>Yes, that controversial heading got your eye, didn’t it?
If the majority (Han) Chinese feel no shame justifying that Singapore needs to promote (Han) Culture because majority of Singaporeans are Han Chinese – even marginlizing ethnic minority Chinese and not just the non-Chinese – what’s wrong with justifying that we promote the Hokkien Dialect, using the same argument – ie majority of Chinese in Singapore are Hokkien, hence let’s promote Hokkien and marginalize other dialects?
Cultural centres in S’pore, Fujian
LI GONG si mi? The popular Hokkien expression for ‘What are you talking about?’ could well become a refrain soon in Fujian province where a centre for promoting better understanding between Singaporeans and Chinese is being planned.
To be built in tourist destination Gulangyu island near Xiamen in Hokkien-speaking Fujian, the Cultural Exchange Centre will be set up by Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan, Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong disclosed yesterday at a lunch hosted for him and China’s Vice-President Xi Jinping.
It aims to ‘showcase the strong historical and cultural linkages between Fujian and Singapore’, he said.
Mr Goh noted that Mr Xi, who spent 17 years in various posts in Fujian province, ‘would know that it is the province where the majority of Chinese Singaporeans come from’.
Ha ha. I like this one. That’ll teach some (other) Chinese Clans that when they push for Han Culture, they are marginalizing not only non-Chinese, but non-Han minority ethnic Chinese too.
The Peranakans (an ethnic minority Chinese group) has long been sidelined by the Han majority, no thanks to bias Mother Tongue policy in schools. Peranakans speak Malay and by forcing all Chinese (including Perankans) to take MT Chinese, Peranakan Culture is almost wiped out in Singapore.
The twist to this story is that Peranakans have a long history with Fujian Province. The “second language” of majority of Perankans is Hokkien. While not all Hokkien are Peranakans, the majority of Peranakans are Hokkien, due to the fact their ancestors come from Fujian.
So let’s promote the Hokkien Dialect to an extent it dominates Chinese Culture, such that the Hakka Clan of the Lee Dynasty (the racist family that started eroding all minority cultures in the first place) is evaporated into oblivion.
If the majority (Han) Chinese can justify that (Han) Chinese Culture be promoted such that it marginalizes all other cultures – because (Han) Chinese is the majority in Singapore – why not justify that because the majority of Chinese Singaporeans are Hokkien, let’s promote Hokkien Dialect in Singapore, such that it marginalizes all non-Hokkien Chinese dialects?
Eh sai bo?
(PS – the message on sidelining non-Hokkien dialects is written “tongue in cheek”, but the message that the majority (Han) Chinese has been dominating and obscuring other races and cultures, including that of ethnic minority Chinese, is not.
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My News Summmary 17 Nov 2010
Local News
Couple’s nightmare began after buying a used car
A couple bought a second hand car, only to find out that the transaction is void, because that car belonged to someone else. Hey, in the light of all the fraud that’s going on, this really sounds like America, no? Didn’t I say that Sinkipore copies about everything America does, its stupid mistakes (and crimes) included?
SingTel did alert mum and son on high usage
WE REFER to recent discussion on data-roaming charges (Ms Jesintha J. Joseph, ‘$9,000 in phone bills for service they didn’t subscribe to’; Oct 23).
We have been working with Ms Joseph for over a year to resolve her data-roaming issue amicably. Suggestions that she was charged for services she did not subscribe to are inaccurate.
As part of the safeguards offered to all our customers, we sent SMS alerts to Ms Joseph and her son when we detected high roaming data usage. These alerts also provided clear instructions on how to check their data usage details via the SingTel website and the *72266 service.
Our staff also called Ms Joseph when she was overseas to inform her that her data-roaming charges had exceeded $700, which she acknowledged.
Despite these notifications, Ms Joseph and her son continued to use their mobile phones for data downloads, as well as voice calls, while overseas.
So the complainant has partly contributed to his own problem. But that still doesn’t address Singtel’s silence that at the point of sale, high roaming charges could be incurred. It waited till the charges hit $700 before it informed the customer. Why the silence at point of sale in the first place? Hoping that the customer would incur a high bill so that it can charge the customer, then start negotiations later? It’s still unethical practice.
A Message to Marginalized Naturalized Citizens
As of November 2010, you are probably very confused about what is going on. There has been plenty of criticism on immigration from homegrown citizens. You are inclined to agree with them but feel uneasy due to your immigration background. The confusion is a result of the failed immigration policies of the ruling PAP (People’s Action Party) regime.
Temasek Review has been highlighting PAP’s “out of touch” and insensitive comments on ordinary citizens. However, TR is doing the same. Can’t TR think that by saying that to new citizens, it is actually being insensitive to them? Is TR not implying that the new citizens’ relatives (who may also try to migrate to Singapore) should be prevented from coming here? Is that the way to win new citizens’ hearts? Methinks TR just gave new citizens strong reason to vote for PAP! Stupid fellas working at TR, huh?
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Rest of the World
UN votes once again to end executions
The UN General Assembly’s human rights committee today [11 November] adopted a resolution on a moratorium on the use of the death penalty, the third since 2007.
The resolution was adopted by 107 votes in favour, 38 against with 36 abstentions at the UN General Assembly’s Third Committee in New York.
Right. All you hypocrites who voted against the Death Penalty at the UN, how about getting to work immediately and get this man off the death sentence?
Yemen: US steps up covert war
Didn’t I say that the Toner Bomb (Hoax) is all about invading Yemen?
U.S. Pursues Wider Role in Yemen
Yes, Yemen, the next target for invasion. “Look at that vast shoreline, perfect for oil $$$ distribution.” – White Whores Official.
