Point of No Return
Many of you who have been reading Tribolum for some time have probably read how I’ve railed against the government for this thing and that. It has been an interesting journey towards the realisation that I’ve been a civil servant for what, 3 years now.
I do not think I’ve compromised on some of the things I believe in, like guarding against our nation’s tendency towards an elitist-everyone-else class structure, or that the government should be held under greater independent scrutiny. But I will admit that working here has changed me somewhat, and I hope that those of you who know me, I mean really know me, will keep me in check. Help me continue to fight to better things for everyone, especially in my specialised scope of online services.
In the grander perspective of things, I’ve changed as well. Where once I’d snigger about how Singapore’s Olympic Silver medalists are all foreign imports, I now realise that they have every right to be as Singaporean as I am. Being born in a country doesn’t make me more worthy of her; it is the willingness to identify with her shared destiny, to partake in her victories and her failures. To actively participate in making her the best she can be. It is far too easy to ask others to step up and then blame the government if no one does.
I’ve met many in the government who truly want to change things for the better and deserve more than armchair criticism. They, like our fellow Singaporean paddlers, need support.
Not all paths are smooth, some are rough but well worth the travel.
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I have nothing against these foreigners, but let us not forget they are here for self interests, and to have a better life and opportunities compared to back home. They are here to help themselves, first and foremost. And I do not begrudge them for this.
However what needs to be questioned is the govt's policy of "buying over" supposed talents, slapping a citizenship on them, and voila we call them Singaporeans and are expected to bend over for them for the sake of a piece of silverware.
Sporeans don't need prompting and are able to tell the difference between genuine and false pride, a real or hollow victory. In my view it is the govt who has lost sight of the big picture. They are draining national coffers for self-aggrandizement projects, politicising sports to suit their political agenda and doing nothing for the common man.
Let us not forget our forebears came here for exactly the same reason. I don't know about you, but I'm not staying in Singapore because of absolute altruistic reasons either. The better life and opportunities are a factor for most, if not all of us.
If you had noticed during the Olympics, the United States has athletes who were born in other countries as well. It is the realisation that they are a collective that come under the stars and stripes and that all of them are migrants from different lands that solidify the American dream. I believe that victory begets victory, and it was a crucial step moving forward for all athletes.
I'm assuming you mean more than just the sporting scene, and I think it's a terribly broad statement. "Nothing for the common man"? We enjoy a standard of living that rivals any country in the world. How are they politicising sports, and how does it suit their political agenda? Would you rather they spent our funds on projects that have no returns on investment?
I'd agree that Singapore has a way to go in terms of supporting projects that aren't immediately self-sustainable and improves the intangibles like character-building. Maybe extending more help to the needy and a stronger push for infrastructure that is usable by those with physical disabilities.
It is regrettable that you decide to feel false pride. I'm a thousand miles away and proud as hell. Something tells me that even if a third generation Singaporean won, some people would begrudge the fact he was rich / male / of a particular race / not them.
I believe the biggest issue is our lack of a national identity and that we are still a very young nation in a constant state of flux / development.
hey lucian.
just touching base.
good to see you're still good. :)
Hey re-mininsce, it's been a while. Hope everything's going well with you.
remind me your email address again? let's meet up sometime :)
hi there :) i think what gets people in a tizzy over this (that includes me), is that the athletes' protifeering takes precedence over their choice of state.
take the US for example. nastia liukin is an immigrant, and she also wants to serve her self-interests as an athlete. but the sequence of desires is important -- she became an american first, then thought about what she could do to represent her country. this was gymnastics.
conversely, singapore's table-tennis imports are athletes looking around for a country to represent. that's a big difference, no? it's mercenary.
now, there's nothing wrong with being mercenary, except if you misrepresent it as patriotism/contributing to the nation-building agenda sincerely. that's not the case at all and i think lots of people instinctively see this. but they get distracted by the red herrings of globalisation and specialisation of labour.