12/03/2006

How Singaporean are we?

The latest incident in Medan where a Singaporean working there was beaten up by an Indonesian cop is a good example of how much Singaporeans feel as one people. Watching the video clip in the news of the Singaporean being viciously battered when he was down and defenceless could and should evoke some kind of emotions from fellow Singaporeans. It did to me. The victim was a Singaporean, was one of us. It was quite a sickening feeling to see foreigners taking liberties to bash another Singaporean. It is like bashing us. I raised the issue in Cyberspace, in both my forum and blog. The reactions from fellow Singaporeans range from apathy to denials. Some even raised questions like the Singaporean probably had done something wrong and invited the attack. It is kind of, well, it does not concern me. There is no ‘us’ feeling. We don’t feel nor share the sense of being Singaporean. The misfortune that happens to other Singaporeans does not concern us. Why was there no emotional outburst or gut reaction against the attacker for attacking another Singaporean? I would expect some angry postings or protests in cyberspace against the attacker. Maybe hurling some abusive remarks like in cyberspace style. But practically nothing was said. A non event. And no letters to the Straits Times forum. Is it that we are now being too rational, too logical, too pragmatic, too thinking, that we are so detached from our emotions? It could be a good thing. But from the angle of being a people, I would like to see a spontaneous feeling of anger and a sense of injustice for another Singaporean without the rationalization. This can come up later when things cool down. When we are talking about being Singaporeans, being one people, it is an emotional thing. Some can feel proud or shed a little tear watching the National Day parade and knowing how far we have come. When Michael Fay was being caned for breaking our law, even the US President got involved. Then the Australian Govt and Australians were all emotions when we hanged the Australian drug peddler. This is what being one people is all about. To stand together, to feel as one people. I think we have lost that in the Medan incident.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

U should know by now. Singapore is a company, not a country. A company belongs to its directors, not its employees.

Anonymous said...

If Singapore is attacked, I will rather leave the country. Gov can stop talking crap bs about loyalty when they themselves doesn't take care of the people. We have no identity and so why should we continue to die for country in which no longer associated with ????

Anonymous said...

Singaporeans are too selfish to feel for others, even to another fellow Singaporean. There will never be a feeling of "us" where Singaporeans are concerned. It is everybody for himself in Singapore. It has always been this way, and it will always be this way. So pathetic!!

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

there will be a new singaporean first campaign coming out soon. then singaporeans can feel like singaporeans again.

Anonymous said...

We are not Singaporean anymore if we stay in this country. We are Leegaporean where we live and die to serve Lee's empire, to build and make rich his empire. He is no worse than Hilter except that instead of killing ppl, he actually killing them financially and go a slow death.

When Oldman die, I will attend his funeral, no doubt, not to pay respect, but to celebrate with champagne and fireworks.

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

at one time i heard a lot of singaporeans calling themselves international citizens, or citizens of the world, welcome by the world and love by the world.

with globalisation, this should be the way to go. no more nationalities. though this concept may be mooted in some gay parties or among pseudo intellectuals, it is very real to some singaporeans. they are international citizens first and singaporeans last.

Anonymous said...

Redbean, if what you say is true, then what's the hell am I wasting my time and life serving NS and reservist ????

Protect my family ???? Lee will kill my family finanically than will terrorist blow up my family.

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

don't worry lah. rip van winkle has awaken. thing will get better by the days.

Anonymous said...

Thank Redbean,
I know what you means. Oldman's life is numbered, and so is his empire of whities.

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

hi love,

welcome to the blog, with love: )

in hsien loong's and choktong's latest speeches, they also raised the issue of being singaporeans and calling this place home. for them to also talk about it means that they have sensed that something is not right.

we are either hollowing ourselves or diluting our identity too rapidly that we may have to start all over again to rebuild the nation from the hearts and mind again.

physically we have done well. but have we lost the emotional part? the part that makes a people want to die for the country even when they are hungry and nothing to fight for?

many of you have said the same thing. we no longer care about being singaporeans or what happens to singaporeans or singapore. now that is a dangerous trend.

Anonymous said...

"Maybe hurling some abusive remarks like in cyberspace style."

maybe we are more civilized unlike... :-)

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

cyberspace is cyberspace and tends to take a character of its own. definitely it will not be like the msm.

we can afford to be a little more colourful.

Anonymous said...

We already lose that identity because gahmen is become crappy and BS. As ppl become wiser and educated, ppl realize the crap and BS do affect their lives somehow. Increase of GST and increase Minister pay ??? Fu#$@#king crappy thing.

I will fight for the country but f#@$k it. I don't even is proud to Singaporean. Only MP and MInister, PM, MM and gahmen is proud because they can rip money from public easily and where else in the world can they do so than in our own "large chicken farm". Yes, just slaughter the chicken to feed them fat and rich.

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

don't say govt is crappy lah. the saviour of singaporeans are the govt and the foreign talents.

let's don't mess around with this combination.

Anonymous said...

Kikikukism is the end product of Kiasuism.

Anonymous said...

I agree "Singapore is a Company, not a country" and also agree "If Singapore is attacked, I will rather leave the country. Gov can stop talking crap bs about loyalty when they themselves doesn't take care of their people. We have no identity and so why should we continue to die for country in which no longer associated with?" but deep inside I am very x 100 angry about the whole incident and feel x 100 sorry what had happen to the Singaporean in Medan. As a Human, I feel how he feel when being bashed and no one there for help. Even a "Singaporean" that was with them, join the bashing instead of helping his country people.