I was just listening to the evening news where the main focus was the inaugural outing by the so-called post-65 MPs, all bleating about what can be improved about our society, banging on with the US-originated slogan - 'no-one (no child, actually) left behind'. (Can we please stop borrowing from the US? Is our borrowing supposed to increase the electorate's confidence in a less than original MP cohort?Or give them more credibility?)
Anyway, the whole focus seemed to be that Singapore must evolve to an 'inclusive' society. One MP (I think Amy Khor) advocated that there we should abolish special needs schools. How can children adopt an inclusive attitude to the physically and mentally challenged if they do not interact with them from a young age?
Worthy sentiments. However, I believe the issue is much deeper than one of interaction. It goes back to the very heart of Singapore culture, and whether or not we have it within us to be a gracious, non-kiasu society.
For example, in a recent issue of the The Straits Times, we read of how women over 40 should really give up all hope of finding a soulmate - Singapore men, it would appear, just don't want to know, never mind if the woman is financially independent, stunning, educated, and basically, someone one would expect a man would love to have on his arm.
A couple of months ago, I read a letter from a reader during the debate on whether or not people should give up their seats on the MRT to the aged, pregnant or physically challenged - let's not bend over backwards, the writer said. We need to support the needs of the majority. Graciousness, indeed.
Also in the last couple of months, I read observations from Malays and Hindus in the run-up to the Diwali and Hari Raya holidays that other racial groups have no idea, after all this time, of the different social niceties associated with both festivals. So much for social integration.
Here's the rub: the very infrastructure of our multi-racial society makes it difficult for Singaporeans to understand or tolerate differences. For one, our very system of election - the inevitable round of lawsuits after each election speak for themselves. And that's all I'm prepared to say about that.
The various ethnic support groups do not seek to create a Singapore identity - rather, they push an ethnic agenda, as opposed to a national agenda. The HDB flat quota - same argument.
Men who never grow up (note that the bulk of our government are made up of Singapore males...) so that they only want to marry women who can function as looking glasses or baby machines are another symptom of a non-inclusive society. What's the betting that this myth of the superior Singapore male will be one of the last to go? In their own image...
Our education system, which forces conformity rather than creativity - note that they are now trying to TEACH creativity. That says alot.
Look at the way people with cancer are treated in Singapore - shunted into pasture, sidelined, whispered about. Rather than being recognised for their continuing ability to contribute, they are presumed dead once diagnosed. I have been told, for example, by numerous headhunters, that my career is over, that no-one hires a cancer survivor. That's 30% of the population rendered non-productive.
As a Eurasian, I was taken aback when I joined a church group and was treated like an alien specimen - Your name is not Chinese, I was told. Where are you from? Well, duh. I guess I should pepper my speech with more lahs. I guess that some of the 80% have not realised that there is a 20% component of the population who are not exactly...er, Chinese? I guess it takes more than being a 4th generation Singaporean to belong. I made pineapple jam tarts for the group - no-one ate them. Not like ours, they said.
A friend, a Muslim, tells me he is offended when his boss sends out emails prior to Christmas, with prayers for for everyone. No equivalent gesture was made for Diwali or Hari Raya, implying to him only one festival matters. So much for affirmative action.
Then there is our oh-so-mature male population, many of whom are still stuck in time warp in a high school locker room. I have heard men continually ogle women (one of my doctors included, which is why I sacked him), making comments about their assets, and even sometimes a condition of employment. This is plain juvenile, and really, not something I want to be associated with in any way.Worst of all, we have women who support the immature men by playing to their egos. Sisters, come on, don't let the side down, for pete's sake. We have to make a united stand.
When we do recognise differences - I hate to bring this up, but I must - it's usually to do with types like good ol' Neil Humphreys. We love anything that harks back to our colonial heritage, and I am not referring to the whitewash on the Raffles Hotel. It smacks of pandering. How good a writer is Neil Humphrey's, really? I thought him rather boring, just another kweilo in our fair city, with a kweilo perspective. Been there, done that. But we feted him, and adored him, a rather run-of-the-mill talent. The proof of his ability (or non-?)? He now tries to repeat his success story in Oz - the only problem is that over there, he is one kweilo among millions. Not really much of a unique selling proposition. Please, please, stop those ghastly columns he files from Down Under. I don't care about the possums, even less than I cared about the Ah So's in Toa Payoh. It's embarassing that he was so successful here. It is time to let mad dogs and Englishmen just...lie.
My point is this: until we, as a society, can appreciate and tolerate different perspectives, orientations, points of view, and even actively support the expression of these, we will never be a truly mature society. My definition of a mature society is one that is inclusive, where differences are not viewed as a threat or a drain on common resources. Rather, they are viewed as the underpinnings of a varied, diverse and therefore, organically viable society.
The fact that we continually get a parade of so-called experts (mostly Caucasian) shows a lingering colonialism, and a lack of confidence in ourselves. Ditto the inability to tolerate differences. Until we deal with these deep-seated issues, we will never be a gracious society. In a funny way, we have to cut some things out of our social make-up, slaughter a couple of sacred cows (no religious put-down intended) in order to grow-up. It will take everyone's participation and support - parents, government, social and business leaders. If even one group does not support this, the effort will limp along - and so will the gracious Singapore society.
