SKIN
----
The world has never run out of colour,
But some can only see in black and white.
At the center of it all, the root of the matter,
Lies poor judgement, a lingering plight.
That has plagued humanity, and has long made it suffer,
That time itself can never smite.
Many have wished that they could smite,
This social vexation that has made them suffer.
Heinous remarks accompany their plight,
Sometimes they wonder what is the matter?
Snow falls in winter, a lingering white.
Some of us are reckoned, only by our skin's colour.
Copyright ©2004 Asfi Kay
Wrote this a while ago cos, yeah well, it seems particularly true. Even here in sunny little Singapore. I know some members of the local minority talking about their "rights", or lack of, being the natives and such. I also know of some of the majority who talk of the extra "privileges" that the minorities suffer, of how unfair it is.
What with all this hoo haa lately about racist bloggers posting degraratory remarks about the minority groups and such, I feel like I have to bring up some of my thoughts about this. Some, not all though.
I don't want to take sides, but from my own experiences as a member of the local minority, how can I not be at least a little bit partial?
Let me get this straight. I am not a racist. I do not support racism. I am fine with people saying what they wanna say. I support free speech, but not at the expense of someone's honour, tradition, and spirit. Voltaire might say something like, "I strongly disagree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." My take? Well, you go ahead and say what you want, but don't turn tail and whimper away when the consequences come 'round for a reckoning.
I feel a little bit tense nowadays, especially when going out shopping at high density areas. I'm a Malay Singaporean. I know it. So do other people. Does that make me any different from other citizens? Maybe.
I notice the glances and glares, the differences in treatment amongst the people. For example, a few days ago, I was at a well know shopping center that sells mainly electronics and computer paraphenelia to browse around and maybe buy some stuff. Never mind the stares I was getting. What's wrong with a malay male wearing a long sleeve black shirt, pale blue jeans and sneakers walking into a shop, I don't really know.
It was the treatment I received that really pissed me off. I approached one of the sales staff at one of the myriad shops and said,
"Excuse me?"
From my experience in the sales industry and front line services, a normal reply should go something like,
"Yes, can I help you?"
Instead, I got a
"Yah. What you want?!" (Imagine a half-way decent face attempting to look brutish)
I was not taken aback, really. Most minorities have at one point in time received this kind of treatment. Anyway, I politely proceeded with my enquiry and was answered with a,
"No, don't have anymore! Other shop have!"
Then I asked whether maybe they could order it for me, since I AM willing to pay upfront. Maybe you could guess the answer...
"NO. Cannot."
So there I was, frustrated, when suddenly a male Cacausian stepped into the shop and started browsing around. The sales staff promptly left me hanging and approached the new potential customer, put on a genial face, smiled and said,
"Yes sir, can I help you with anything?"
Angry? Nah. I was pissed.
I went up to the sales staff and told him,
"Eh, hello! Is this your idea of customer service? Double standards siah! Just cos I'm malay, I'm not worhty of your attention is it?!"
He was stunned, yet from the look of his face, I could say that he was pissed too, since I'm interrupting a potential sale. But who gives a damn, right? His potential customer was taken aback too, I gather, but didn't say anything. He just kept looking down at me and the sales staff (well, he WAS tall
). I was promptly ushered out by other sales staff and warned,
"Mat, we don't want trouble here."
I was so pissed, I couldn't think rationally and just walked off.
So. Does racism exist in Singapore.
Definitely.
But it's not only targeted at the minority. Sometimes, it's against the majority too. Think of the Native Americans. How 'bout the Chechnyans? Does it happen in Singapore too? Well, that is another story, that I may, or may not, yet tell.
Meanwhile, here's something for ALL you Singaporeans to read:
Dear Singaporean
Currently feeling: victimized
