The world laughs AT me, then I laugh with them.

This is taken a little out of context, but the gist is here:

[Jarrett posts a little thing on water, Singapore and Canada's approach to the next big resource.]

Hannah said...

Pffft. Who's smarter then Singapore? C'est faux! Jamais!

Anonymous said...

...

As for Singapore, it's easy to get things done when you're a police state. I loved my time when I lived over there - everything worked fabulously, business was great, food was outstanding - but still, you step out of line or you don't have something to offer and you are gone.

By the way, Hannah, I always consider it prudent when calling someone "stupid" to at least demonstrate grade two grammar skills. (I am assuming that it was intended since it is pretty hard to reach for an "a" and get an "e".

I guess it could have been worse. You could have written "Whose smarter then Singapore?".

Hannah said...

While it's all fair and good to recognize the differences in our socio-political systems(and the resulting differences in any policy decision from the top), it is a completely different thing to judge a society's necessary decisions from an ethnocentric point of view.

I am not able to deconstruct (right now) the lenses from which you must have seen Singapore through. But I would like to point out that the western discourse on neo-liberalism (or whatever you call it nowadays) is insufficient and parochial. Especially in directing the development of post-colonial societies. We do what we must to survive, and we do what we know.

With all due respect, your statement came across as somewhat condescending and myopic. And while we are not looking for the approval of the western traveler/expat/SPG, I think it only fair that we seek the west come to terms with the notion of "difference" in a respectful manner. I know what Singapore looks like to a foreigner, but we know we have no choice, and we do what we must.

I think the bigger issue then, is for foreigners to understand what they look like to Singapore (and to the rest of the developing world, while we're at it). Your comment was quintessential of the western stereotype that is constantly being perpetuated. I hope that there will be reason to do away with this perception of the west, but if this continues, it will be harder to do so.

I understand that Singapore and Canada are completely different societies. And to be fair, I find it hard to refrain from passing judgmental and condescending comments about Canadian society myself. But I think it is possible to have engaged in this discussion without being needlessly ungracious toward myself, and Singapore.

I hope you do not take my comments to be a personal attack, and that you find my grammar acceptable. This was made in the spirit of healthy discussion.

--------------------------

Jarrett spends the rest of the day laughing at my rancid fury and listening to me in an real attempt to understand. I know I overreact, and seem get worked up over the silliest things that seem to mean nothing. That's all fair and good, but I do see things differently, and unless it can be proven that my life experiences ought to be accorded less value than that of the social majority, I won't shut up. This really was just the wrong comment to someone in the wrong context.

But I'll understand if you laugh at me, if you understand that you're laughed at too. And we can together together not take ourselves so seriously, while according mutual respect.

Why does this seem to be too much to ask for?