By the way...this is NOT something that the fine-or-tax knee-jerk reaction will fix. Now, let's try to really think our way out of this one!
Anyway, the whole focus seemed to be that Singapore must evolve to an 'inclusive' society. One MP (I think Amy Khor) advocated that there we should abolish special needs schools. How can children adopt an inclusive attitude to the physically and mentally challenged if they do not interact with them from a young age?
Worthy sentiments. However, I believe the issue is much deeper than one of interaction. It goes back to the very heart of Singapore culture, and whether or not we have it within us to be a gracious, non-kiasu society.
For example, in a recent issue of the The Straits Times, we read of how women over 40 should really give up all hope of finding a soulmate - Singapore men, it would appear, just don't want to know, never mind if the woman is financially independent, stunning, educated, and basically, someone one would expect a man would love to have on his arm.
A couple of months ago, I read a letter from a reader during the debate on whether or not people should give up their seats on the MRT to the aged, pregnant or physically challenged - let's not bend over backwards, the writer said. We need to support the needs of the majority. Graciousness, indeed.
Also in the last couple of months, I read observations from Malays and Hindus in the run-up to the Diwali and Hari Raya holidays that other racial groups have no idea, after all this time, of the different social niceties associated with both festivals. So much for social integration.
Here's the rub: the very infrastructure of our multi-racial society makes it difficult for Singaporeans to understand or tolerate differences. For one, our very system of election - the inevitable round of lawsuits after each election speak for themselves. And that's all I'm prepared to say about that.
The various ethnic support groups do not seek to create a Singapore identity - rather, they push an ethnic agenda, as opposed to a national agenda. The HDB flat quota - same argument.
Men who never grow up (note that the bulk of our government are made up of Singapore males...) so that they only want to marry women who can function as looking glasses or baby machines are another symptom of a non-inclusive society. What's the betting that this myth of the superior Singapore male will be one of the last to go? In their own image...
Our education system, which forces conformity rather than creativity - note that they are now trying to TEACH creativity. That says alot.
Look at the way people with cancer are treated in Singapore - shunted into pasture, sidelined, whispered about. Rather than being recognised for their continuing ability to contribute, they are presumed dead once diagnosed. I have been told, for example, by numerous headhunters, that my career is over, that no-one hires a cancer survivor. That's 30% of the population rendered non-productive.
As a Eurasian, I was taken aback when I joined a church group and was treated like an alien specimen - Your name is not Chinese, I was told. Where are you from? Well, duh. I guess I should pepper my speech with more lahs. I guess that some of the 80% have not realised that there is a 20% component of the population who are not exactly...er, Chinese? I guess it takes more than being a 4th generation Singaporean to belong. I made pineapple jam tarts for the group - no-one ate them. Not like ours, they said.
A friend, a Muslim, tells me he is offended when his boss sends out emails prior to Christmas, with prayers for for everyone. No equivalent gesture was made for Diwali or Hari Raya, implying to him only one festival matters. So much for affirmative action.
Then there is our oh-so-mature male population, many of whom are still stuck in time warp in a high school locker room. I have heard men continually ogle women (one of my doctors included, which is why I sacked him), making comments about their assets, and even sometimes a condition of employment. This is plain juvenile, and really, not something I want to be associated with in any way.Worst of all, we have women who support the immature men by playing to their egos. Sisters, come on, don't let the side down, for pete's sake. We have to make a united stand.
When we do recognise differences - I hate to bring this up, but I must - it's usually to do with types like good ol' Neil Humphreys. We love anything that harks back to our colonial heritage, and I am not referring to the whitewash on the Raffles Hotel. It smacks of pandering. How good a writer is Neil Humphrey's, really? I thought him rather boring, just another kweilo in our fair city, with a kweilo perspective. Been there, done that. But we feted him, and adored him, a rather run-of-the-mill talent. The proof of his ability (or non-?)? He now tries to repeat his success story in Oz - the only problem is that over there, he is one kweilo among millions. Not really much of a unique selling proposition. Please, please, stop those ghastly columns he files from Down Under. I don't care about the possums, even less than I cared about the Ah So's in Toa Payoh. It's embarassing that he was so successful here. It is time to let mad dogs and Englishmen just...lie.
My point is this: until we, as a society, can appreciate and tolerate different perspectives, orientations, points of view, and even actively support the expression of these, we will never be a truly mature society. My definition of a mature society is one that is inclusive, where differences are not viewed as a threat or a drain on common resources. Rather, they are viewed as the underpinnings of a varied, diverse and therefore, organically viable society.
The fact that we continually get a parade of so-called experts (mostly Caucasian) shows a lingering colonialism, and a lack of confidence in ourselves. Ditto the inability to tolerate differences. Until we deal with these deep-seated issues, we will never be a gracious society. In a funny way, we have to cut some things out of our social make-up, slaughter a couple of sacred cows (no religious put-down intended) in order to grow-up. It will take everyone's participation and support - parents, government, social and business leaders. If even one group does not support this, the effort will limp along - and so will the gracious Singapore society.
By the way...this is NOT something that the fine-or-tax knee-jerk reaction will fix. Now, let's try to really think our way out of this one!
posted by Simone @ 10:12 PM
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