Imaginary butterflies and frogs, and real warning signs...

Former diplomat and now think-tank head Kishore Mahbubani has been asking Singaporeans if they want to see our transforming society-- one that is undergoing a metamorphosis, as he puts it -- "emerge as a happy butterfly, flitting around in a garden city, or... as a lonely frog, croaking away unhappily in a little well".

http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/singapore/story/singapore-butterfly-or-frog-20130309

I just wonder why he imagines that butterflies are happy and that frogs are unhappy. The worse combination of alluded traits would be a happy frog sitting inside a pot of water that is slowly being boiled... you know that story! But guess what, scientists say frogs are no fools: they will jump out if given half a chance, whether the water is cold or hot:

http://www.fastcompany.com/26455/next-time-what-say-we-boil-consultant

But such quibbling aside, metaphors in the right context can be helpful. The frog in boiling water analogy refers to how well a subject adapts to changing circumstances. And the butterfly analogy can -- properly contexted -- vividly become a lesson in resilience through perseverance, and how good intentions -- say, shortcircuiting what should be the natural process -- can have devastating effects. Below is a very powerful story, simply titled "The Butterfly":

http://pathofthebutterfly.com/2011/03/20/the-struggle-of-a-butterfly/

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Warning signs

I had bemoaned the ridiculous low interest rates paid to ordinary, hard-working folk who in good faith put their money in the banking system (for which they have no representative voice). This ST Opinion piece (April 23) gives a much fuller, and troubling, picture by comparing an income-driven community with an asset-chasing community: