"TIBET: After the storm, not quite sunshine"
Section:Prime - Special Report
By:SIM CHI YIN
Publication:The Straits Times
Date:04/09/2008
online news link
As an immigrant to Singapore, frankly speaking, only after reading this article I had realized that I have taken this racially and culturally harmonious country as granted. Singapore is a young nation and yet it has great achievement in social engineering, which allows us such a stable and peaceful environment to live in. This is really commendable and something to be proud of for all Singaporeans.
This article overviews the current situation of Tibet Province of PRC, particularly its capital, Lhasa. It says that even with almost half year gone after the deadly mid-march riots, the holy city of Lhasa has not rested in true harmony and understanding. How far this supposedly harmonious situation can go, no one guarantees. Armed paramilitary units are patrolling around every corner of the city and the people are divided to live at different areas according their ethic. Misunderstanding and distrust between the Han Chinese and Tibetans have been constantly upgrading towards hatred, even to an extent that taxi drivers have to choose their passengers and put on identity-showing items to ensure their safety.
The Han Chinese in China is over dominantly more than other ethnic groups. Many of these small ethnic groups though remain with their titles, have already fully adapted to community of the Han Chinese in almost every aspect. However, there are too, ethnic groups such as the Tibetans that try extremely hard to preserve their way of life and remain uninfluenced by the Han Chinese. If we look carefully, this issue is similar to the case of Singapore before and early after independence, only that it has been enlarged to a population size of 1.3 billion. Thus, we as Singaporean students should know what really cause thus social tension. I think it is quite right to say that it is everyone’s fault.
For the Tibetans, it is rather naïve and ignorant of them to even try to absolutely remain isolated culturally. With the world that is globalizing fast, developing is the only way to survive. Isolating yourself will be suicidal, as no one nowadays has everything they need in the hand thus just shut the door and live on their own. The Han Chinese are indeed diluting the dense Tibetan populations in Tibet as they enter the province, as the news says “More shops, malls and people have arrived with the railway, fuelling worries over mounting inter-ethnic competition and a widening income gap.” Of course this will lead to degrees of cultural erosion as the people try to adapt to both way of living. However, if the technologically and economically outdate Tibetans want to live and better their life, it is definitely worth the sacrifice. After all, life, particularly better life, is more valuable then cultural beliefs that only shine after your have a full stomach.
On the other hand, the Han Chinese as the majority of the nation, they have a naturally feeling of dominance and superiority. When they move to other place to live, they bring along their way of life. Moreover, their number is large enough to form a community anywhere. That makes them think it is unnecessary to adapt other living styles or even makes them unfeeling to difference around them. This insensitivity and ignorance to others is really disrespectful to those locals and they doubtlessly will feel threatened by the presence of the Han Chinese. If they can be more considerate and adaptable to other cultures, there would not be much misunderstanding, too.
This problem cannot be solved as easily as it is discussed. It takes society decades to process. Singapore regards social harmony as top priority and only achieves our current state in 40 years; it would be much harder for a big country with humongous population like China to change. Moreover, China does not appear to have good specified policies, laws or regulations of any form enforcing this area of national development. With so many responsibility and hopes that China has to take on, I really not hope to see it letting its glorious achievements and other emergencies to buries this seed of danger in the foundation of the country, only realsie it when problems comes by.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Blog Entry II
http://3essgroup6.blogspot.com/
P.S. Dear Mrs Seow, this is the second blog entry that has been posted at the wrong blog but within the deadline. I was in China that time and somehow my internet connection did not allow me to access Blogger. Thus, I emailed my blog entry to one of my friend and asked him to posted it for me. Unfortunately, I did not tell him which blog he supposed to post the blog entry to. I am sorry for the inconvenience that i caused.
P.S. Dear Mrs Seow, this is the second blog entry that has been posted at the wrong blog but within the deadline. I was in China that time and somehow my internet connection did not allow me to access Blogger. Thus, I emailed my blog entry to one of my friend and asked him to posted it for me. Unfortunately, I did not tell him which blog he supposed to post the blog entry to. I am sorry for the inconvenience that i caused.
