The Joys Of Being A Second-Class Citizen

When some of the people I know talk about life overseas, they talk of how foreigners believe Singapore to be part of China. Such stereotypes may be incorrect and wrong but there are some advantages for the minority races. For example, if a Singaporean who happens to be an ethnic Indian were anywhere else in the world and claimed that he was a Singaporean, no one would believe him. He would actually have to work hard at convincing them that it was possible to be Singaporean whilst not being chinese.

The perks? No unnecessary problems with those who hate Singaporeans or the chinese. While the china chinese, hong kong chinese, taiwan chinese and Singapore chinese get all lumped together in the eyes of the foreigners and are in threat of getting walloped, the minorities get to travel without the risk of persecution at all. All this while we still have the basic (bare basic of course) rights as Singapore citizens.

Whilst we don't really have much choice inside Singapore and have to put up with the majority race's antics, outside of the city-state's borders, the tables are turned and being Singaporean and chinese tends to bring more trouble. So hey, I can get a house, job and other benefits as I am entitled to here and still get to sit in almost any public place inside a third world country without having to fear for my life. I think that's great.

Well, I may not be a jet-setting corporate executive but the knowledge of the fact of my guaranteed safety if and when I should travel is liberating and empowering in itself. So here's to all 'second-class' Singapore citizens.