Should the 5Cs be the benchmark of success in Singapore? Why or why not?

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Cash, car, credit card, condominium, country club. These are the Cs that revolve around the life of an average Singaporean. When they get all the 5Cs, they are viewed as a very successful person. Being rich, a person should donate some of his money to the less fortunate. An example of someone who generously donates his money to charity is tycoon Mr Tan Kah Kee(although only C1, cash, existed at that time). He earns a lot of money, but he uses less than half of his wealth on himself and his family. Even when he died, he left all his money to build and maintain schools and did not even leave a single cent for his family. However, philanthropist like him are rare this days.

Thus, I think that the 5Cs are not the only benchmark of success. Being able to contribute to our society is also successful.People should learn from Mr Tan Kah Kee. As the chinese saying goes:" When you help people, you will feel happy." (sorry its not a very good translation). When people do good deeds, they get to experience the real meaning of life, in contrast with someone who never does good deeds and stingily keeps all the money for themselves. He may feel delighted over his wealth, but that joy is only temporary. This miser does not feel the meaning of life. However, one does not need to be rich to do his part. For example, there are many old folks homes in Singapore and those old people area abandoned by their heartless children. It would be very delightful for the elderly folk just to have someone entertaining them, such as performing magic tricks, which happens to be my sabbatical. During the sabbatical, we performed two times.The first performance was at the child care centre near the poolside cafe. The second time was at a kindergarden. Both times, we were greeted with innocent smiles and delightful screams as we approached the climax from each act. It felt very satisfying. The elder folk would be so happy to have someone entertaining them. Hence, willingness to contribute to the underprivileged or the elderly can also be counted as success.

I also think that having a happy and united family can also be counted as success. Nowadays, loving couples might have a big quarrell over something(example money) and break up overnight. On newspapers, arguments leading to divorce are rife and occasionally you even see family members killing each other. Luckily, my family is very happy and united. Couples will occasionally quarrell, otherwise one big, severe argument will break out. Hence, having a happy family is also success.