Singapore is a country of immigrants. Our forefathers came from all over the world, though a large proportion were from China, and some from India. The immigrants from China back then were a hardworking lot, willing to work hard and long hours. They were also aspiring, improving themselves and ready to grab opportunities to go up the social ladder. The wealthy Chinese gave freely to society, building schools and helping the poor.
Today, Singapore still has immigrants from China coming in. Yet we only hear negative things about them, about how unscrupulous they are in their quest for money. What has changed? Why are the Chinese immigrants now different from the Chinese immigrants back then? Where are the Confucian values, the hallmark of Chinese civilisation?
Or could it be that they are still the same? That the only reason why we hear so much about them is because bad news travel far and fast, and in this world of fibre communications and media sensationalisation, the few bad eggs are emphasized a thousand times?
Today, Singapore still has immigrants from China coming in. Yet we only hear negative things about them, about how unscrupulous they are in their quest for money. What has changed? Why are the Chinese immigrants now different from the Chinese immigrants back then? Where are the Confucian values, the hallmark of Chinese civilisation?
Or could it be that they are still the same? That the only reason why we hear so much about them is because bad news travel far and fast, and in this world of fibre communications and media sensationalisation, the few bad eggs are emphasized a thousand times?
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