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[h=2]Prickly points of a New York Times article[/h]
Prickly points of a New York Times article
Published by The Online Citizen on July 30, 2012 By Jin -
To Mr Wang Quan Cheng; I refer to the comments in the recent New York Times article In Singapore, Vitriol against Chinese Newcomers (26 July 2012).
“Of course, the new arrivals are rich or else the government would have to feed them,” he said. “Some locals are very lazy and live off the government. When new immigrants come, they think it is competition, taking away their rice bowls.” Wang Quan Cheng, the chairman of the Hua Yuan Association, the largest organization representing mainlanders, said the government was not doing enough to help integrate new arrivals, but he also blamed Singaporeans for their intolerance and said many were simply jealous that so many Chinese immigrate here with money in their pockets.
I find it highly disconcerting and disturbing that you think that the "locals are lazy and live off the government because the Singapore government has always prided itself on how we do not follow Western countries in terms of welfarism.
In fact, I have not seen any national budgets that have specific payouts catering to the jobless, the homeless and the needy. Only in the last few years when inflationary pressures and the widening income gap forced the government to re-look at certain policies.
Most of us are proud that our government believes that one should support ourselves if we can; and leave the real payout (if any) to those who need it.
If we had the chance to live off the government, we would not be seeing our elderly trawling the streets for discarded cardboard boxes, picking up aluminum cans to sell and sleeping on the streets.
Your point that we are simply envious of your comrades because they are richer than us is equally, if not more insulting. Yes, we grew up in a materialistic and meritocratic society and our worth is measured based on our academic results, our curriculum vitae and our bank account. But primarily we are angry because some of these rich migrants come in and think that they can rule over us.
And this does not apply specifically to your people – I think Singaporeans are ‘color blind’ in this aspect. Their buying and spending habits drive up prices. These nouveau riche individuals are not just leaving their mark in Singapore; but everywhere else in the world. A good example is how in 2008, at the height of the financial crisis, I witnessed a shopping spree at an auction in New York City's Christie's.
It is a global problem. Basic economics would tell you that when the system is flushed with cash, you enact fiscal and monetary policy to curb spending or you will risk inflation.
That said; I would like to remind you that I know good people who are from China. I count some of them as my good friends.
My company hires Chinese workers who are honest and hard-working. Perhaps I am not as xenophobic as some of my countrymen who have felt the brunt of the immigration policy. We are not such narrow minded people. Our forefathers were migrants. My grandfather is from Shan Tou. My close friend's father is from Sri Lanka.
Most of us have been exposed to foreigners since young because we are such an open society. One of my primary school classmates is an American; blonde and blue eyed. My secondary school had Malaysians, Chinese, Taiwanese, and Indonesians. My army days saw me serving alongside people of different backgrounds and I count a Russian, a Japanese, a Hong Konger and a Mainland Chinese as my fellowmen in the defense of Singapore.
They know the logic behind serving. They know why Singapore is here today. They respect the different races and the Singaporean culture. They know that we are 'color blind'. It is the fact that your rich counterparts think that because they are rich they can come here in their own bubble and treat Singapore as mini-China.
This is Singapore. When we go to other countries; we behave respectfully. All we ask is that you people do the same. You do not make a mess when you are a guest at someone's home right? The same logic applies here.
Therefore; I would very much appreciate it if you withdraw your comments in New York Times about us. I think it is very inaccurate and insulting.
Published by The Online Citizen on July 30, 2012 By Jin -
To Mr Wang Quan Cheng; I refer to the comments in the recent New York Times article In Singapore, Vitriol against Chinese Newcomers (26 July 2012).
“Of course, the new arrivals are rich or else the government would have to feed them,” he said. “Some locals are very lazy and live off the government. When new immigrants come, they think it is competition, taking away their rice bowls.” Wang Quan Cheng, the chairman of the Hua Yuan Association, the largest organization representing mainlanders, said the government was not doing enough to help integrate new arrivals, but he also blamed Singaporeans for their intolerance and said many were simply jealous that so many Chinese immigrate here with money in their pockets.
I find it highly disconcerting and disturbing that you think that the "locals are lazy and live off the government because the Singapore government has always prided itself on how we do not follow Western countries in terms of welfarism.
In fact, I have not seen any national budgets that have specific payouts catering to the jobless, the homeless and the needy. Only in the last few years when inflationary pressures and the widening income gap forced the government to re-look at certain policies.
Most of us are proud that our government believes that one should support ourselves if we can; and leave the real payout (if any) to those who need it.
If we had the chance to live off the government, we would not be seeing our elderly trawling the streets for discarded cardboard boxes, picking up aluminum cans to sell and sleeping on the streets.
Your point that we are simply envious of your comrades because they are richer than us is equally, if not more insulting. Yes, we grew up in a materialistic and meritocratic society and our worth is measured based on our academic results, our curriculum vitae and our bank account. But primarily we are angry because some of these rich migrants come in and think that they can rule over us.
And this does not apply specifically to your people – I think Singaporeans are ‘color blind’ in this aspect. Their buying and spending habits drive up prices. These nouveau riche individuals are not just leaving their mark in Singapore; but everywhere else in the world. A good example is how in 2008, at the height of the financial crisis, I witnessed a shopping spree at an auction in New York City's Christie's.
It is a global problem. Basic economics would tell you that when the system is flushed with cash, you enact fiscal and monetary policy to curb spending or you will risk inflation.
That said; I would like to remind you that I know good people who are from China. I count some of them as my good friends.
My company hires Chinese workers who are honest and hard-working. Perhaps I am not as xenophobic as some of my countrymen who have felt the brunt of the immigration policy. We are not such narrow minded people. Our forefathers were migrants. My grandfather is from Shan Tou. My close friend's father is from Sri Lanka.
Most of us have been exposed to foreigners since young because we are such an open society. One of my primary school classmates is an American; blonde and blue eyed. My secondary school had Malaysians, Chinese, Taiwanese, and Indonesians. My army days saw me serving alongside people of different backgrounds and I count a Russian, a Japanese, a Hong Konger and a Mainland Chinese as my fellowmen in the defense of Singapore.
They know the logic behind serving. They know why Singapore is here today. They respect the different races and the Singaporean culture. They know that we are 'color blind'. It is the fact that your rich counterparts think that because they are rich they can come here in their own bubble and treat Singapore as mini-China.
This is Singapore. When we go to other countries; we behave respectfully. All we ask is that you people do the same. You do not make a mess when you are a guest at someone's home right? The same logic applies here.
Therefore; I would very much appreciate it if you withdraw your comments in New York Times about us. I think it is very inaccurate and insulting.
