Let's put this in casual terms.

I write this blog for leisure and not for discussion of serious issues. By penning my thoughts about this topic, I have no intention of criticism towards anyone, nor to say the very least, for I am now prodding between the very fine line of the sensitive topic of racial in Singapore.

Many people often debate and talk about racial discrimination, sure, it really is taking a toll on our society by causing many social problems.

My personal take on this topic is that I strongly believe in racial cohesion, and unity through diversity. I myself have a few friends from different racial groups and I find it interesting to understand their culture and interact with them, and I have never ever seen or even thought of them as any different from myself.

One of my childhood bestfriends is an Indian and she is one of the most quirky, interesting and funniest people that I have met. I went to her house once and met her family. Her older brother is damn funny and always cracks jokes that are albeit lame but crack me up. I can never forget the times when she sacrificed something for me, even if it was a small thing like lending me money.

She has indeed left an impression on my life.

We would all like the world to be as peaceful and colour-blind as we think.

However, I cannot deny the fact that racial discrimination is everywhere and this sad fact is quite inescapable. You can set up an anti-racism group and there will be millions around the globe who oppose your point of view, or simply don't give a heck.

There's a middle-aged lecturer in my school who is a Caucasian, or what you call in Singaporean terms an "Ang Moh" or in Malay, a "Mat Salleh". I won't go to say who he is or even elaborate on what he teaches.

You know how curious people are or how words spread like wildfire.

Anyway, I won't deny that he is a really nice guy. And I mean, generally a typical nicey-nice teacher --- Smiley, chatty and talks to you like you're his friend. Unafraid to crack jokes about himself. Someone who doesn't hold the teacher-student divide, like "I'm a teacher, so I must do this. You're a student, so you should behave appropriately so."

He's someone who doesn't scold you when you come in late for class, except to smile and say, "Welcome in!" in a jolly tone.

He's so nice, that I have nothing against him. It's really hard to have something against someone who is so nice. (Note I use the word 'nice' to describe him a lot) In fact, I think he can teach rather well in the sense that he is able to interact and engage the class.

Especially the girls. They seem to find him humorous and generally enjoys his company in class.
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BUT, you know something?

On the other hand, it kinda irks me to see the extent that everybody adores him and laughs at his jokes even though.

They.

Are.

Not.

Really. Funny.

It's kinda like, the reaction you get when somebody says something lame or makes fun of himself but it backfires. It just isn't funny.

I mean, I wouldn't laugh. Probably fake-laugh if I could and was trying to be polite. Haha. Be honest, tell me you do that too.

Anyway, I don't get why everybody gets in serious guffaws over his so-called 'funny' wisecracks which seriously just sound retarded to me and don't make any sense at all. Often I just sit in my chair watching the others in the lecture hall doubling over and laughing, the girls giggling and commenting that, "His joke was really that funny!" and I just think, 'Hmmm, is it me or is it me?"

Even my friends laugh at his jokes and the way a friend just told me today, in a very excited tone, "You know what, I enjoy his lessons a lot!" made me ponder for a moment.

Do I have a delayed reaction or what. I would seriously like to doubt so.

Maybe I'm just really hard to tickle.

You know why she enjoys his lessons? Cos she finds him funny.

On the contrary, I don't think so. I am really practical and realistic, in a way. I confess I tend to analyse and judge a lot, and someone is only a good teacher to me if he is smart and he teaches well. Ditto those who are smart only, but can't teach well.

Oh geez. Everytime I think about this, I get a shiver down my spine.

You know, I honestly think that if the Ang Moh lecturer was changed into a middle-aged Chinese man saying the same thing, he just wouldn't get the SAME reaction. You get what I mean?

I think that people do tend to discriminate and revere unconsciously.

And this is quite sad, especially in our multi-racial society that we pride ourselves upon.

I once encountered an incident in the crowded MRT on a saturday afternoon. A heavily pregnant woman entered the MRT with her husband and several shopping bags in tow. She looked exhausted, her face glistening with beads of sweat and and her belly was very ripe with pregnancy. Nobody in the MRT got up to offer their seat, some were sleeping and some were just plain oblivious.

Suddenly, an indian construction worker hesitantly stood up and gestured towards the empty seat, indicating that she could sit there. The pregnant woman smiled gratefully and muttered a small, "Thanks" and hobbled over to the empty seat.

Before she even reached the chair, her husband swooped over and caught her by the arm, saying, "Eh, don't larh. Dunno whether clean or not leh."

And the silly but quite humble and obedient wife simply nodded to his response, leaving me feeling extremely dumb-founded.

I only have a very disappointed reaction to this scenario.

3 letters:
W-T-F?!

Hello. Seat offered for you wife, yet you still dissaude her from taking it? What kind of husband are you in the first place ah?

OR rather, do you even have brains. I gather that you are implying that the construction worker has germs or bacteria on him that transferred from the seat and thus might contaminate her.

Geez. Actually, I do feel quite sad for the poor woman, having to endure living with a selfish and thick man like him for the rest of her life. It would be okay if he was selfish but snide and smart. BUT selfish and dumb? What a very sickly combination.

Hmmmm. And how about the Indian man.

Another example of racial superiority - ang mohs are given priority in the queue in the skin-care clinic that I visit. Yes, Joyce Lim. Famous one. But what to do. Her medicine is good.

An American teacher with a strong Southern twang and a not very accurate standard of english is paid higher than a Singaporean Chinese who is educated with standard British pronounciation and a very good command of English. And this happens in the grammer classrooms of China.

Another quite pervasive but often overlooked example of racial superiority - An Ang Moh girl in school who is not as pretty as another Chinese girl is given more attention from the guys. Back in their western countries, these girls would be considered 'plain'. But over here, they are regarded as the rose among the thorns.

Tyra Banks once chided Chinese people who undergo cosmetic surgery to have Western eyes. Yes, I'm talking about big, deep-set eyes with parallel double eye-lids.

I do hate Tyra Banks. I hate the way she criticizes everything and thinks that she is superior, but does not practice what she preaches. But I do find her argument right, in a way.

What for change your genetic self?

What I'm trying to put forward is: Everybody is beautiful, in her own way.

And thats why I feel that all races are the same. White ang mohs are the same ranks as us olive-skinned Chinese, and we are on equal par with the chocolate-skinned Indians.

Maybe one day all races will be on par.


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