And you know what? Peanuts can be deadly. People die from severe allergic reactions to peanuts.
Mrs Goh Chok Tong's (ex-Patron of NKF) famous declaration, "For a person who runs a million-dollar charitable organisation, $600,000 is peanuts as it has a few hundred millions in reserves."
Juxtapose that sentence against the announcement 2 weeks ago for ComCare Funds for the really poor.
I think we're discussing about golden peanuts here. Maybe diamond-crusted as well. Speckled with gold flakes for sure.
Doesn't this evocative sentence tell everyone about the social disparity in Singapore? About elitism and square brains living in ivory towers? One single sentence surmises what everyone on the ground thinks about the government. It negates all the hardwork grassroots' leaders put in.
Mrs Goh Chok Tong, past PM's wife, lawyer, privileged status. One sentence revealed her total insensitivity and sheltered perceptions.
Contrast that to Ms Ho Ching, current PM's wife, CEO Temasek Holdings, privileged status. Her call for corporate governance held firm the people's belief in our government and revealed her pragmatism at a social and corporate level.
I say, the words of wives are very important. More so when they are politicians' wives.
I'm sure Mr Goh Chok Tong has no published comments on the entire saga.
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The Sunday Times on 17 July 2005 duly ran comments by Mr Goh saying that his wife 'regretted' her words.
Ummm....Mr Goh, aside sounding like the husband who had just chided his wife for stupidity, it would actually sound more sincere if this came from Mrs Goh's mouth.
4 comments:
This is something that has always intrigued me - do you know ANYONE with an allergy to peanuts?
dawn...no, but i know someone with an allergy to BROADBEANS. i suppose it's better than a peanut allergy, until the day they start making broadbean butter ice cream at least.
ooh..."$600,000 is peanuts" is the "let them eat cake" of this day and age. except the head in the basket will only be a metaphorical one, thank goodness. congrats Mrs G! destiny awaits you in the book of quotable quotes.
yes i do!!my galpal's cousin.the little boy is only 6, but he can't eat peanuts or any nuts,no seafood nor dairy products.he can only eat flourless chocolate cakes.he's allergy to so many things.poor baby.
Wow - so they do exist! Poor things though - nuts are everywhere!
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