Does Singapore Need The Watchmen? (Part 1)

part of the reason why i felt compelled to write this entry is because ive just finished reading the most celebrated graphic novel of all time – Watchmen, written by Alan Moore. undoubtedly, it was one of the most engaging stories ive ever read…full of depth and genuine, unreserved emotions.

then i went online and logged on to my del.icio.us account and searched through my past bookmarked sites. not surprisingly, many of them have something to do with racism in Singapore or the discrimination that happens to the Malays, the indigenous people of Singapore, whose fate closely parallel that of the American Indians.

43 years strong, and despite our dozens of Number 1 achievements, our leap from being a 3rd World country to a 1st World economy and our remarkable feat of making it as a nation without any known natural resources, Singapore has yet to truly unite as One People and One Nation.

and why is that?

because each and every damn Singaporean is a damn racist and each of us knows it in our damn hearts.

but unlike the US, the UK, Australia and even the once apartheid-ridden South Africa, we Singaporeans never really address this issue, lay it out there and call it as what it is.

a problem.

much like a disease, where a doctor cannot treat a patient if he/she does not come forward and admit there’s a problem, the racism here cannot be sorted out if people keep claiming there’s no such thing. of course, the main group of people who claims racism to be a myth are the same group who are the most racist themselves.

yes…the Chinese.

they are mainly responsible for the overwhelming racism, apathy, kiasu-ism, pride in kiasu-ism, lack of empathy, social segregation, employment discrimination, economic stranglehold, social tension and who could leave out their role in endangering the sharks?

i know it looks like im targeting only the Chinese. maybe rightfully so.

but i have my problem with the Indians as well. heck, i have a problem with my own Malay race. im not gonna touch on the whites or other ethnic groups ’cause we are the main groups of people here…the so-called heart and soul of this country and we should cure ourselves first before trying to drag others into our own mess.

consider this a foreword of things to come, for i have a lot to say about each race, their problems, the effects of all the problems and how we Singaporeans can try to rid ourselves of this festering disease within our community and for once…just once…truly unite as One People and One Nation so that when National Day comes, it’s not just about fancy lights, superb choreography, a spectacular air show and deafening fireworks.

it’s about unity. it’s about nationality.

it’s about not letting our future be filled with such hatred and despair that our children curse our names and piss on our graves.