Dear Mr Lee,
When I was staying in hostel in uni in Singapore, it was not uncommon for there to be a Malaysia Day or China Day. The PRCs even hang their national flag up on their room doors. Celebrations of national days of other countries organized by other nationalities are not very new here, and I agree with you that ppl should be respectful and open, it’s the best way to build meaningful relationships with a global community. But my experience in hostel was more than 10 yrs ago. People were more tolerant and less inflamed, the climate was different back then. I was from the generation where the government dared to go against the mighty USA and cane Michael Fay for vandalism. The law was fair. There were no double standards.
So let’s get to the heart of the matter as to why times have changed, when a previously more open culture has become so volatile with emotions – I wish that you were just as vocal against bigotry as you are now, when some foreigner speaks badly about Singapore and Singaporeans without even understanding why we are the way we are or what our culture is like, simply because they don’t need to. Not all foreigners are disrespectful; in fact some try their best to adapt to our culture. But lately the numbers that are behaving disrespectfully are growing, such that they are even being so openly, even on your own Facebook page. How can you not understand that it is only natural that your citizens are upset if every time a foreigner behaves badly and you ask us to reflect upon ourselves and be accepting.
What happens then, to standing up for bigotry? If anything I feel that the current climate of overflowing of emotions is because of how yourself and your party have been responding to Singaporeans anger, at being subjected to nasty behavior in our own homeland. You ask us how we would feel if we were to face the same treatment at our Singapore day in London – We don’t even have to organize a Singapore day in London or Sydney to experience the “ugly behavior”. We have it right at home! Everyday! If we can’t look to you our leader for support then rom whom should we seek it? Who are the ppl lookin to then? I mean this with all sincerity because it seems that you are not being told honest advice from your political advisors (if any), and the emperor has no clothes.
Jo Jo
*Article first appeared on https://www.facebook.com/leehsienloong?fref=ts