Sunday, June 04, 2006 @2:17 AM
when asked to describe a talent or skill which is related to Singapore's culture or society i wrote this:
i am a protestant teaching in a catholic school, grew up in a buddhist family and have a muslim god-family. i really had no idea what to write, because there really isnt much of a culture to talk about. terence c said to write about debates, and justify it as part of our colonial culture. trust him to think up of something like this. haha.
anyway, was just thinking about the whole inter-racial interaction thing. come to think about it, i never really had a problem with this. i mean my best friends in secondary school and jc were not chinese, they were malay. even now, rens, anis and kari are still my close friends and they arent chinese. nalli aint chinese, sharmini aint chinse, kal aint chinese. we all get along fine and are in fact great friends. naz wasnt chinese.
in fact, it was only after my involvement with the youth council did my circle of chinese friends expand. (i realise that i converse more often in chinese nowadays. not that i am complaining haha) so what is really the problem here then? are we really suffering from that much inertia when it comes to making friends from another racial group? or are we merely finding excuses to rationalise and justify the lack of inter-racial interaction and engagement?
BPGHS wasnt exactly the most racially diverse place on earth when i was there. there wasnt the malay elective programme in place at that time and i could recite the names of ALL the malay students and indian student (there were only 2 of them, shawn and biresh, both were my friends) to you in less than 5 minutes. granted, not everyone is given such an opportunity to mix around and be rather open about inter-racial stuff, and undoubtedly racial bias and assumptions still exists before of parental influence, or baggage as i would call it. but i seriously think that we should all start to examine our own attitudes towards this issue.
it is ironic that many young singaporeans today are quick to point out that the many initiatives rolled out by the government are there to maintain an artificial balance. but come on, it has to start somewhere. it is articificial, so do something to make it less artificial.
singaporeans like to complain and lament. they have many things to criticise and are unhappy about. but you know what, they dont do anything about it. half of the dialogues that i attend with the various ministers and ministries usually end up becoming a big complain session. "why hasnt the government do anything about this or that or (insert your line here)" or "what is the government going to do about the problem".
if you ask me what is the main gripe i have about young people and singaporeans in general, here are the two things:
- complaining about the sad state of the government (PAP or otherwise) isnt being civic-conscious. more often than not you only show how narrow minded and petty you are, because you end up making the same complaints about the media and censorship. there is more than just complaining or government bashing you know. not that i am a fervent supporter of the PAP, they have their shortcomings too as with all governments and parties. but you have to give them credit and respect for the amazing transformation we have undergone in the last 4 decades, and you have to admit this, they have the guts to admit to their shortcomings too. i quote my prof in school, "i rather have a one-party system which keeps the country safe, prosperous and progressive than to have democracy and be governed by non-thinking minds." actually, it is kind of true, just like the sheeps in Animal Farm, non-thinking minds gets "brainwashed" too easily, democracy then goes to trash. man i am not naming any one here. =)
- STOP ASKING THE GOVERNMENT FOR SOLUTIONS. come on, they might be the one with the money, but they aren't supermen you know. it aint possible for them to solve all the problems, the government aint GOD. and as i used to say, even God cant please everyone (if not why are people complaining about their looks and figures all the time) so what makes you think that the government is omnipotent? they have their priorities and issues to deal with first. so if you are really upset or unhappy with something, why not take the first move and try to do something about it. i have more respect for people who actually dare to venture out and try a solution and fail, than for people who sit there and lament. dont come and tell me about how there are restrictions about the kind of things we want to do, come on, laws are there for our own good. fake or articificial aside, we need to be kept in check and besides, we are gradually liberalising as a society, so take this chance to make a difference and make your words into action. (actually, in an extremely self-reflexive manner, debaters do this all the time, we argue about issues, win the debate or lose, go for dinner and go home. we never do anything about anything we talk about. how very sad.)
i believe in GOD and his divine plans for us. But i also believe that God will only help those who help themselves. so we aren't proactive (besides complaining and finding convenient excuses), then nothing is ever going to happen.
i am not implying that i am able to accomplish all of the above, but at least i try to do whatever i can. and so should you guys, given that you all have bright futures ahead of you and your education status will definitely bring you far. i know that one day some of you will be in prominent positions, so why not do something now and then maybe miche can stop worrying about her life and future. (man, thinking of the guys in NS (bryan, auyong) and what with val wanting to be an opposition member, and al's desire to be in charge of little boys, sam and his plans to eradicate maths and science and the gummy bear troupe. now i am really scared. haha)
nah dont worry no one is going to get into any trouble here, you are all too young =P but seriously, apart from the stress and pressure of having to do well, you have no idea how good you have it here. believe me, you really do.
miche has a mosquito bite on her feet. it itches. bleah
