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http://wherebearsroamfree.blogspot.com/2011/06/xenophobia-in-spore-you-only-realise-it.html
Thursday, 2 June 2011
Xenophobia in S'pore? You only realise it now after nearly 50 yrs?
at <A class=timestamp-link title="permanent link" href="http://wherebearsroamfree.blogspot.com/2011/06/xenophobia-in-spore-you-only-realise-it.html" rel=bookmark><ABBR class=published title=2011-06-02T09:57:00+08:00>9:57:00 AM</ABBR>
Introduction -
As more Singaporeans, both students studying abroad and adults working overseas, are exposed to foreign culture, more are speaking up against their fellow citizens about the xenophobia that's happening in Singapore.
The claim from them is always the same. It is always "having studied/worked abroad, I am appalled at the treatment of foreigners in Singapore...."
It is as if you need to have been abroad to know that. It is as if you had not travelled far, you won't notice it. What self-righteous attitude that contains a smack of arrogance and elitism.
This is furthest from the truth. No, not that those who have stayed in Singapore have learnt that xeno in Singapore exists. It is that those who have been abroad still have not learnt that the real xeno in Singapore has existed for nearly 50 years!
Xenophobia in Singapore today -
Here's a letter from the ST. Note the all too familiar erroneous idea, as well as the self-righteous attitude, that just because you have travelled extensively, you would be more likely to embrace different cultures and be less xeno and/or racist. In reality, that's far, far from the truth.
Beware of feeding xenophobia
I have argued in this site that is not necessarily so. In fact, those who have resided abroad and claimed that Singaporeans are xenophobic, are blind to their own host country's xenophobia! London has its own form of xenophobia - Islamophobia
Not only those who have travelled abroad are blind to their host countries' xeno, they have not learned that the real xeno in Singapore has been in existence the last nearly 50 years.
And what is this xeno about? It is about Malay-phobia, propagated by none other than the first PM of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew.
The 50 year old Xeno no one talks about -
Let's face it. No one likes to be labelled xenophobic and/or racist. That's the reason why many still don't (and won't) admit that we have been racists the last 50 years.
Has it not been Old Man Lee's ways to always create a sense of fear among (mainly Chinese) Singaporeans, that we ought to be afraid of the "sea of Malays" around us? He has done that even before we became independent!
Is this not xennophobia?
Yet, when you mention that the Malays (in Malaysia and Indonesia) have have been demonized, hated, scorned and feared, you will hear a host of reasons why they need to be! In fact, only last GE, we had Chan Chun Sing, singing out loud, the same xenophobic fear that we need to be very afraid of the 200+ million Indonesians who are out to sink tiny, puny Singapore. Army boy Chan Chun Sing talking cock
Is this not a 50 year old xeno that has been in Singapore all the while, even before we got full independence? So for all the claims that Singaporeans will be able to learn that we are xeno, if we travelled far and wide, does this not show that it is furthest from the truth?
Isn't this Mother of all Xenos in Singapore, the cause of many racially discriminatory practices in Singapore, that disadvantages our own Malay citizens? As discussed in the following articles?
If I told you Singapore has racist policies, would you believe me?
Racial Quota for HDB is for PAP to stay in power – and it is racially discriminatory
More crap from Old Man Lee – what integration talking he?
Racism exists in Singapore - Split Views on 3rd Singapore Idol's Win proves it
I take my hat off to Mr Wang (of MrWangSaysSo)
I like this post within my "Racism" category best because it came from another blogger and not me. It puts to rest that I am not the only Chinese blogger who sees that the Malays/Muslims are being bashed to the hilt (by some sections of the Chinese Community), just because he is a Malay/Muslim. Isn't this a direct result of LKY's xeno against the Malays of the North and South?
So has not Old Man Lee (and some sections of the Chinese community) been feeding xeno in Singapore, that it has caused Singaporeans to accept all these racially discriminatory practices and policies by our govt?
Our Xeno extends to issues outside Singapore too -
If you thought that (some) Singaporeans are xeno pertaining to issues within our country, you are wrong. Singaporeans are so xeno about the Bogey Malay Man that lives to the North and South of us (no thanks to LKY's feeding of such racist ideas), it has reached ridiculous levels.
During the 1997 SE Asian Financial Crisis, we had the Indonesian Riots. The issue, to the laymen, was the skyrocketing prices of goods, including staple food. The common man could no longer afford cheap rice and groceries. This led to the people (mainly Malays) to riot and attack businesses (mainly Chinese).
In an opportunistic and malicious attempt by (some sections, not all) of the Chinese community in Singapore to paint and perpertuate the xenophobic idea that the Malays North and South are to be feared, these people portray that economic riot as a racist riot.
