Social Studies lesson really got me thinking. About what?
A SINGAPOREAN CULTURE.
I ask you ‘What is a REAL Singaporean?’, and you’d probably reply:
one who’s KIASU, KIASE,
one who takes a mountain of food at the buffet table,
one who is scared of the government,
one who shows hatred for the people who check for parking coupons (what are they called anyway?),
one who goes for the SLIGHTEST sale – even at 10% storwide discount sale, you’d see HUNDREDS of people fighting for that same item.
True, but are ALL Singaporeans like that? I say NO. Therefore, what is a REAL Singaporean?
All right, we shall go back into the 1950s- 1960s.
So we see someone in a sari for example, we know she’s Indian. Therefore, she follows the Indian culture. And in another instance we see someone in a cheongsam , we know she’s chinese. Therefore, she follows the Chinese culture. So on and so forth…
When we look at Singapore, what comes to your mind? Rojak?? Probably. If we were to have a National costume, it would have to contain Chinese, Malay and Indian motifs with a Eurasian look. They were working on it some time back in the 1980s, but I guess it never came about.
Before the 1980s, I guessed we focused too much on economic development (I’m not saying it’s bad or anything), that we threw the Arts scene out of the entire picture. Therefore, this also contributes to the lack of the Singaporean culture.
Today, look around Orchard, look around your estate, what do you see? Do you see people who don’t look like Singaporeans all over the place? I even see caucasian people living in HDB flats.
In the past, skin colour said everything. If you looked like Indian, you are most probably an India citizen. If you looked caucasian, you probably were a citizen of one of the countries in Europe or North America (I don’t think South Americans appear white).
Now, you see people of different skin colour around you. What makes you so sure they don’t have a right to be here. They might be Permanent Residents (PRs).
20 to 30 years ago. The German soccer team consisted of pure Germans. People born in Germany. However, look at the German soccer team now. Don’t you see Africans too? Are they German too? Sure they are, they have the German citizenship.
See how confusing it is…
Bottomline is: Skin colour is not a factor for discerning citizenship any longer.
America has done the politically correct thing (to avoid confusion) by using terms like “American-Born-Chinese” (ABC) or even “Asian American”. Note: The word ‘American’ appears in both terms to show that they are citizens of that country.
Singapore has recently introduced the “Foreign Talent Scheme”, and although this has caused a significant increase in Singapore’s population. It is short-lived. They are afterall, PRs, they can choose to stay, they can choose to leave. Besides that, this has caused Singapore’s culture to become even more grey.
It’s like adding 4 ingredients into a pot, and stirring it. When you’re not even done with getting the result of the 4 ingredients, we add in another 18 ingredients. What will the final product be? Muk? Or proabably the powerpuff girls? I really wonder.
And it’s because of this evolution of the world, that cultures are no more what they used to be.
Really want to know the cause of this problem? From my point of view. I feel that it’s because women are NOT REPRODUCING ENOUGH. Because of an aging population, we had to introduce the Foreign Talent Scheme.
30 to 40 years down the road. Will young people get bored of shopping becuase all shops cater to the needs of the old? I guess so.
I think I know what a REAL Singaporean is. The one with the Identity Card.
A Singaporean Culture? Is it possible? Probably. Probably not.
Singapore is a truly CHAGNING place. We just have to go with the flow, and live with all these. Because we will never change the system to fit us. We will have to change ourselves to fit into the system.
FLEXIBILITY MY FELLOW SINAGAPOREANS.
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