A scholar from China, Sun Xu, posted a remark "there are more dogs than humans in Singapore". Many Singaporeans were outraged and condemned him vociferously and relentlessly in the social media. The anger was amplified by the fact that he is studying in Singapore on funding provided by the Government, and is seen to be quite ungrateful. There were calls for the scholarship to be rescinded.
Sun Xu regretted his careless statement and made an apology in a microblog. He also sought the assistance of the Chinese embassy to be given a chance to "repay the kindness" that he has received from Singapore. I hope that the condemnation and the call for vengeance should now subside and that this matter can be laid to rest.
Let us look at this statement from the perspective of logic and reason. When Sun Xu said that there are "more dogs", he must be imputing that many Singaporeans behave like dogs, He did not say that "all" Singaporeans behave in that way but he did imply that "most" Singaporeans fit into that mold. In that respect, many people (including me) would disagree with him. But, we would probably agree that "some" Singaporeans do behave badly.
In the heat of anger, we forgot to ask him to explain his remark. What exactly is the negative behavior that he was alluding to?
I have a dog, a Schnauzer, called Twinkle. She must have felt very offended to be associated with bad behavior, especially of the kind that is practiced by humans rather than her kind. She wanted me to point out that her kind also has positive traits, such as loyalty and friendliness, as described by the phrase " a dog is a man's best friend"
There is, frankly, one part of her trait that can be attributed to some (perhaps many) Singaporeans. She wants to appear brave but deep inside, she is not that brave. When a stranger comes to the house, she would bark most loudly and relentlessly, but would keep a distance from the stranger. If challenged, she would probably run into hiding. I do not blame her, for she is really small compared to the stranger.
Let us take a lesson from this saga. While many of us disagree with the statement made by Sun Xu, he has already apologized. We should display a more tolerant and forgiving attitude.
We should also avoid "jumping to conclusion" and, in a similar situation in the future, ask "can you explain your statement? " That would be the trait of a reasonable person - a positive trait that Singaporeans should cultivate.
Tan Kin Lian
Sun Xu regretted his careless statement and made an apology in a microblog. He also sought the assistance of the Chinese embassy to be given a chance to "repay the kindness" that he has received from Singapore. I hope that the condemnation and the call for vengeance should now subside and that this matter can be laid to rest.
Let us look at this statement from the perspective of logic and reason. When Sun Xu said that there are "more dogs", he must be imputing that many Singaporeans behave like dogs, He did not say that "all" Singaporeans behave in that way but he did imply that "most" Singaporeans fit into that mold. In that respect, many people (including me) would disagree with him. But, we would probably agree that "some" Singaporeans do behave badly.
In the heat of anger, we forgot to ask him to explain his remark. What exactly is the negative behavior that he was alluding to?
There is, frankly, one part of her trait that can be attributed to some (perhaps many) Singaporeans. She wants to appear brave but deep inside, she is not that brave. When a stranger comes to the house, she would bark most loudly and relentlessly, but would keep a distance from the stranger. If challenged, she would probably run into hiding. I do not blame her, for she is really small compared to the stranger.
Let us take a lesson from this saga. While many of us disagree with the statement made by Sun Xu, he has already apologized. We should display a more tolerant and forgiving attitude.
We should also avoid "jumping to conclusion" and, in a similar situation in the future, ask "can you explain your statement? " That would be the trait of a reasonable person - a positive trait that Singaporeans should cultivate.
Tan Kin Lian
7 comments:
I chance upon an occasion when I was in the lift of a Beijing 5 star hotel. I witnessed a child of about 10 years of age telling his parents that overseas chinese is a class lower than the mainland chinese. I was shocked that the parents kept silence and did not rebuke him at all. If that is the mentality of modern China I had misgivings about China growing strong and influential.
I like your cynical but TRUE analogy of your pet dog being deep down afraid ! Yes, we need to reflect on what that demeaning statement.
Years of high economic growth has gone into the heads of these Chinese nationals, who now think they rule the whole world now.
From the Chinese Govt officials to the ordinary people, China has been looking down on Singapore, and the SEA countries, for a long time now.
Their bullying tactics around the Spratly islands in the South China Sea attest to their conceit and big brother behaviour. Our own Govt has to kowtow to China, as our GLCs are so heavily invested into China, esp the property market.
We could tolerate the Chinese acting high and mighty, there were many sneering insults on Singaporeans recently, whether in cyberspace or in incidents here, but calling us dogs, a derogatory word in Chinese culture, is hard to stomach. Even Buddha will be enraged at one too many incidents.
True, we have many Singaporeans who display kiasu and kiasi behaviour that we detest ourselves, but we would never dare to call them dogs, this would provoke a violet fight.
These Chinese nationals are taking advantage that Singaporeans are cowed by the ISA, so they gleefully
speak, act and insult us with abandon, knowing that we dare not do anything, except to let off fire crackers under the bed, i.e. complain through the net.
We citizens are really second class citizens in our own country.
Let's imagine a scenario, what about a mainland Chinese calling our respected LKY a dog, would'nt we feel incensed as citizens of a sovereign country.
I first visited China in 1987. At that time, the people were really poor. Singaporeans wanted to help them, perhaps to teach them, how to make economic progress.
25 years have passed, and the table has changed. China is now an economic powerhouse, and they have made a lot of progress. Credit must go to their leaders and people.
They do not need to be arrogant or so materialistic, and perhaps most of the people do not share these attitudes. We should also be aware that Singaporeans are seen by other people to have the same attitudes.
I did my postgraduat study at Beijing University in 2003-2005.
I met hundres of part-time student who did philisophy studies. Those are successful businessmen and women. I did not find them arrogant.
I am sorry to tell you top PRC student (AAA grade) is likely study in Beijing University, Tsing Hua University or Harvard University. Those PRC student who study in Singapore are likely "investment grade" and below !!!
@"They do not need to be arrogant or so materialistic, and perhaps most of the people do not share these attitudes."
I tend to agree with the above. The arrogance could be due to or associated with [wealth + being in a more self-perceived "elite" class] ... the same way we tend to associate PAP with this too.
Some mainland Chinese may think they are "culturally" elite ... particularly in respect of the "Chinese culture". As a matter of fact, it is ... we might blame LKY for once closing Chinese schools or having pushed English too much ...
But then :-
@"We should also be aware that Singaporeans are seen by other people to have the same attitudes."
Yep, we are having problem sorting out whether it should be "may / shall / must" in LAWS for a by-election . LOL
But in China, whatever they feel like saying they really just "blurt" it out as if "barking", but we Singaporeans may be more timid like Mr TKL's Schnauzer - Twinkle. But we still can "bark" too. But after the "barking" everybody forgets ... because that is a way for mainlanders or their habit to simply de-stress or perhaps might be their historical way to "liberate" themselves having been suppressed in older generations, while the present generation of Little Emperors may still inherit such habits in their culture. So one should understand their "meeting culture" in business or work life too ... so much talking but after that nothing concrete may evolve. LOL. This is the same "barking".
And I must say China is too culturally diverse, it is hard to generalise, even amongst the majority Hans; we are also Hans decendents.
Coincidentally, I like to share this article in TOC. The author seems to be screaming "Are there more dogs than humans in Singapore?" LOL.
http://theonlinecitizen.com/2012/03/vikram-nair-compares-chen-show-maos-proposals-to-a-nigerian-scam/#.T1AdOjdrwyg.facebook
Vikram Nair compares Chen Show Mao’s proposals to a Nigerian scam
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