There were even fake rape photos of Chinese girls being raped by "dark complexion" men put up on the internet. Their game was up, when someone highlighted that those photos were taken from some Japanese porn site. This fake attempt is nothing short of malice.
Incidentally, Aware, who had also been using these fake photos unwittingly in an exhibition, refused to take them down after the truth was out. Its spokeswoman said that if it helps their cause, why not use these (fake) photos!! More feeding of xeno, never mind it borders along malice too!
So why are there Singaporeans who feel they need to defend the victims of xeno suddenly so vocal? It is not that we have not been xeno the last 50 years!
My Views about xeno and my conclusion -
Xeno in Singapore is not unique. It occurs everywhere in the world. The difference is the degree of xeno. Some countries have it mild. Some have it at extremes.
I feel that the xeno in Singapore is nowhere compared to Europe or America. In those countries, the xeno is so bad it is a slap on the face of Human Rights. I am talking about Islamophobia in Europe and America. But that is a whole topic that has to be discussed separately.
As for xeno in Singapore context, I don't support it. In fact, I have not been supporting it for many years. As you could see from my posts, long before our fellow Singaporeans who have resided abroad claim that xeno is bad, I have been saying that in this blog.
Xeno in Singapore is not just about fearing foreigners taking our jobs. Anti-xenos should also know that xeno is also about fearing our neighbours who are living up North and South of us.
So if these "activists" want Singaporeans to end xeno in Singapore, start telling yourselves and others that you don't need to fear the non-existent Malay Bogeyman in the North and South, and stop believing the lies LKY has been propagating the last 50 years, as well as stop believing in your host countries' xeno.
Putting in a nutshell, you look quite stupid and hypocritical telling Singaporeans to stop their xeno against foreigners in Singapore, when there's a way much bigger xeno you are not addressing.
Thursday, 2 June 2011
Xenophobia in S'pore? You only realise it now after nearly 50 yrs?
at <A class=timestamp-link title="permanent link" href="http://wherebearsroamfree.blogspot.com/2011/06/xenophobia-in-spore-you-only-realise-it.html" rel=bookmark><ABBR class=published title=2011-06-02T09:57:00+08:00>9:57:00 AM</ABBR>
Introduction -
As more Singaporeans, both students studying abroad and adults working overseas, are exposed to foreign culture, more are speaking up against their fellow citizens about the xenophobia that's happening in Singapore.
The claim from them is always the same. It is always "having studied/worked abroad, I am appalled at the treatment of foreigners in Singapore...."
It is as if you need to have been abroad to know that. It is as if you had not travelled far, you won't notice it. What self-righteous attitude that contains a smack of arrogance and elitism.
This is furthest from the truth. No, not that those who have stayed in Singapore have learnt that xeno in Singapore exists. It is that those who have been abroad still have not learnt that the real xeno in Singapore has existed for nearly 50 years!
Xenophobia in Singapore today -
Here's a letter from the ST. Note the all too familiar erroneous idea, as well as the self-righteous attitude, that just because you have travelled extensively, you would be more likely to embrace different cultures and be less xeno and/or racist. In reality, that's far, far from the truth.
Beware of feeding xenophobia
AFTER studying abroad for five years, I am returning to Singapore with a sense of discomfort.
As a Chinese-Indian Singaporean who appears more Indian than Chinese, I have grown up learning how to react to racist comments and can recognise xenophobes from a mile away.
However, I assumed that things would change for the better with years as my generation matured, travelled and learnt to embrace differences rather than give in to xenophobia.
But on Sunday, I happened on an online thread which made me rethink that assumption. It stemmed from a fan photo posted on The Temasek Review's Facebook page, which asked for captions. It was basically a candid shot of three individuals of Indian descent sitting in an MRT train.
Ms Yap, like many other self-righteous and self-proclaimed non-racist, uses the same "you need to have resided outside Singapore to know it" argument. Yes, xeno in Singapore exists. But it is clear that she believes in the false notion that if you have resided outside Singapore, you won't tolerate xeno in Singapore.As a Chinese-Indian Singaporean who appears more Indian than Chinese, I have grown up learning how to react to racist comments and can recognise xenophobes from a mile away.
However, I assumed that things would change for the better with years as my generation matured, travelled and learnt to embrace differences rather than give in to xenophobia.
But on Sunday, I happened on an online thread which made me rethink that assumption. It stemmed from a fan photo posted on The Temasek Review's Facebook page, which asked for captions. It was basically a candid shot of three individuals of Indian descent sitting in an MRT train.
I have argued in this site that is not necessarily so. In fact, those who have resided abroad and claimed that Singaporeans are xenophobic, are blind to their own host country's xenophobia! London has its own form of xenophobia - Islamophobia
Not only those who have travelled abroad are blind to their host countries' xeno, they have not learned that the real xeno in Singapore has been in existence the last nearly 50 years.
