There was this Saturday morning when I boarded the train towards Dhoby Ghaut MRT station for my train the trainers programme for Red Cross. The ride was the usual for me. I had a stomach ache in the morning and was rushing. I ran all the way from home to MRT station. Not to mention I was wearing that white shirt with big striking red cross at the back. The moment I entered the train, everyone's eyes was on me. I tried to keep a cool front and plucked in my earpieces. I noticed that there was this man who was constantly looking at me, or what I'm wearing.
As the train's seats was filled up, I stand and leaned against the glass panel. I took out my phone and replied messages. Soon, the train stopped for another stop and more people boarded the train. By now, there wasn't any place for people to lean against and that resorted them to stand rooted to the train. All the while I had my eye glued to my phone till I noticed movements from the corner of my eye. A petite old lady with stroller was asking a middle-aged man who was leaning on to the glass panel to let her lean against it. That man gave away his place without a second thought and continued to look at his iPhone.
That old lady was probably in her 80s. She have a head full of white. Old, wrinkled face that everyone will sympathies with. Her eyes doped downwards and this made her looks even sadder. Her legs as thin as a match stick. I would see that she was using all her might to stable herself in the moving train because her legs were shaking hard, as though they will break any time. I thought that someone who had the seat will notice this old lady but no, I was wrong. The train stopped for another station and the old lady was still using her might to be stable.
The old lady kept on looking at the Indian man who was sitting at the reserved seat. However, the Indian man didn't notice the old lady as he was busy using his phone. Quickly, I glanced across the rows of sited passenger, they were either scrolling their smart phones, reading the newspaper, or nodding their heads, sleeping soundly on the train. I pondered to myself: what has technology change us into?
Well, don't get me wrong up there, indeed technologies has bring us convenience, helped us accomplish greater things and make the world smaller, however, there's yin and yang forces. Technology do certainly have bad points. We don't treasure the human touch we had before, lunch with friends means scrolling of smart phones and updating your Instagram with what you ate. Communication equals to social networks. There is hardly any physical personal human communication. Even me myself can't deny the fact that I have any physical personal human communication with anyone because it's just so convenient to send a message across rather than making phone calls or meeting up.
Back to the old lady. Something told me to do something about it. I recalled an incident my friend told me weeks ago. She was too in the train travelling back home. The train was packed and an old lady had no seat too. No one offered any seats to her. My friend being the righteousness and daring one, she asked a male passenger to give up his seat to that old lady. That man had no choice but to give up his seat unless he wants to get stomped (or will he?).
I was facing a dilemma. Should I approach that Indian man and ask him to give up his seat or not? That shirt I'm wearing said yes. People in the train might have notice that old lady with no seat, however they are not doing anything because they are expecting that person who is wearing the Red Cross shirt to do something about it. Or, maybe someone offered that old lady his/her seat, but she refused. Or she is getting down at the next stop, that's why she choose not to sit down. My brows frowned as I have no idea what I should do. I told myself that I will regret if I don't do anything and I certainly would not want to have any casualty if she were to fall down (touch wood). The train stopped for another station, the old lady is still not getting down the train.
I plucked out the earpieces from my ear, waited for a few seconds before approaching that Indian man. I took a deep breath before making my way towards him. I released my breath and ask him in a voice I couldn't recognise:
"Sir, could you please give up your seat to this old lady?"
My voice was loud and firm. That wasn't what I wanted to sound like. The moment I spoke, everyone, including that Indian man looked up at me. He appeared blurred and nodded his head thrice and gave up his seat. That old lady looked at me and smiled. She thanked me numerous time in Hokkien but I couldn't reply back verbally because I can't speak a single word of Hokkien (does"thank you" count? But you don't expect me to say that right?) I acknowledge her gratitude with a smile and walked back. My spot was taken by another person so I just stand against the pole.
As soon as I walked off, everyone returned to the previous position, heads bowed down scrolling the phones or reading the newspaper. My hope for humanity was vanished once again. I'm not trying to say that they are suppose to tell me that I did a great job or show a face of guiltiness, however, I thought that they should at least reflect. No, they went back to their phones immediately. What has technology gotten ourselves to?
I looked at that Indian man who was now standing and using his phone. Maybe he had some difficulties standing for a long period of time, that's why he needs to sit down. Or, maybe he had a long day and couldn't have any sleep. Weird I know but I felt guilty towards that Indian man. Maybe he was all happy to get a seat but I ruin his day by asking him to give up his seat. What if it's real? Am I doing the right thing or not?
However, one of the Red Cross fundamental principle: Impartiality, told me that I did the right thing. It is no doubt that the old lady needs the seat more than anyone who was seated down that that cabin. I answered my own question and continue to listen to my music and reply messages.
You don't need to be sitting on a reserved seat to give up your seat. Even though the SMRT may say that reserved seat is prioritise for injured, pregnant, or aging, however, give your seat to someone who needs it more than you do. What happens if the reserved seats was sat by the priority people, are you going to continue sit down there and think, "no, the reserved seat must be offered out"?
Technology has caused us to be less observant. Our range of vision is only limited to the phone screen, other than that, everything is blurred.
Is the society at it's worst?
Well said :)
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