what a joke:
Dear Students
Background
If we look around us, we will find many examples of the kind and compassionate side of Singaporeans. In times of crisis, we have shown that we care for others and will do our best to help those in need, as many ordinary citizens did when the Indian Ocean Tsunami hit our neighbours in 2004. Within Singapore, there are many simple acts of kindness performed by ordinary people, which often go unnoticed. It may be a person sharing his umbrella with a stranger, a bus driver greeting his passengers, or someone at work cheering up a colleague who is feeling down. Such kind acts require no extraordinary effort. But they do require us to feel for our friends, classmates, and fellow citizens, to think how we can be helpful, and to make that small gesture that shows that we have noticed them, and that we care for them. They may catch a person at the exact moment he needs some encouragement and leave a lasting impression.
But we can still do much better. The media picks up stories about the ugly side of Singaporeans from time to time, and all too frequently, we come across instances of inconsiderate behaviour. In buses and trains, those who are seated sometimes forget about the elderly or pregnant lady standing next to them. In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, we may forget to say thank you or please. In our shyness, we sometimes hold back from greeting our neighbours. As a society, we do not always practise these simple courtesies as standards of good social behaviour.
An article on Straits Times Online in July 2007 touched on the lack of social graciousness among Singaporeans. The writer explained that there was for need for Singaporeans to improve our social etiquette.
(See http://www.straitstimes.com/ST+Forum/Online+Story/STIStory_144308.html)
The NUS SKMIG
To help develop a culture of graciousness in our campus, the NUS Students’ Kindness Movement Interest Group (NUS SKMIG is formed to encourage our students to make a positive contribution towards a more gracious campus environment through simple acts of kindness in their daily activities.
NUS SKMIG’s mission statement is:
To develop a culture of graciousness through spontaneous acts of kindness,
making campus life more pleasant for everyone.
