[h=2]The Flipside of Xenophobia[/h]
August 9th, 2012 |
Author: Contributions
Singapore invaded by the Japanese in Feb 1942
Another National Day but this one is different. It took me all these years to unlearn that National Day is not our country’s birthday (see LINK) but our Independence Day and then my own reflection of how our forefathers fought for it, first from the Japanese, then the British and finally our separation from Malaysia. Singaporeans who lived during this time period would consider the Japanese occupation period as the worst times of their life.
During the Japanese occupation, almost all Singaporeans were anti-Japanese (if the country were occupied by various foreign forces, Singaporeans would have been anti-foreigner or what some term as xenophobia). The people were anti-Japanese because the Japanese came to rob them of their possessions, livelihood and they live in constant fear where their next meal would come from.
There was a small group of people who were delighted that the Japanese came as they had dealing with the Japanese and benefited personally from such association. Singaporeans called these people TRAITORS. The Japanese and the traitors live a wonderful life during this time at the expense of the majority of Singaporeans. Then, there was a small group of Singaporeans who were the resistance fighters. They risked their lives and the lives of their family to fight the Japanese. They were the Patriots, the true Heroes of Singapore. At the end of the Japanese occupation, the traitors were executed or jailed.
Today in Singapore, when you voice your opinion against the government’s foreign workers policy, you are branded as xenophobic. It is a way to shut you up using a fancy word. Talk to your grandparents who lived during the Japanese occupation and ask them why the dislike the Japanese so much and then ask yourself why our forefathers have to make the sacrifices for our generation to make the same mistake again.
Some people argue that the difference today is that these foreigners did not invade Singapore but was invited by our government. It may seem like a valid point but murder is murder regardless whether the victim agreed to be murdered or not (The Queen versus Dudley and Stevens, 29:30 onwards – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBdfcR-8hEY). As an analogy, suppose one day, 3 robbers came into your office whilst you and your colleagues were in the office, I am sure that you will do all you can to prevent the robbery. In the second scenario, these same 3 robbers came but this time at the invitation of your office manager; you will still try to stop them from robbing your company and after that sack the office manager and replace him.
Just because the lower educated, the underprivileged and others were unable to stop the government from implementing such a poor policy which benefits only a select group of people, does not make it right for the large number of foreigners who have come to rob us and our children of a decent livelihood a home, a tertiary place etc.
Justice requires us to level the playing field for those who are underprivileged. That is why in horse racing, extra weights are put on better horses to even out the odds (http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090510182048AAEyP50). Putting more weight on the underprivileged and less weight on the affluent is INJUSTICE unless of course you think that putting any of our Ministers in the boxing ring against Mohammed Ali is fair.
So during this National Day, with your hand on your heart, ask yourself what did our forefathers fight for and what does it truly mean to be an independent and democratic country. Do not confuse the traitors with the heroes and vice versa. Happy National Day!
.
Ace
.
Another National Day but this one is different. It took me all these years to unlearn that National Day is not our country’s birthday (see LINK) but our Independence Day and then my own reflection of how our forefathers fought for it, first from the Japanese, then the British and finally our separation from Malaysia. Singaporeans who lived during this time period would consider the Japanese occupation period as the worst times of their life.
During the Japanese occupation, almost all Singaporeans were anti-Japanese (if the country were occupied by various foreign forces, Singaporeans would have been anti-foreigner or what some term as xenophobia). The people were anti-Japanese because the Japanese came to rob them of their possessions, livelihood and they live in constant fear where their next meal would come from.
There was a small group of people who were delighted that the Japanese came as they had dealing with the Japanese and benefited personally from such association. Singaporeans called these people TRAITORS. The Japanese and the traitors live a wonderful life during this time at the expense of the majority of Singaporeans. Then, there was a small group of Singaporeans who were the resistance fighters. They risked their lives and the lives of their family to fight the Japanese. They were the Patriots, the true Heroes of Singapore. At the end of the Japanese occupation, the traitors were executed or jailed.
Today in Singapore, when you voice your opinion against the government’s foreign workers policy, you are branded as xenophobic. It is a way to shut you up using a fancy word. Talk to your grandparents who lived during the Japanese occupation and ask them why the dislike the Japanese so much and then ask yourself why our forefathers have to make the sacrifices for our generation to make the same mistake again.
Some people argue that the difference today is that these foreigners did not invade Singapore but was invited by our government. It may seem like a valid point but murder is murder regardless whether the victim agreed to be murdered or not (The Queen versus Dudley and Stevens, 29:30 onwards – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBdfcR-8hEY). As an analogy, suppose one day, 3 robbers came into your office whilst you and your colleagues were in the office, I am sure that you will do all you can to prevent the robbery. In the second scenario, these same 3 robbers came but this time at the invitation of your office manager; you will still try to stop them from robbing your company and after that sack the office manager and replace him.
Just because the lower educated, the underprivileged and others were unable to stop the government from implementing such a poor policy which benefits only a select group of people, does not make it right for the large number of foreigners who have come to rob us and our children of a decent livelihood a home, a tertiary place etc.
Justice requires us to level the playing field for those who are underprivileged. That is why in horse racing, extra weights are put on better horses to even out the odds (http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090510182048AAEyP50). Putting more weight on the underprivileged and less weight on the affluent is INJUSTICE unless of course you think that putting any of our Ministers in the boxing ring against Mohammed Ali is fair.
So during this National Day, with your hand on your heart, ask yourself what did our forefathers fight for and what does it truly mean to be an independent and democratic country. Do not confuse the traitors with the heroes and vice versa. Happy National Day!
.
Ace
.