Racism in Singapore

I'm probably not the first person to say it, but racism has got to stop. I realize it's more than just wishing it away - a goal as ambitious as that requires action, and alot of it. And alot of sacrifices have to be made along the way. Unfortunately, not everyone will agree with what I think have to be sacrificed. But first, some first hand, racially based incidences I have encountered while visiting family overseas in Singapore.

One of my earliest memories of racial biases in my family occured circa 1996. I was sitting with my grandmother and aunt, and the topic of conversation was my brother's then girlfriend. My grandmother asked me if there was anyone I was interested in. At the time, it was Kristy Stefanucci, gorgeous girl I had a crush on in grade 5. They noted that it was a non-Chinese name and asked me if she was white, and I said yes. She proceeded to advise me to stay away from white people and that they were "nothing but trouble." Okay to be friends with, but not to get into relationships with. Yes, I understand that divorce rates tend to be higher in North America, but I personally attribute that to women having a less traditional mindset, and the more liberal culture in general. Not because white people are trouble. Especially since interracial relationships are rampant around where I grew up.

A more severe incident occured around 2001. I had lost some American money I kept in my wallet in case I ran out of the local currency and American dollars were gladly accepted at the time. My aunt asked if I had absent-mindedly handed it off to someone which downright enraged me since she was suggesting I was THAT stupid. So I told her she was paranoid and that would never happen. Unfortunately, said aunt took it as an attack on her, which shouldn't happen especially coming from her nephew. Later, she came over to my grandmother's house where I was staying and they both launched an attack on me, saying that since I lived in Canada, my rude behaviour could only be attributed to the negative impact of living in a predominantly white society which was responsible for instilling white values into me. The white friends I chose to hang out with had erased years of my Chinese culture and values.

Yes, I wanted to yell. I wanted to tell them how ignorant they were (ethnic minorities in Vancouver make up just under half of the population in Vancouver). I wanted to point out the "degeneration" (as they would call it) of youth in Asia as well. But yelling and showing more disrespect would only support their point. So I just raised my hands and said "I don't have to take this," and walked out of the room.

A conversation with one of my cousins turned into a heated debate. She told me that she wouldn't stand near a person of east Indian descent if she could help it cause statistically, they were the minority group most likely to pickpocket or rob someone. Another time, we went to Mustafa's, a 24-hour shopping mall ran and patronized mostly by East Indians. When we got home, she said she'd developed a rash and her brother said it was probably we'd be shopping at Mustafa's but yet, I was fine.

I would never consider my immediate family outright racist in values, but there are more discriminatory attitudes than I would like to admit. Living in a diverse community where I am considered the minority, I have been on both ends of racist treatment and no good has come out of either. Incidences like these have solidified my stance against racism - and culture, even - and discrimination of any kind.

In my opinion, even recognizing the skin colour, sex, religion of another is grounds for discrimination. In high school, there were Persian groups, Korean groups, for example. Sure, things were peaceful between the two groups but the fact that there were groups at all ripened the soil for discrimination to spring forth. And guess what, years later, it did. Stories of the groups clashing, gang fights at the school, all in the name of pride.

People will argue that recognizing and having pride in your ethnic background, your sex, your sexuality, etc is a good thing. I beg to differ. What this ends up doing is creating a "us and them" type of thinking. "I am white and proud of it." "I am Asian and proud of it." How hard is it to turn those statements around to say "I am this, therefore I am better than you." Hell, even among a single group of friends, it's not uncommon for one of them, if they are an ethnic minority, or a girl, or gay, to make a point of it. Superficial lines are drawn even within groups of friends. And it is along these lines that a friendship could potentially crumble should a disagreement occur.

I was having a conversation with my brother on Mother's Day, who told me that as a Chinese person, it bothered him that he didn't know much about what it meant to be Chinese. He felt that he should because ethnic identity is a part of who we are. On the other hand, I've spent a lifetime battling assumptions people make about me because of what I look like. Experience has taught me that ethnic identity only speaks for WHAT I am a male of Chinese descent. Who I am is made up of things that are under my control - the choices I make. If I saw a lady getting robbed by a thug, whether I choose to comfort the lady or pursue the thug is determined by the choices I make; in other words, WHO I am. I won't make that choice thinking "As a Chinese male, I would ..."

So to eradicate racism - or limit it at the very least, I suggest forgetting all about pride. This is what I meant by some sacrifices have to be made. Because we are human before we are American, European, African or Asian. An effort as to be made to recognize the humanity in people before we recognize cultural differences and skin colour.