Showing posts with label values. Show all posts
Showing posts with label values. Show all posts

Monday, June 18, 2012

What sort of role model do we want our kids to have? Woffles or Vincent?

Over the last week 2 characters have emerged from mundane Singapore life that exemplify very contrasting personal values and characters. To me, they are lessons for us as to what our noble values should be. In today's world our kids are in great danger of being lured into the fast road to wealth, fame and self-centredness.... at all costs. We need to take a pause in our mad rush to wealth to think about what values we should want our kids to have.

On one hand we have a uber-wealthy and influential cosmetic surgeon and socialite, Woffles Wu, hiding behind an old employee just to get out of 2 speeding summons. Whether he pulled strings to get off with a mere slap on the wrist is not the issue here.


On the other side of the coin, we have a working class tour guide, Vincent Toh, leading a group through the deserts of Sinai. When the tour group was unexpectedly attacked by Bedouins, Vincent selflessly offered to be the hostage so that his tour charges could go free. To everyone's relief, Vincent was released after 8 hours of captivity. Two contrasting characters with very different personal value systems. Who do we want our kids to emulate?