Pregnant lady kept standing

No one giving up their seat to a pregnant lady is not strange. It has become more and more common. Sometimes in the bus or LRT, even the women folk do not give up their seat for those more deserving.

The lady in the letter to the editor was seven months pregnant and was attending an investment seminar where she assumed the audience to be at least more enlightened on the predicaments of a pregnant woman. That was not to be.

She mentioned that “All attendees were educated and I would say were mostly highly educated and yet there was no compassion and human values.”

Yes, that is the crux of the matter. Compassion and human values are becoming less common compared to the pursuit of material wealth. A pregnant lady? Is that any concern of others?

I guess many have forgotten all of us have mothers and they did carry us in their wombs for nine months. Can't we forget for a moment our own tiredness and give up that seat for the pregnant lady.  

I don't have an answer on how to change this attitude of being uncaring to those in need. Education has always been held as the answer but as the lady said, she believed that those attending the event were educated. In that case, those in that room would be able to think and have some common sense and empathy for a pregnant lady. That did not happen.

Will it ever change? If the educated themselves do not lend a hand to those in need, there must be something wrong with the education that they received. A revamp is needed on what we teach our children. The emphasis should not be just that string of As, but also the human values and compassion necessary as member of a society. The moral or religious education classes might help but the adults' examples at home and in society at large is a great influence.

A change in the mind-set is needed or else the children will definitely grow up to be uncaring adults.


The letter in full:


I AM about seven months pregnant. I attended “Invest Malaysia 2012” which was held in Shangri-la recently.


I made the trip as I was interested to listen to our Prime Minister speak on “Capitalise on Asean’s multinational marketplace”.


The event was attended mostly by professionals or working people in the investment community.


I could not find a seat and it was just too crowded. I stood near all the seated attendees for almost half-an-hour (near the side entrance), hoping that someone would be kind enough to offer me a seat.


Unfortunately, no one volunteered.


As I could not stand any longer with my big belly, I left the event after half-an-hour. It was painful to think how our society has changed.


All attendees were educated and I would say were mostly highly educated and yet there was no compassaion and human values.


I guess perhaps it is time that our Government does something, e.g. emphasise more on moral values in our education system or to do some activities that encourage people to be more compassionate and courteous in treating others, especially the weaker ones.


All these can be done through the media and education system and it has to start from young.


TAN PM
Kuala Lumpur

Image from babytidings