Reservoir, would contaminate the water supply.
I felt that this was a very very insensitive letter. Many people are saddened about Ah Meng's death, so many attended her funeral. It is extremely untimely to be thinking about something like this during this period and even writing to the forum to aggravate grieving people.
I'm amazed that the forum editor allowed it to go through.
This really shows how little people understand about the cycle of life but more so their insensitivity towards the feelings of people.
All things must pass away. So do the fishes in the reservoir. So do the birds in the forest surrounding the reservoir. So do the insects and the toads and the plants and the lizards that roam the areas around the reservoir. No one ever complains about their decomposing bodies posing a hazard to the water supply. This is because the organic material will be recycled and become detritus and nutrients to sustain many cycles and food chains. Why is it that Ah Meng's body is special and must be brought up to the attention of Straits Times readers? And I believe, Ah Meng's body was placed in a coffin, like a proper burial would have.
Lim Bo Seng is also buried near MacRitchie reservoir. I wonder if some people worry about it as well.
Just food for thought. I did not know such a short and tiny letter would stimulate such great reaction in me.
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1 comment:
Indeed I share your sentiments about the overwhelming response to the death of the poor creature who spent almost all her life in a zoo and is not even native to Singapore.
Do Singaporeans lament en mass when vast numbers of native lifeforms are wiped out to make way for our urban needs?
Must something be nearly human before we care?
I wonder.
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