Anon - the faceless facist.

[note - last chance to enter the music quiz! Still 12 points up for grabs, winners announced tomorrow!]

I recently had an anonymous visitor who left a comment on a previous entry, regarding the anniversary of race riots in Singapore and the perhaps heavy-handed methods of the Government there to ensure cultural harmony. He/she makes his point, and it is his/hers to make... even if they were too cowardly to identify themselves. But it was a point that I feel deserves a response, and if I simply responded in the comments of the same post the whole argument would be immediately consigned to my archives - whereas, naturally, I would prefer to get input from other readers.

His comment read as follows:

"This is why multi-cultural nations don't exist over the long term - lack of trust. This is why large scale immigration of people who don't like or appreciate the home culture is a bad idea. This is why the left's latest wheeze is to bring in large numbers of people utterly opposed to the west. Bring on the rioting and death, comrades, bring it fucking on."

Okay, aside from the fact that Singapore has been multi-cultural for a long time (longer than it's existence as an independent country) I would like to know what Anon considers to be it's 'home culture'? There are a large number of Chinese, Malays, and Indians here whose families have been here for a long time, as well as some Europeans, Eurasians, Indonesians... the list can go on and on. But even though there are distinct differences between the cultures here there are also differences between the Chinese-Singaporean way of life and the mainland-Chinese... likewise with the other cultures.

Because these races have been here for a long time they have become Singaporean, not simply whichever ethnic backround. Home culture in Singapore is a mix of the three main cultures, with a dash of westernism thrown in, and whilst there are some who naturally gravitate toward their own heritage that is still a part of the Singaporean home culture - that they like and appreciate! If there are other parts they don't like so much...? Well, does every Englisman like Morris Dancing? Every Scotsman do the Highland Fling? It doesn't mean they don't like any of their home culture, they're just selective about which bits they do like!

People from different backgrounds can and do mix with ease. A case in point for me was a recent night out for a meal with my closest friends - I was the only white guy, there were 2 Singaporean-Chinese, one Malaysian-Chinese, one Indian, one Sri-Lankan, one Malay, and one... well, I don't know where he is from, but then it didn't matter anyway. Much later we went clubbing and were joined by a Singaporean-Indian girl and eventually I hooked up with another white guy that I know with his Malay girlfriend who were with his sister and her Chinese boyfriend. My argument in the original post was not that the cultures cannot mix but that by forcing the issue the Government runs the risk of actually creating more resentment as opposed to promoting peaceful co-existence.

But then again, by the tone of the rest of the comment it is clear that Anon was just looking for any excuse to get on his xenophobic high-horse. The left's latest wheeze? If you're going to suggest that kind of thing let's see some evidence to back it up. Most immigrants I have met in the UK are by no means opposed to the west. Rather, they are grateful for the chance to get their lives back on track after going through shit that most of us in the west will never have to face. As for the rioting and death? It is attitudes like yours that bring that kind of shit on, that spur on the "us v them" mentality. You'd actually probably love a bit of violence to 'prove' your point, but I'll tell you this - you can leave me the fuck out of it.

Cheers m'dears!