Comments on a2ed.com: Confucian Societies: I've never encountered a peop...

Hello Tehmasik, You're right on all counts ex...

2009-10-06T19:19:02.987+01:00

Hello Tehmasik,

You're right on all counts except that the local chinese will eventually be united with their mainland 'brothers' with the aid of the decades-long imposition of the currently overarching chinese culture, 'speak mandarin campaigns', and the grooming of a chinese elite through SAP schools. Can't they do better or as good as others without such a strategy, some might wonder.

Currently, the chinese are just jittery about threats to their privileged status as the 'natives' of a singapore-turned-confucian. The same applies to the malays in malaysia. Having relieved themselves of competition from the vibrant malays, and passionate and intellectually inclined indians, they've enjoyed smooth sailing socially (and can now happily set the standards for what makes 'an insightful blog' and give themselves awards for it;) and economically and have been led to believe that it was the weight of their 'race' and culture that brought them to their current position. Of course, they will not be able to conceptualise a singapore that would have gone further with cultural integration. For examples, just look at the west and india and see where cultural vibrancy took them. It's no accident that china is well-known for its brawn and copy-cattery as opposed to india's logical aptitude...or that the 'lion of singapore's opposition' was an indian.

The purpose here is not to demean the chinese, but monoculturalism, which they have benefited greatly from at the expense of others. Hence, overtime, with others being excluded from the economic and social evolution of singapore, the others will not be able to say that they had a significant part in it. And it would be true too. Except that the reasons are founded on gross bigotry. Like a chinese civil servant acquaintance of mine once said, 'indians are not in english dramas because indians can't act'. Given enough discrimination, that could one day prove to be true.

Anyone can progress with time, but keeping others down so that credit can go to oneself when one finally manages to move ahead is nothing short of pathetic. And even then, their progress would be compromised as they would not be able to reap the benefits of integration.

That will be the achievement of Lee and those who give him credit for performing a 'miracle' in the country. They are comparing the nation with what it was, and not what it could be given its multicultural resource. A logical error in judgment that emerges from minds that have been trained to view the vantage of a frog in a well as that from the peak of mount. Their humanity has been sufficiently diminished for them to confuse it for a miracle as opposed to an atrocity. In that, the apathetic in singapore have nothing but my utmost disdain. It is they whom allow such conditions to continue without address whom ought to be hauled up for inciting racial animosity.

ed

Dear Ed, What an amazingly good article. Incisiv...

2009-10-04T07:10:10.600+01:00

Dear Ed,

What an amazingly good article. Incisive to the core.

Always thought myself as Singaporean and it remains painfull when some Singaporeans feel that one has to be Chinese to be real Singaporean, otherwise why the need to maintain a Chinese as the majority population.

Always reminded of the story in the deep American South of an Afro-American Tuskegee airman being forced to ride in a low-grade cabin reserved for blacks only while a "White" German POW was allowed to ride in the well maintained 'Whites Only' cabin. Situation here is only different in scale but not in principle.

The comment about Indians growing in proportion because of emigration, totally ignores the fact that both Indian and Chinese propotions will grow at the expense of the Malays and Indian Tamils.

In essence, the Tamils feel like the 'Last of the Mohicans', a fate, which ironically is now going to be shared by local born Chinese Singaporeans. The boomerang is starting to make its full circle!!!

Tehmasik

But it is the Indian population that had increased...

2009-10-03T16:33:40.859+01:00

But it is the Indian population that had increased the main in % wise. I don't how is that bad for the Indian community if they want to a bigger say in spore society.

From what you said, it seems that your experience ...

2009-09-30T18:49:25.893+01:00

From what you said, it seems that your experience in the army was in the late 90s or the past decade?

In the 70s and 80s, it was not a matter of the Chinese being inclusive. Being westernised and speaking English well was the 'in' thing. Then, the Eurasians and Indians were leading the way as they were culturally more open to change, new ideas, and multiculturalism - which, traditionally and historically, did not come as easily to the Chinese..unless they embraced difference. This placed the Eurasians and the Indians at an advantage since they did not have to 'unlearn' being monocultural first.

There were quite a few Chinese in church, school, or the workplace whom liked to associate with them (and myself) for their vibrancy, wit, and banter. So the Eurasians and Indians did not need to 'feel included' by the Chinese. It was quite the other way round. But if things had been allowed to go their natural course, the English speaking Eurasians and Indians would have led the way, and the Chinese and English-speaking Malays would have integrated as the former 2 were not inclined toward discrimination on the basis of race.

We would then have a far more creative and intelligent Singapore, and, most probably, the PAP would be in the opposition. That is their reason for bringing back Chinese culture over a cosmopolitan one with much vigour.

As for open-minded Chinese, I'm know quite a few myself. But being 'open-minded' and being 'empathetic' is two different things. One can be open-minded and still not mind or notice the discrimination suffered by ethnic minorities. In that, they are simply encouraging it. I have 'open-minded' Chinese friends, but none whom are 'empathetic'. Even most, if not all, oppositional writers/bloggers do not notice it when others are put down. In that, they have internalised the fascist outlook of the bigoted.

For myself, forgiveness is not a virtue unless those whom are doing wrong exhibit remorse and change. As forgiveness is usually followed by acceptance of an evil, I'd rather reserve my forgiveness for the deserving and keep my ire to continue my efforts to change the situation. If not, I'm as guilty as the perpetrators.

Thank you for your thoughts 'anon'. Perhaps you could use a pseudonym next time :)

ed

I remember being in school when the Chinese felt p...

2009-09-30T04:13:53.503+01:00

I remember being in school when the Chinese felt privileged and superior over the minority fellow students. During National Service there was good integration among the English educated Chinese and Minorities. This made the Minorities feel assured and much at home. However after completing N.S. and getting into the work force. The Minorities realised the so called working language in the office was more Mandarin rather than English,among the local staffs. Funny thing was, they always say, "we the majority, what!" They simply did not care if the Minority staff didn't gain any vital work info. It can be really frustrating. The Chinese staffs knew it and were very gleeful about the hardship imposed on the minority staff. It's really sad to see them go through the frustrations, knowing the FTs being in an advantageous position here now. Having a taste of their own bitter pill now,huh!
I have forgiven these shallow close minded, self centered people. As I feel sorry for them and their future generations. It is also very true that there are exceptions. As I have met several open minded, western educated Chinese Gents with utmost humility.