( The Straits Times Feb 2nd 2000, Lim Soon Feng)

I refer to the article 'Oh how swiftly we fall in line' 

In it, five people talked about the "new national habit"- queuing up.

Most of the comments were directed at the craze over McDonald's Hello Kitty promotions.

"Animals are far more intelligent" was just one of the many comments that were made. In my opinion, these remarks, coming from fellow Singaporeans, were very crude and hurtful. I agree things did get out of hand- given reports of fights and clashes over these toys.

But I don't understand why Singaporeans should not be allowed to express their child-like qualities, or the passion in them, without the rest of the community criticising, and kicking up a big fuss over it. If queuing up is sarcastically labeled a "national habit", then I would say the favourite national pastime is to criticise and complain.

It seems like we have to stay prim and proper all the time.

If we let our hair down a little, letting our innate passions take over for a while, words like kiasu and "ugly Singaporean" are hurled at us. Hurtful remarks like "Singaporeans queue for two reasons: One, they are free. Two, for something free".

Frankly, I really do have doubts about how gracious this country is, especially when its people seem ever ready to stand up and jeer their own countrymen.

Fellow Singaporeans' Views