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No mention of NS as usual again.
Jul 8, 2010
Foreigners are not why we don't do well
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MS RACHEL Chang's commentary on Monday ('Life is tough at 24 with Us and Them') was ironic, amusing - and self-contradictory.
She writes that she and her sister studied or worked overseas; yet, she suffers anxiety attacks when foreigners do the same in Singapore.
She believes that the anti-foreigner sentiment comes from the sense of national identity among Singaporeans. In truth, many young Singaporeans think of themselves as Chinese, Indian or Malay first, Singaporean second. Many Singaporeans feel more comfortable speaking to someone of the same race from China or India than a Singaporean of a different race.
By comparison, America, with its notoriously strong sense of national identity, has long welcomed people from different countries with tolerance.
If anything, anxiety about foreigners may come from the Singaporean's frail sense of national identity.
Foreigners have two important advantages. First, at age 13, my first job was picking up rubbish at a carpark. This was followed by cleaning toilets, stocking vegetables at supermarkets and cooking smelly fish, among others. From my teenage years to university graduation, everyone I knew did humble jobs during school holidays and sometimes while studying too.
By comparison, I have met many young Singaporeans who are embarrassed to be seen doing this type of work. Many parents say the same thing for their children.
When humble work is seen as humiliation rather than dignity, foreigners who are brought up to be self-reliant with their own hands will enjoy a massive advantage.
As for the notion of facing competition from foreigners, I venture that there is none, not between people who are willing to get their hands dirty and those who think they are too good to clean toilets.
Also, foreigners who move to Singapore must be disciplined to make sure they can pay household bills with some savings left over.
Many 20-something Singaporeans live with their parents and spend up to 90 per cent of their salaries on Louis Vuitton handbags, chic mobile phones, expensive dresses, cars and the like. If uncorrected, this can make the younger generation less responsible than foreign workers who were forced to get serious with their lives when they moved overseas.
At the end of the day, there is no 'us' or 'them'. There is only 'you' - and your willingness to take responsibility for your own life.
Eric J. Brooks
Jul 8, 2010
Foreigners are not why we don't do well
<!-- by line --><!-- end by line -->
<!-- end left side bar --><!-- story content : start -->
MS RACHEL Chang's commentary on Monday ('Life is tough at 24 with Us and Them') was ironic, amusing - and self-contradictory.
She writes that she and her sister studied or worked overseas; yet, she suffers anxiety attacks when foreigners do the same in Singapore.
She believes that the anti-foreigner sentiment comes from the sense of national identity among Singaporeans. In truth, many young Singaporeans think of themselves as Chinese, Indian or Malay first, Singaporean second. Many Singaporeans feel more comfortable speaking to someone of the same race from China or India than a Singaporean of a different race.
By comparison, America, with its notoriously strong sense of national identity, has long welcomed people from different countries with tolerance.
If anything, anxiety about foreigners may come from the Singaporean's frail sense of national identity.
Foreigners have two important advantages. First, at age 13, my first job was picking up rubbish at a carpark. This was followed by cleaning toilets, stocking vegetables at supermarkets and cooking smelly fish, among others. From my teenage years to university graduation, everyone I knew did humble jobs during school holidays and sometimes while studying too.
By comparison, I have met many young Singaporeans who are embarrassed to be seen doing this type of work. Many parents say the same thing for their children.
When humble work is seen as humiliation rather than dignity, foreigners who are brought up to be self-reliant with their own hands will enjoy a massive advantage.
As for the notion of facing competition from foreigners, I venture that there is none, not between people who are willing to get their hands dirty and those who think they are too good to clean toilets.
Also, foreigners who move to Singapore must be disciplined to make sure they can pay household bills with some savings left over.
Many 20-something Singaporeans live with their parents and spend up to 90 per cent of their salaries on Louis Vuitton handbags, chic mobile phones, expensive dresses, cars and the like. If uncorrected, this can make the younger generation less responsible than foreign workers who were forced to get serious with their lives when they moved overseas.
At the end of the day, there is no 'us' or 'them'. There is only 'you' - and your willingness to take responsibility for your own life.
Eric J. Brooks
