.Wake Up. Singapore has chosen to base its entire society on a western model and as such it needs western expertise to bring it together. There are many things that Singaporeans are quite capable of doing without foreign help - but let me tell you. in my industry, the locals have got no effing idea. In time they will, but only after they have learnt the ropes from a westerner. That doesnt make westerners better racially. Just more experienced in setting up things western.Nicole L. wrote:I read this thread with great amusement. I am a Singaporean currently doing my Masters in Australia, and I must say, the racism is pretty deep. I'm not only talking about Australia, but also from other countries. I am currently in a very cosmopolitan flat- my flatmates hail from Canada, USA, Malaysia, Singapore, China, Hongkong and Australia, of course.
We were talking about expatriates the other day and I think I figured out the reason why locals in any country feel a sort of resentment towards the expatriates. We do not hate you as an individual- we hate the system that pervades the Asian country where expatriates are a common sight and predominantly white. My friend who lives his whole life in Hongkong talks about the tiny expatriate community that existed there which is so closed up and unopened to the locals. He belongs to an expatriate family and even though he's been there for ten years, he doesn't know any Cantonese nor have any locals as friends, unless of course they were rich enough to squeeze into the expatriate neat little elitist society. Business deals, he observes, were often given to any companies who puts up some kind of British flag or icon in their company's logo or name. Cronyism, it seems, is not just an Asian thing.
I also felt a similar kind of injustice when I am in Singapore. I see my friends who are extremely capable, creative and innovative having their jobs or promotion stolen from them just because the company felt that the stereotype of "a White is always better" to be true. The anger we have is not directed against the individual, but against this nonsensical and illogical put down of local talents who already have much compeition to face anyway. Not only that, in my previous workplace, I have witnessed blatant cronyism. I was in the human resource department so I knew about an incident whereby a manager, who's an expat, gives preferential treatment to people from his own country among the job candidates. I have also met many expatriates who look upon the locals like we are children, needing to be told what to do etc. etc, being high and mighty about their own culture. The only claim they can lay on being "multi-cultural" is that they like chicken rice.
All I want to say is that I wish the mentality will change soon- that this inferiority complex which is so needless disappear in the new generation of Singaporeans. I think that it's time that Singaporeans figure out for themselves that they are just as good as an IT expert from Delhi or some manager from USA. Yet, if the expatirates are here, welcome them and respect them. Help them appreciate our culture as much as we can. One note to fellow Singaporeans though, especially shop owners- do not look down on your fellowmen. I have seen in many occasions, and this disgust me, that shopkeepers are rude to locals but extremely friendly to anyone who appears White.
On the other hand, I also wish that expats who come to Singapore have an open mind about the country- you are our guests but do not stretch our patience. I have good friends who are caucasians and they may one day be expats in Singapore. I always give them this advice- Be open minded and do not ever place your culture above ours because we are all on equal standing.
I believe there's another side to the story but i can't honestly say that my experiences with expatriates are good. If I have one, I will definitely in future voice it out here. I'm a Singaporean and in my own country, I do want the top leadership positions in any field-science, business, politics (a defacto category, duh!), etc. to be headed by Singaporeans, not foreigners. This may be uncosmopolitan of me but I believe a country should look after its own people first and foremost and we are not a stupid nation. Australia does it- it protects its own citizens first when it comes to jobs. But it can hardly be accused of being racist. Singapore should do the same- welcome foreigners, yes. But take care of your own people, or at the very least, place them all on equal standing with the expats.
Peace out,
Nicole
To Visitor,I went to study in Australia and I never encountered any meaness or cruelty. So i have to agree with a previous poster that it's not your race but your whole attitude.
it does also depend where you reside. If you live in Pauline Hanson territory, you will undoubtedly come across more xenophobic people. In cosmopolitan areas, like melbourne, different nationalities wear their ethnicities with pride & have earnt the respect of all. It's become fashionable these days to be a "wog".2 cents on Aust wrote:To Visitor,I went to study in Australia and I never encountered any meaness or cruelty. So i have to agree with a previous poster that it's not your race but your whole attitude.
If you didn't experience racism in Australia then you are just lucky. It doesn't mean that racism doesn't exist there, or that the rest of us who experienced racism in Australia are making it up or somehow brought it upon ourselves by having the wrong attitude. Very often the onus is placed upon the victim to prove that they have been the victim of racism. It shouldn't be this way. Racism definitely exists there. And it's not the victim's fault. It's caused by the intolerance of the racist person.
With more luck, you may never experience racism when you're in Australia. But please remember that not everyone is that lucky.
Cheers,
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