Mrs Bush, First Lady of the United States Of America, likes cats. She was just here last week with her husband, the President of the United States of America.
I wonder what it would be like if one of these kids asked her if she knew HDB bans cats from flats, and refuses to review the senseless ban. Actually, I wonder more what her reply would be and how different it would be from her real personal thoughts on it.
Really, how does Singapore’s autocratic, unreasoning adamant policy that specifically ban cats as pets in government-built apartment buildings, which houses 3 quarters of the population reflect on the level of grace in Singapore? It speaks volumes, reverberating volumes.
Singaporeans: please, please consider writing in and asking HDB why are they so stuck on this ridiculous ban. More details on the history of this embarrassingly backward officious attitude and information on where to write to here.
(PS I am the farthest you could be from being a fan of Mr. George W. Bush, regardless of sides, persuasion or inclination.)
This story was printed from TODAYonline
Do you live in a big flat? Do you work, Mrs Bush? Friday • November 17, 2006
Sheralyn Tay
sheralyn@mediacorp.com.sgCHILDREN say the darndest things. And, going by the questions from inquisitive youngsters during Mrs Laura Bush’s visit to the National Library yesterday, they ask the darndest things too — even if you are the First Lady of the United States.
After her storytelling session for 30 children from low-income families, Mrs Bush fielded queries on her hobbies, her favourite pet and if she liked Singapore. She answered each innocent question — however direct — with her natural Texan charm and warm smile, endearing herself to her young audience.
The First Lady was also thrown some stumpers by the seven- to nine-year-olds, such as: Are you popular? Do you live in a big flat? Do you work?
To the last question, she replied: “I only work like this. I did work as a librarian, but now I get to work like this, visiting Presidents and meeting children from all over …”
An engaging storyteller, Mrs Bush would pause between the pages of Miss Spider’s Tea Party to explain, ask questions and chat about the story. The children responded with enthusiasm, raising their hands to call out their answers.
“She is very pretty,” said Nur Alija Ibrahim, 8, who is in the National Library Board’s KidsRead programme. She asked Mrs Bush why she was called the First Lady and learnt some things about her as well.
“She likes cats and her hobbies are collecting things, reading books and she has a garden with many roses. She has a big white house,” Nur Alija said.
Mrs Bush, who was dressed in a pale jade-green trouser suit, also viewed 12 items from the library’s rare-books collection, which included a letter written in 1819 by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles.
For American graduate student Tim Gorman, 25, who is studying at the National University of Singapore (NUS), it was a surprise to see the First Lady at the library.
“I usually study at NUS, but I figured that because Bush was speaking there it would be crazy today, so I thought I’d come to the National Library instead to beat the crowds. And I run into Laura Bush instead,” he said.
Copyright MediaCorp Press Ltd. All rights reserved.
Once again: Singaporeans, please, please consider writing in and asking HDB why are they so stuck on this ridiculous ban. More details on the history of this embarrassingly backward officious attitude and information on where to write to here.
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