SOMETIME IN LIFE, IT IS NECESSARY TO PROVE THE OBVIOUS BEFORE YOU GO ON TO THE LESS OBVIOUS
2 January 2008
Windy Wednesday (26 Degree Celsius)
Afternoon@ 1540 (Singapore Time)
Listen: 灰姑娘 by 张惠妹
Mood: *Don’t have a Cow, man*
Sometime in life, it is necessary to prove the obvious before you go on to the less obvious. It is like this saying by some elite; I don’t have to be right, as long as you are wrong, I am right already. Tantalizing for the senses isn’t it?
Following on the success of my trilogies (haha), we shall look at cultural, social significant and its implication for us. This is, for obvious reason, my sibei limited understanding of historical context and worldly facts. Besides, I got F9 for 6 of my 7 subjects in O level leh… How smart can I be… And please, don’t anyhow quote me, wait I kenna sued. See my disclaimer solid right? Cover all grounds.
Since the beginning of modern history (theoretically should coincide with the European Renaissance), the local Indigenous People (IP) are in somewhat lesser in significance, both historically and culturally compared to their colonist; the likes of British, Dutch, Portuguese, Spanish, heck basically every white men. Earlier days were the influx of Hindus Indians and later historically, the Chinese and for a variety of reasons too; political persecution to economical hardship.
Since then also, they have been push around, both politically and financially (well, not in that sense literally). Only a core group of IP actually benefited from these systems, usually but not predominately the Royals. Diplomacy and brute strength later; most of the (used to be) Elites ended up being just a figurehead in their territories. Not entirely their fault though, the Javanese did make life terribly difficult for the Dutch for a period of time before they are subdued. But arguably, most could not care less about their masses at large than with the preservation of their royal lifestyle. Why not, the colonists offer them protection, monthly salaries and stability. Which is much better than say thrashing their neighbors at the slightest provocation. In place, there is also this new thing call mediation. Ah New western concept, if only they are used more openly and appropriately.
That being said, there is this racially insensitive Army joke that goes like this
How to win the war in some part of the world?
Just throw them a football… enough said.
They cannot resist the temptation NOT to start kicking the ball in between bombardment. But hey, their lost is our gain. Or maybe we can just bomb them back to Stone Age? Well, we all know what that sentence leads to, don’t we?
Moving onto some pressing social issues, according to a ST report, the majority of single motherhood is by no coincidence the IP. Apparently they make up nearly half the numbers despite their minority status. Unlike other races where single moms are by choice, older, better educated and have the financial means to make it through, the IP are left to fence for themselves, receiving little support from either relatives (House?), friends (loan?) or for that matter, the government (Grant?).
While unlike the African Americans who overwhelmingly have this victimized mindsets, the IP got this somewhat equally baffling theory (to us at least) of “today got drink, today drunk” (ala 今朝有酒今朝醉). Not very financially prudent for obvious reason but work marvelously for the baby-booming. The report also cites the relationship between education and income. Which brings me to the point of having a Good Education; better financial and psychological independence. Besides, as cited, other racial female of the species will also try to provide their children similar if not better education.
This is indeed a double-edged sword perverse in a society where little help are dished out (despite numerous Humor-You campaigns). Personally I do not advocate handouts, least they only advance the plight of the some and not those who really need them. I am also a slight believer of eugenics however. I believe that if parents are better educated, chances are their children will be getting similar if not higher education. The IP however, unlike other racial brethren, do not place child’s education as top priority. One could argue that IP lower income as a reason forgoing educational needs but one lesser known policy here dictates that they have free education all the way to University (Boo!)
Indeed, the Policy is enforcing the main idea; better education means better and more stable source of income. The main thrust here is Education and following that rationale, I think the government should also make compulsory the Pre-primary education for everyone. Imagine if kids are unable to attend even kindergarden, that in itself a major source of discouragement when they struggle to catch up in primary school. Also, every other kid’s parents I know are making the extra push to make sure their offspring succeeded academically even in junior schools.
In every sense, people of the similar race tend to stick together, regardless of play or otherwise (in schooling that is) and following this logic, young IP do not see the point of progressing. In fact, they do not see themselves as awkward in the eyes of their contemporaries, precisely because everyone in their circle of friends is of the same situation. I have to reiterate, my article is not racially motivated or blasphemy, I am just pointing out the obvious, which depending on your inclination, are subtly being swept under the carpet. Society and the near individual family units have a part to play in ensuring their offspring can and will break away from their historical and emotional baggage of the old.
