Does being born in Singapore make us more Singaporean?
As of August 15 this year, the proud nation of Singapore that we live in officially ended its 48 years of Olympic nothingness. For so long, Singapore has never won an Olympic medal. After so long, we’ve finally won a medal, and it’s even a silver medal! It is definitely a reason for us to celebrate and cheer and be happy
So why the sad faces?
Is it because the table tennis athletes who have done this are from China? Of course, we all know that the nation has spent millions of dollars on the foreign-talent problem, finding players from other countries and bringing them back to Singapore to train, and play for Singapore. This applies to many sports, including table tennis, badminton and football. Besides, Singapore is not the only country in the world that does this. So what’s the problem?
Maybe it’s because these foreign players are better the Singaporean-born ones. We want to have the best athletes, but we don’t want to spend money to nurture kids to play sports, but take already-made talents from other countries. Soccer, for example, has a lot of foreign-players in the national team. These Europeans and Africans are better built then Singaporeans, which is probably why they get selected. For teenagers who dream of playing soccer for Singapore, it becomes very difficult, especially if they are competing against Africans who are very strong. For badminton, Singapore chose not to send Kendrick Lee (Singapore-born), but Ronald Susilo (Indonesian-born), and he crashed out in the first round of the Olympics. Then, it would be better to send Kendrick, and then he might get some experience playing at such a big stage.
Definitely, as Singaporeans, we fear that these foreign-born talents are taking over our places in society. As part of OUR COUNTRY, it is hard to think that in the future, we are the minority. In school, at work, on the MRT, whenever we turn around, wherever we look, we always see someone who is foreign-born. These people are at times, smarter, stronger and better looking than us. Their foreign genes give them an advantage here in Singapore, so what happens to Singaporeans now?
Many of these foreign born people are permanent residents or even citizens. They share the same benefits that we have, and are already one of us. Definitely, it is difficult for them to blend in, but they are already trying extremely hard to do so. They eat the same food as us, we go to the same schools, we learn the same things, we are part of the same Singapore.
However, it is hard to say what true Singaporeans are. Even for those people who are born in Singapore, they can hardly be counted as a true Singaporean. They just want to take the benefits that Singapore give and migrate overseas when the time comes.
Yes, we say that foreign-born Singaporeans might never be able to sing the National anthem, but then, for how many Singaporeans actually sing the National anthem?
Our special characteristics, our kiasu-ism and kiasi-ism, these make us special. So when foreign-born people come here and try their best to blend in, for those who love Singapore with all their hearts, we must accept them. No matter what, these people are here to stay, so why not let’s just accept it, and perhaps, enjoy it?
So why the sad faces?
Is it because the table tennis athletes who have done this are from China? Of course, we all know that the nation has spent millions of dollars on the foreign-talent problem, finding players from other countries and bringing them back to Singapore to train, and play for Singapore. This applies to many sports, including table tennis, badminton and football. Besides, Singapore is not the only country in the world that does this. So what’s the problem?
Maybe it’s because these foreign players are better the Singaporean-born ones. We want to have the best athletes, but we don’t want to spend money to nurture kids to play sports, but take already-made talents from other countries. Soccer, for example, has a lot of foreign-players in the national team. These Europeans and Africans are better built then Singaporeans, which is probably why they get selected. For teenagers who dream of playing soccer for Singapore, it becomes very difficult, especially if they are competing against Africans who are very strong. For badminton, Singapore chose not to send Kendrick Lee (Singapore-born), but Ronald Susilo (Indonesian-born), and he crashed out in the first round of the Olympics. Then, it would be better to send Kendrick, and then he might get some experience playing at such a big stage.
Definitely, as Singaporeans, we fear that these foreign-born talents are taking over our places in society. As part of OUR COUNTRY, it is hard to think that in the future, we are the minority. In school, at work, on the MRT, whenever we turn around, wherever we look, we always see someone who is foreign-born. These people are at times, smarter, stronger and better looking than us. Their foreign genes give them an advantage here in Singapore, so what happens to Singaporeans now?
Many of these foreign born people are permanent residents or even citizens. They share the same benefits that we have, and are already one of us. Definitely, it is difficult for them to blend in, but they are already trying extremely hard to do so. They eat the same food as us, we go to the same schools, we learn the same things, we are part of the same Singapore.
However, it is hard to say what true Singaporeans are. Even for those people who are born in Singapore, they can hardly be counted as a true Singaporean. They just want to take the benefits that Singapore give and migrate overseas when the time comes.
Yes, we say that foreign-born Singaporeans might never be able to sing the National anthem, but then, for how many Singaporeans actually sing the National anthem?
Our special characteristics, our kiasu-ism and kiasi-ism, these make us special. So when foreign-born people come here and try their best to blend in, for those who love Singapore with all their hearts, we must accept them. No matter what, these people are here to stay, so why not let’s just accept it, and perhaps, enjoy it?
posted by doubleuaxe- at
7:24 AM
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