Friday, March 7, 2008
Online Blog Entry 1 -- Teenage and social issues
"Going to Orchard Road A LUXURY for Bedok family "
Section:News
By:GENEVIEVE JIANG, SWAN TAN
Publication:The New Paper
Date:26/02/2008
Online News URL
How comfortable do you think your life is living in Singapore? Well, I think many people will answer describe their life as stressful, busy and etc. However, I have never encountered someone who actually described their life as poor.
This article that was published recently has revealed a rather severe case of poverty that actually quite a number of families in Singapore live in now. It reported that a family of four survives every month on an average income of $750. The family monthly expenses are calculated in term of cents that it is even a luxury for the family to get a set of new clothes and go shopping in Orchard Road. The Central Provident Fund (CPF) has worked out a sum (Workfare Bonus) to help such families. However, these families are so uniformed that only 8% has actually applied and benefited from it.
After reading this article, I am shocked to know that besides being in a developed and rich country like Singapore, there are still people struggling to feed their families and meet the end of months. For the past few years, Singapore’s economy has been growing constantly, and moreover Singapore is well known for high wages and good working conditions. It makes me wonder how such poor condition can occur. At the same time, I feel really glad that our government considerably plans out schemes to help lower income families to lead a better life. The article serves as a kind reminder for all the deserving families with financial difficulty to apply for the Workfare Bonus and benefit from the government polices.
I am totally agreed with the author’s point of view that the government not only should come out with plans to help out fellow Singaporeans, they should inform them about their effort in helping them as well. Quoting an example form the author, there is really no point to organize a marvelous surprised birthday party for a birthday boy without letting him know that there is one. Or the families know that there are helps for them, but they do not understand how they can get the help. They describe these beneficial schemes as “complicated”. That reflects the problem of communication between the government and the people, because seemingly the people and the government speak “different languages”.
However, I cannot help but wonder if this is the best way to help these lower income families. Aren’t the actions of the government giving these people fish, instead of teaching them to fish better? I feel that government can help these families better by providing better job opportunities and skill-acquiring courses. They should also encourage economy dependants in the families to work if they can.
As individuals, we maybe leading a comfortable life, and as a country, we can be rich and preoperative. However, I hope we as a community living together, do not forget that there are still people that need our help and attention so that they can also have a better life.
word count: 499
Section:News
By:GENEVIEVE JIANG, SWAN TAN
Publication:The New Paper
Date:26/02/2008
Online News URL
How comfortable do you think your life is living in Singapore? Well, I think many people will answer describe their life as stressful, busy and etc. However, I have never encountered someone who actually described their life as poor.
This article that was published recently has revealed a rather severe case of poverty that actually quite a number of families in Singapore live in now. It reported that a family of four survives every month on an average income of $750. The family monthly expenses are calculated in term of cents that it is even a luxury for the family to get a set of new clothes and go shopping in Orchard Road. The Central Provident Fund (CPF) has worked out a sum (Workfare Bonus) to help such families. However, these families are so uniformed that only 8% has actually applied and benefited from it.
After reading this article, I am shocked to know that besides being in a developed and rich country like Singapore, there are still people struggling to feed their families and meet the end of months. For the past few years, Singapore’s economy has been growing constantly, and moreover Singapore is well known for high wages and good working conditions. It makes me wonder how such poor condition can occur. At the same time, I feel really glad that our government considerably plans out schemes to help lower income families to lead a better life. The article serves as a kind reminder for all the deserving families with financial difficulty to apply for the Workfare Bonus and benefit from the government polices.
I am totally agreed with the author’s point of view that the government not only should come out with plans to help out fellow Singaporeans, they should inform them about their effort in helping them as well. Quoting an example form the author, there is really no point to organize a marvelous surprised birthday party for a birthday boy without letting him know that there is one. Or the families know that there are helps for them, but they do not understand how they can get the help. They describe these beneficial schemes as “complicated”. That reflects the problem of communication between the government and the people, because seemingly the people and the government speak “different languages”.
However, I cannot help but wonder if this is the best way to help these lower income families. Aren’t the actions of the government giving these people fish, instead of teaching them to fish better? I feel that government can help these families better by providing better job opportunities and skill-acquiring courses. They should also encourage economy dependants in the families to work if they can.
As individuals, we maybe leading a comfortable life, and as a country, we can be rich and preoperative. However, I hope we as a community living together, do not forget that there are still people that need our help and attention so that they can also have a better life.
word count: 499
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