We already have policies in place for IP. As mentioned above, they received free (not subsidized like the rest of the citizens) education all the way to University through various charitable organizations. All they need to do is to make it through the super competitive educational structure. According to Statistics, that apparently is the hard part and our northern neighbors knew just that. But having allocation of resources (University places, Joint partnership ala Affirmative Action’s) are not helping IP in the increasingly globalised and competitive world. After 30 years, our neighbors should have known better; nothing much has changed. If any, IP are getting more reliant and dependence on their birthright. We have seen the tension mounting in recent times and that will not ease off anytime soon without great sacrifices. Moreover, experience in America and our immediate neighbour who introduced the practice in the 1970s suggests, it raises a host of other problems.
In practical terms, many "affirmative-action babies" fail in highly competitive environments (Bumiputra and Blacks). On a more philosophical note though, why should the children of rich Malays/Blacks be given a head start over the children of poor Chinese/Indians? The biggest problem with affirmative action, however, is that it comes too easy too late. Racial tension and equality aside, having such actions erode the very essence of nationalism. Despite best intents and efforts to integrate different races together, one tend to end up with their racial brethrens. It is what evolutionary theorists call functional product of natural selection. In essence, we love familiarity and continuation. Therein lies my skepticism; do away with the IPs’ free education. Let’s compete based on meritocracy alone.
Of course, logic dictates that once welfare are dished out, taking back will be both vote loser and regional suicide (wait other’s say we discriminate minority again). Fucker!
Moving on, we cannot exclude the role of parenting in these young kids, so it is really a never-ending cycle; Bring up the standard of the Malays so that they can be better off than their forebears and in time, the cycle will permeate better parenting (hopefully). But we got to start somewhere, somehow.
Awkwardly, these high birth rates somehow also reformed the mindsets of the Elites. I would link the cause of unequal racial birth to the necessity of foreign talents. I summed it once and for all the coffeeshop talk; Foreign talents are brought in to dilute the stranglehold of the IPs’ rising numbers has for the other races.
I feel that the best way to move forward into the future is to get rid of the tension generated from near sighted policies of the past and to give everybody a fair chance. Mediocre, Average Joe, down to the last man standing (that encompass just about 99% of the population), may the strongest survived. Never mind that some will become clerks while others are slave drivers. At least it is fair. That is why, for some strange reasons, I prefer homogenous state to a richly diverse nation.
But that is just me, a concerned citizen making my point in a democratic world. Oh don’t know much about the concept of democracy and citizenship? Watch this space!
Windy Wednesday (26 Degree Celsius)
Afternoon@ 1540 (Singapore Time)
Listen: 灰姑娘 by 张惠妹
Mood: *Don’t have a Cow, man*
Sometime in life, it is necessary to prove the obvious before you go on to the less obvious. It is like this saying by some elite; I don’t have to be right, as long as you are wrong, I am right already. Tantalizing for the senses isn’t it?
Following on the success of my trilogies (haha), we shall look at cultural, social significant and its implication for us. This is, for obvious reason, my sibei limited understanding of historical context and worldly facts. Besides, I got F9 for 6 of my 7 subjects in O level leh… How smart can I be… And please, don’t anyhow quote me, wait I kenna sued. See my disclaimer solid right? Cover all grounds.
Since the beginning of modern history (theoretically should coincide with the European Renaissance), the local Indigenous People (IP) are in somewhat lesser in significance, both historically and culturally compared to their colonist; the likes of British, Dutch, Portuguese, Spanish, heck basically every white men. Earlier days were the influx of Hindus Indians and later historically, the Chinese and for a variety of reasons too; political persecution to economical hardship.
Since then also, they have been push around, both politically and financially (well, not in that sense literally). Only a core group of IP actually benefited from these systems, usually but not predominately the Royals. Diplomacy and brute strength later; most of the (used to be) Elites ended up being just a figurehead in their territories. Not entirely their fault though, the Javanese did make life terribly difficult for the Dutch for a period of time before they are subdued. But arguably, most could not care less about their masses at large than with the preservation of their royal lifestyle. Why not, the colonists offer them protection, monthly salaries and stability. Which is much better than say thrashing their neighbors at the slightest provocation. In place, there is also this new thing call mediation. Ah New western concept, if only they are used more openly and appropriately.
That being said, there is this racially insensitive Army joke that goes like this
How to win the war in some part of the world?
Just throw them a football… enough said.
They cannot resist the temptation NOT to start kicking the ball in between bombardment. But hey, their lost is our gain. Or maybe we can just bomb them back to Stone Age? Well, we all know what that sentence leads to, don’t we?
Moving onto some pressing social issues, according to a ST report, the majority of single motherhood is by no coincidence the IP. Apparently they make up nearly half the numbers despite their minority status. Unlike other races where single moms are by choice, older, better educated and have the financial means to make it through, the IP are left to fence for themselves, receiving little support from either relatives (House?), friends (loan?) or for that matter, the government (Grant?).
