https://earlyretirementsg.weebly.com/blog/where-i-would-like-to-move-to
Now, I've lived in France for 6-7 months, and US for 2 months, will probably be here much longer.
As I'm watching the Coronavirus incident unfold, there are a lot of thoughts that go through my mind.
Also, as I see the overall people, political climate, and other things, I have many things that I think about.
After staying overseas for sometime, there are things that we see, that most people don't understand in SG.
There are many grey areas.
SG is a young country, it hasn't seen different Governments, hasn't seen many issues.
We take our freedom and peace for granted.
We don't understand why the western countries are so fixated on their freedoms, and individual freedoms, we don't understand why the French strike so much, or why people are so resistant to stay at home orders during the Coronavirus.
The thing is, SG has only 1 Government since it started and it has been fairly reliable and trustworthy to the citizens.
Many other countries have been through many Governments some corrupt, many countries have been through wars, civil or foreign.
As Singaporeans, we have not seen this, we do not understand the suffering of people, cos we have not been though a bad enough Government or severe enough issues as a population.
When I look at the history and struggles of other countries, such as the French revolution of the US civil war, I am better able to grasp why the people do what they do. Why they are willing to fight for their rights, even if it sounds stupid. The right to go out even though there is a pandemic.
They fight for their rights, and strike when their employer treats them poorly.
And all these actions, or their constitution, are all "controls" set in place to oversee the Government or higher authority. So that the people HAVE power.
In SG, we take things for granted. We trust that the Government will take care of us well enough and they have done relatively well in the past generations.
HOWEVER, this is not confirmed in the long run.
The risk is, what if there comes a Government that doesn't do well for Singaporeans, AND since we are so used to keeping quiet, we just slowly get our rights removed bit by bit.
How do we know that the Government is truthful? When they control the media and can potentially use the law to bend other forms of media to their will?
So we may think many things in other countries are stupid and unreasonable. Cos in SG we never see the troubles that they have been through.
For them, Coronavirus is a small issue, compared to their rights being taken away. Cos Coronavirus eventually will go away, maybe 3% of their population may die, but it will go away eventually, but a bad Government could ruin the country for generations to come.
To them, things are very simple. IF the Government has the right to remove the rights of citizens, it doesn't matter whether it is during a pandemic or not. Cos IF the Government can infringe on the rights of citizens, means they can potentially do it anytime.
For me, Singapore is currently still my home.
The Government is good enough and reasonable enough, the citizens still trust the Government.
We understand and are willing to sacrifice for the common good.
My right to go out, does not overwrite other people's right to stay safe and healthy. So we are ok when the SG Government sets in place a circuit breaker AND passes a law to punish people who do not adhere to the rules.
BUT I have concerns that 30 years from now, things may not be so simple.
Staying in over countries also allowed me to be more aware of racism.
Personally, I've not experienced any issues in France or US.
But it's there.
Westerners are more receptive to other races compared to 100 years ago.
But as an Asian, I'm never going to be truly French, or American.
There were reports of racism in France and America due to the Coronavirus. Even for Asians born in America. Just cos their ancestry was maybe from a country they haven't even visited.
And it's all lumped as Asians. There's no distinction between Chinese, Koreans, Japanese, etc. They can't tell the difference.
So there will be racism even if it's just 1% of the population, although I think it's more than 1%.
You think SG doesn't have racism? Rubbish.
If you're Chinese, you don't notice it.
But we all know what happens behind closed doors and what people say about other races.
Just cos you don't notice it doesn't mean it doesn't exist.
In US, people call that "white privilege".
The whites don't understand what is "white privilege".
Cos they don't notice, they don't feel that they have received any additional privilege.
The thing about white privilege is... they are treated normally.
THAT is white privilege. The right to be treated normally.
Whereas if you are Black or Hispanic, they tend not to be treated normally. They may have more checks by law enforcement, or other forms of racism, or micro racism.
So the misunderstanding is that when people talk about "white privilege" they think they get something MORE than normal.
That's wrong. White privilege is just to be treated NORMAL.
Cos the other people aren't being treated as normal just cos of their skin colour.
So many whites don't notice and realize the "privilege" or being treated normal.
AND...
This is the same in SG. If you're Chinese, you probably are treated normal.
We have no idea what the other races go through. We don't know what kind of treatment they go through when they are kids.
But it is what it is.
I rather stay in a country where I'm the majority. Where I've sacrificed 2 years of my life for NS.
Where I know I have the financial capacity to live well enough.
Where I am safe when I go out on the streets.
Where I am not afraid of any potential racist attack when I go to the supermarket.
Suspect tried to kill Asian American family at a Texas Sam’s Club over coronavirus fears, reports say
I am afraid. Does it happen often? No... but it is an issue to me.
Singapore is still home to me.
My main concern is really the Government.
What will happen in 30 years? It's always about the Government.
The only other places where I feel I would be able to blend into society/community is probably Malaysia or Taiwan.
But once again... Government issues.
So once again back to my post on nasi lemak set menu.
I still like the set menu that Singapore provides.
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