Thursday, September 17, 2009

Locals versus Foreigners

PM Lee said the Government would "adjust the inflows so we will not dilute our national identity or weaken our social cohesion". The issue about Singaporeans being threatened by the high influx of foreigners is really bugging me. I am really not sure why there are Singaporeans acting or thinking like this. I simply do not see what is wrong. Didn't Singapore started out that way? Majority of our forefathers came from overseas, settled in Singapore and help build Singapore to what she is today. All the colourful cultures, the Singlish were all a culmination of these unique differences they brought with them. I really despised Singaporean Chinese when they looked down on other Chinese from mainland.

When society progress, does it always mean an eroding of values? Do we become myopic, and over-protective? I look at Australians and find them feeling exactly the same way years back with the high influx of foreigners. It was simply discriminating. The very first Australians migrated into the country, took over from the Aboriginal, and now they get pissed off with new immigrants?

The world is pretty much well connected now, and cross cultures is inevitable. Is identity so important? Singaporeans were still searching for an identity not too long ago, why? We were simply too 'mixed up', and do not have a unique race, or religion. However, it did not stop us from excelling, and being the best we can be. So what is a Singaporean? I agree with PM Lee that there needs to be a control with the influx, or we will be back to square one if what we have built up over the generations are replaced in an instance. The flow in must be regulated to let them integrate, but Singaporeans need to chill out and welcome them with open arms. They have been doing all the works that Singaporeans find it too lowly to do. Singaporeans are too pampered a lot and I really hope we mature and grow up.

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