What's become clear from recent events is that Singaporeans, regardless of financial circumstance, job or cultural background are all one and the same - we shop in the same places, eat in the same places and take public transport. And most importantly we seem to have a lot of respect for people around us, whether you're a taxi driver or a wealth manager, to us you're one and the same. I love that we call people 'Auntie' and 'Uncle', in spite of the fact that they are probably not part of our family tree. While everyone keeps asking what the Singaporean identity is, I think we should really take stock that this is exactly what it means to be a Singaporean and that is our true identity.
What's interesting is that there is also talk that Singaporeans are touchy and we have over reacted. My view is that this is about our way of life and if you threaten it we are going to defend it in some way. I'm glad we have stood up together on this. I agree that there are other equally arrogant people out there who might be saying the same things but what they did not do was post it on Facebook! We've worked hard to protect our multi-racial culture which tries not to show class divide (and I say tries because there will always be some bad apples) so it's hard when someone who's been enjoying the wealth and comforts this country has to offer looks down on it. And don't forget it was the generation of all our parents and grandparents who built this country and worked together as Singaporeans, regardless of where they originally came from. Many of us are immigrants in some sense and we don't need a foreigner who had nothing to do with the foundation of this amazing city telling us any different.
So maybe the one thing we should say to Mr Casey r is - "Thank you for reminding us of who we truly are." We see all the different cultures on this little red dot as being homogenous, we celebrate all festivities and even Singlish borrows from our different languages. It's something we are incredibly proud of. This is what it means to be Singaporean and unless you've truly embraced this, this island will never be home for you.
Now, I'm off to have some love letters and plan for our very own version of a reunion dinner.
Theresa S
TRS Contributor