While unlike the African Americans who overwhelmingly have this victimized mindsets, the IP got this somewhat equally baffling theory (to us at least) of “today got drink, today drunk” (ala 今朝有酒今朝醉). Not very financially prudent for obvious reason but work marvelously for the baby-booming. The report also cites the relationship between education and income. Which brings me to the point of having a Good Education; better financial and psychological independence. Besides, as cited, other racial female of the species will also try to provide their children similar if not better education.
This is indeed a double-edged sword perverse in a society where little help are dished out (despite numerous Humor-You campaigns). Personally I do not advocate handouts, least they only advance the plight of the some and not those who really need them. I am also a slight believer of eugenics however. I believe that if parents are better educated, chances are their children will be getting similar if not higher education. The IP however, unlike other racial brethren, do not place child’s education as top priority. One could argue that IP lower income as a reason forgoing educational needs but one lesser known policy here dictates that they have free education all the way to University (Boo!)
Indeed, the Policy is enforcing the main idea; better education means better and more stable source of income. The main thrust here is Education and following that rationale, I think the government should also make compulsory the Pre-primary education for everyone. Imagine if kids are unable to attend even kindergarden, that in itself a major source of discouragement when they struggle to catch up in primary school. Also, every other kid’s parents I know are making the extra push to make sure their offspring succeeded academically even in junior schools.
In every sense, people of the similar race tend to stick together, regardless of play or otherwise (in schooling that is) and following this logic, young IP do not see the point of progressing. In fact, they do not see themselves as awkward in the eyes of their contemporaries, precisely because everyone in their circle of friends is of the same situation. I have to reiterate, my article is not racially motivated or blasphemy, I am just pointing out the obvious, which depending on your inclination, are subtly being swept under the carpet. Society and the near individual family units have a part to play in ensuring their offspring can and will break away from their historical and emotional baggage of the old.
We already have policies in place for IP. As mentioned above, they received free (not subsidized like the rest of the citizens) education all the way to University through various charitable organizations. All they need to do is to make it through the super competitive educational structure. According to Statistics, that apparently is the hard part and our northern neighbors knew just that. But having allocation of resources (University places, Joint partnership ala Affirmative Action’s) are not helping IP in the increasingly globalised and competitive world. After 30 years, our neighbors should have known better; nothing much has changed. If any, IP are getting more reliant and dependence on their birthright. We have seen the tension mounting in recent times and that will not ease off anytime soon without great sacrifices. Moreover, experience in America and our immediate neighbour who introduced the practice in the 1970s suggests, it raises a host of other problems.
In practical terms, many "affirmative-action babies" fail in highly competitive environments (Bumiputra and Blacks). On a more philosophical note though, why should the children of rich Malays/Blacks be given a head start over the children of poor Chinese/Indians? The biggest problem with affirmative action, however, is that it comes too easy too late. Racial tension and equality aside, having such actions erode the very essence of nationalism. Despite best intents and efforts to integrate different races together, one tend to end up with their racial brethrens. It is what evolutionary theorists call functional product of natural selection. In essence, we love familiarity and continuation. Therein lies my skepticism; do away with the IPs’ free education. Let’s compete based on meritocracy alone.
Of course, logic dictates that once welfare are dished out, taking back will be both vote loser and regional suicide (wait other’s say we discriminate minority again). Fucker!
Moving on, we cannot exclude the role of parenting in these young kids, so it is really a never-ending cycle; Bring up the standard of the Malays so that they can be better off than their forebears and in time, the cycle will permeate better parenting (hopefully). But we got to start somewhere, somehow.
Awkwardly, these high birth rates somehow also reformed the mindsets of the Elites. I would link the cause of unequal racial birth to the necessity of foreign talents. I summed it once and for all the coffeeshop talk; Foreign talents are brought in to dilute the stranglehold of the IPs’ rising numbers has for the other races.
I feel that the best way to move forward into the future is to get rid of the tension generated from near sighted policies of the past and to give everybody a fair chance. Mediocre, Average Joe, down to the last man standing (that encompass just about 99% of the population), may the strongest survived. Never mind that some will become clerks while others are slave drivers. At least it is fair. That is why, for some strange reasons, I prefer homogenous state to a richly diverse nation.
But that is just me, a concerned citizen making my point in a democratic world. Oh don’t know much about the concept of democracy and citizenship? Watch this space!
1 comment:
My EYes!!! Oh My EYes!!
My Brain Cells... OH my POor Brain Cells!!!
Post a Comment