And what is this xeno about? It is about Malay-phobia, propagated by none other than the first PM of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew.
The 50 year old Xeno no one talks about -
Let's face it. No one likes to be labelled xenophobic and/or racist. That's the reason why many still don't (and won't) admit that we have been racists the last 50 years.
Has it not been Old Man Lee's ways to always create a sense of fear among (mainly Chinese) Singaporeans, that we ought to be afraid of the "sea of Malays" around us? He has done that even before we became independent!
Is this not xennophobia?
Yet, when you mention that the Malays (in Malaysia and Indonesia) have have been demonized, hated, scorned and feared, you will hear a host of reasons why they need to be! In fact, only last GE, we had Chan Chun Sing, singing out loud, the same xenophobic fear that we need to be very afraid of the 200+ million Indonesians who are out to sink tiny, puny Singapore. Army boy Chan Chun Sing talking cock
Is this not a 50 year old xeno that has been in Singapore all the while, even before we got full independence? So for all the claims that Singaporeans will be able to learn that we are xeno, if we travelled far and wide, does this not show that it is furthest from the truth?
Isn't this Mother of all Xenos in Singapore, the cause of many racially discriminatory practices in Singapore, that disadvantages our own Malay citizens? As discussed in the following articles?
If I told you Singapore has racist policies, would you believe me?
Racial Quota for HDB is for PAP to stay in power – and it is racially discriminatory
More crap from Old Man Lee – what integration talking he?
Racism exists in Singapore - Split Views on 3rd Singapore Idol's Win proves it
I take my hat off to Mr Wang (of MrWangSaysSo)
I like this post within my "Racism" category best because it came from another blogger and not me. It puts to rest that I am not the only Chinese blogger who sees that the Malays/Muslims are being bashed to the hilt (by some sections of the Chinese Community), just because he is a Malay/Muslim. Isn't this a direct result of LKY's xeno against the Malays of the North and South?
So has not Old Man Lee (and some sections of the Chinese community) been feeding xeno in Singapore, that it has caused Singaporeans to accept all these racially discriminatory practices and policies by our govt?
Our Xeno extends to issues outside Singapore too -
If you thought that (some) Singaporeans are xeno pertaining to issues within our country, you are wrong. Singaporeans are so xeno about the Bogey Malay Man that lives to the North and South of us (no thanks to LKY's feeding of such racist ideas), it has reached ridiculous levels.
During the 1997 SE Asian Financial Crisis, we had the Indonesian Riots. The issue, to the laymen, was the skyrocketing prices of goods, including staple food. The common man could no longer afford cheap rice and groceries. This led to the people (mainly Malays) to riot and attack businesses (mainly Chinese).
In an opportunistic and malicious attempt by (some sections, not all) of the Chinese community in Singapore to paint and perpertuate the xenophobic idea that the Malays North and South are to be feared, these people portray that economic riot as a racist riot.
There were even fake rape photos of Chinese girls being raped by "dark complexion" men put up on the internet. Their game was up, when someone highlighted that those photos were taken from some Japanese porn site. This fake attempt is nothing short of malice.
Incidentally, Aware, who had also been using these fake photos unwittingly in an exhibition, refused to take them down after the truth was out. Its spokeswoman said that if it helps their cause, why not use these (fake) photos!! More feeding of xeno, never mind it borders along malice too!
So why are there Singaporeans who feel they need to defend the victims of xeno suddenly so vocal? It is not that we have not been xeno the last 50 years!
My Views about xeno and my conclusion -
Xeno in Singapore is not unique. It occurs everywhere in the world. The difference is the degree of xeno. Some countries have it mild. Some have it at extremes.
I feel that the xeno in Singapore is nowhere compared to Europe or America. In those countries, the xeno is so bad it is a slap on the face of Human Rights. I am talking about Islamophobia in Europe and America. But that is a whole topic that has to be discussed separately.
As for xeno in Singapore context, I don't support it. In fact, I have not been supporting it for many years. As you could see from my posts, long before our fellow Singaporeans who have resided abroad claim that xeno is bad, I have been saying that in this blog.
Xeno in Singapore is not just about fearing foreigners taking our jobs. Anti-xenos should also know that xeno is also about fearing our neighbours who are living up North and South of us.
So if these "activists" want Singaporeans to end xeno in Singapore, start telling yourselves and others that you don't need to fear the non-existent Malay Bogeyman in the North and South, and stop believing the lies LKY has been propagating the last 50 years, as well as stop believing in your host countries' xeno.
Putting in a nutshell, you look quite stupid and hypocritical telling Singaporeans to stop their xeno against foreigners in Singapore, when there's a way much bigger xeno you are not addressing.
