I have the chance to come back to North America for nearly 2 months. Its a good time to reflect on many cross-cultural issues, and the future of Singapore.
Americans are self-centered. In a sense, they mind their own business, and think through what they want, and do it without much regards to others. Singaporeans are self-centered. We mind our benefits, and regardless of how others are doing. These are subtle differences.
A Chinese friend of mine recap her story. When she is moving out of a Chinese hostel, she tried to sell her tv. It was only 8 months and she state a pretty low price. A buyer came, likes it, and ask for a $5 reduction. She replied, "Do you think my price is reasonable?" "Yes," and the buyer chuckled. She was mad.
The Americans type of self-centeredness is one which make plans for oneself, without having to tie it down to any other persons. If you like to travel, and prefers to be alone, you are free to do so yourself. In Singapore, you are obligued inform your friends, or risk being branded as selfish.
The Singapore type of self-centeredness is one which care only of your own interests. E.g. if in the interests of helping someone and ended up being cheated, you may be screamed at by your family or close friends for being unwise. "Closely guard your wealth and knowledge, and not to release them easily to outsiders, for people might steal them and turn them to your disadvantages."
In observing the western culture, much of its success and growth has to do with exchange of goods, knowledge, and concern about others. Bureacracy, fear of retribution, and selfishness in Asia slows down these activities. Chinese invented gunpowder and compass but to what avail? We do not share them readily to others and they never get into best use. Sharing is importance for any particularly society to prosper, someone else may succeed more than you, but by sharing, you ensure the entire society will be successful, in turn benefitting yourself.
The diffence between western and asian society is already quite dramatic. I think a lot lies in the willingness to talk about their own inventions, sharing techniques, and helping the less fortunate through charity and education. When you search the net for information about "how to," most of the postings were western.
I wish Singapore would be successful one day. But now I am pretty much convinced we would be lucky to maintain our lead, as long as we do not learn to be less selfish. We need to share information, ideas, and opportunities without too much concern about us loosing out. We need more people of these calibre.
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Do I have Stokeholm syndrome?
Someone told my that I have Stokeholm syndrome. Not just me but every Singaporean. Haha... Stokeholm syndrome is an illness where a person, through an extended period of captivity, felt sorry for their captors. In this case, the ruling Singapore government.
I first heard of the term not long ago of a lady who was held captive since not long ago. Now freed, was defending her captor's actions. I have a pity for the captor, who committed suicide the moment she fled. First, how was the relationship between the captor and the captve? Second, captor and captive becoming friends is not new to human history. In the past, women within nations were often taken from opposing nations that fall. The issue that really brought up Stokeholm syndrome as an 'abnormalies': Is Freedom the ultimate goal of all human beings?
Lin Yutang made this observation: That freedom for the people means less freedom for the government. I also add less freedom for the government to take good and meaningful actions. The importance that he pointed out is: People should not have the right to say anything, but to be able to yell when in pain.
Most of my friends were overworked, by any humane standard. Working until 8pm or 11pm is often heard when we gathered. There is nothing in our laws requiring companies to compensate for overtime for executives. There is no union to fight for regular hours and concern for family. We need to yell, but how and to whom?
I first heard of the term not long ago of a lady who was held captive since not long ago. Now freed, was defending her captor's actions. I have a pity for the captor, who committed suicide the moment she fled. First, how was the relationship between the captor and the captve? Second, captor and captive becoming friends is not new to human history. In the past, women within nations were often taken from opposing nations that fall. The issue that really brought up Stokeholm syndrome as an 'abnormalies': Is Freedom the ultimate goal of all human beings?
Lin Yutang made this observation: That freedom for the people means less freedom for the government. I also add less freedom for the government to take good and meaningful actions. The importance that he pointed out is: People should not have the right to say anything, but to be able to yell when in pain.
Most of my friends were overworked, by any humane standard. Working until 8pm or 11pm is often heard when we gathered. There is nothing in our laws requiring companies to compensate for overtime for executives. There is no union to fight for regular hours and concern for family. We need to yell, but how and to whom?
Sunday, September 03, 2006
What Singaporean wants?
I am in Minnneapolis and will stay here for about one month. It wasn't a land too foreign. Because I had been here for nearly one year.
In America, as you will see in American movies, people yell, shout, and celebrate for terms such as Freedom, Independence, and Rights. Here's a passage from US Declaration of Independence:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
In Singapore, I don't think we care about freedom, independence, and rights so much. Whatever complain we had, it has to be instigated by Hollywood and not what we really feel. I would pretend Singapore's declaration to be:
We don't know if all men are equal (and who created them), but whoever the government is should endow their people with jobs, housing, and 4D shops. The government should create an environment that we don't have to care or think too much, that we can drink kopi and eat pow, shop and watch tv everyday. The government shall make sure that jobs will appear whenever we are in need (and preferably close by). Our government need not get our consent, and we don't really care what they do, so long as we have a good job, earn good money, expensive house and car, and credit cards. That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, we hope the opposition will do something about it.
In America, as you will see in American movies, people yell, shout, and celebrate for terms such as Freedom, Independence, and Rights. Here's a passage from US Declaration of Independence:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
In Singapore, I don't think we care about freedom, independence, and rights so much. Whatever complain we had, it has to be instigated by Hollywood and not what we really feel. I would pretend Singapore's declaration to be:
We don't know if all men are equal (and who created them), but whoever the government is should endow their people with jobs, housing, and 4D shops. The government should create an environment that we don't have to care or think too much, that we can drink kopi and eat pow, shop and watch tv everyday. The government shall make sure that jobs will appear whenever we are in need (and preferably close by). Our government need not get our consent, and we don't really care what they do, so long as we have a good job, earn good money, expensive house and car, and credit cards. That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, we hope the opposition will do something about it.
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