Not A Word Of Thanks From 'Xenophobic' Man
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extracted from straits times forum.
EVERY day in the media we are exhorted to welcome the arrival next month of the representatives of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank with 'four million smiles'. I hope that the 16,000 delegates are greeted with the genuine warmth which I received when I arrived here 16 years ago.
Now I am married to a lovely Singaporean and have two beautiful Eurasian children.
Singapore has been very kind to me: regular work, a nice home and, above all, safety. I have great affection for this multiracial beacon of light in a terribly divided world.
However, something that happened recently in United Square makes me wonder if there isn't still a shadow to Singapore's bright welcome of foreigners.
I happened to hold a door open for a middle-aged man. Now, I don't expect cringing gratitude, bunches of roses or boxes of chocolate, but when the person looks straight at you from a distance and walks up, it would be nice if he registered something. The man simply stared at me and passed by.
'You're welcome!' I said. He hesitated for a moment and looked at me.
'You're welcome!' I repeated. He muttered something I didn't catch and carried on walking. Intrigued, I followed him into a cafe nearby.
'Sorry?' I said. 'I didn't hear what you said.'
'I don't have to thank you!' he said, quite worked up.
'Well, it would have been nice,' I replied.
'I don't have to bow down to you!'
'Well, I didn't expect that! It's just social politeness to say thank you and I thought maybe you might...'
'Why should I do that to you?'
The degree of dislike in his tone shocked me and I went back to my wife and children, who were having lunch at a table nearby.
While I was eating, I could see the man out of the corner of my eye. He was waiting for his takeaway order and staring over at me, obviously planning something.
When he came out, he shouted something at me. I didn't catch it and said, 'Sorry?'
'I'm xenophobic!' he shouted quite proudly, thumping his chest.
'Pleased to meet you!' I said, 'I'm Brendan!' He waddled off.
This was an obviously articulate and well-educated man, not some small-town redneck. Yet he seemed so proud to proclaim his racial prejudice in full view of 50 lunchtime diners. It quite spoilt my appetite. I had thought this kind of reaction to foreigners here had gone out with the last millennium.
There are about 4.3 million people in Singapore. 'Four million smiles' leaves about 300,000 unaccounted for.
I wonder how many people feel like the man I met. I really do hope that when 'the world' arrives next month, it will be greeted by bright smiles and not by the dark scowl of Mr Xenophobic.
Brendan Buxton -
With so many foreigners in Singapore, how the guy know if that xenophobic man was Singaporean?
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good question!!
anyway that man is little bit extreme. -
Knn, how many Singaporeans you know will go around using the word "xenophobic" in the first place?
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the author's behaviour is also one-kind.
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Ah Seng: Hoi Beng, simi si 'cino-fo-bik' har?Originally posted by charlize:Knn, how many Singaporeans you know will go around using the word "xenophobic" in the first place?
Ah Beng: Aiya... that means ur teh cino veri the big lar.... -
If you offend a Singaporean, he will likely retort with Hokkien or Malay expletives even a simple fcuk off.
He will proclaim himself richer than you or that he drives a Lexus bigger than your Toyota or flash his platinum credit card in your face.
Now which Singaporean will use the word "xenophobic" in an argument? -
I think he is the Everitt Road uncle lah.
Macam he can fit the bill. -
one word: suey!
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But his Lexus is on 15 year loan. My Toyota is fully paid off in cash and I am holding th log card.Originally posted by charlize:If you offend a Singaporean, he will likely retort with Hokkien or Malay expletives even a simple fcuk off.
He will proclaim himself richer than you or that he drives a Lexus bigger than your Toyota or flash his platinum credit card in your face.
Now which Singaporean will use the word "xenophobic" in an argument?
He is richer because he cheated his partner's money during a past business partnership.
His platinium credit card he got it after negotiating with the bank to grant him one under gold conditions. -
crazy,in every society,there are bound to be many types of people mah,just because we are a multi racial society does not means everyone is the same.It is not uncommon to meet someone who is rude and do not say thank you for your kind actions.And based on his one encounter,he has to write to the press about it?And i dun really think it is related to race,someone who is rude and not xenophobic is also as likely not to say thanks or whatever to appreciate your kind effort.
And i must say the writer has some damn attitude problem,if you just want to be helpful,why do you demand something in return? if the person is appreciative,fine.If not just go off with the good feeling that you have helped someone today and feel good just cause of it.His attitude is doing something must get a return,if this means trying so hard,then dun pretend to be helpful lah,do action only but not being truely wanting to be helpful in the first place......... -
Whoever said our standard of english is the suX0r?
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xenophobic p.o.s wanted to pwn angmoh in English.Originally posted by ditzy:Whoever said our standard of english is the suX0r? -
that was no ordinary uncle.
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That Buxton ang-moh is over zealous and does not understand our culture at all.
What is our culture? Well, most do not bother to say thank you if you have held a door for them.
That's fxxed up absolutely but I have lived with it all my life -
maybe he said kan ni na bei and the ang moh thought he said xenophobicOriginally posted by charlize:Now which Singaporean will use the word "xenophobic" in an argument? -
But Mr Buxton is happily married to Singapore woman.Originally posted by Rock^Star:That Buxton ang-moh is over zealous and does not understand our culture at all.
What is our culture? Well, most do not bother to say thank you if you have held a door for them.
That's fxxed up absolutely but I have lived with it all my life
His two kids have Wizard dad & Muggle mom. -
I don't see what the fuss is about what Buxton did. A "thank you" may not be something to be demanded, but it is certainly something to be expected from the member of any civilised society that deems to call itself first-world.
First-world country with manners that would embarrass the third world - what a joke. -
Aiyah, not say the uncle Engrand so powder lah. He probably heard it when he was voting for Tang Liang How.Originally posted by ditzy:Whoever said our standard of english is the suX0r? -
Well, he's raised a couple of kids in Singapore, so I don't think the culture's lost upon him. If anything, he's just pointed out an aspect of Singaporean culture that Singaporeans see and choose to ignore.Originally posted by Rock^Star:That Buxton ang-moh is over zealous and does not understand our culture at all.
What is our culture? Well, most do not bother to say thank you if you have held a door for them.
That's fxxed up absolutely but I have lived with it all my life
Perhaps Keating aimed a little too far north when he used the word "recalcitrant". -
Well, gd points u guys have noted but I can't help but feel that he doesn't understand our culture enough even though he has a S'porean wife. Also got to take into account the westernised environment he grew up in.
Just like S'pore.....our leaders. They don't know what it's like to earn $1,500/mth and have 2, 3 mouths to feed. That's why they are still asking the avg S'porean to make babies.
I really would love to see a "free public transport week" just to get cars off the road for a greener environment or whatever. This govt is too profit oriented.
Maybe we shd start a reality show featuring Mah Bow Tan or Lee Hsien Loong earning $1,500/mth, taking public transport and staying HDB etc.
Sorry for straying!!! Couldn't help it!
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A simple word of thanks would have settled the whole issue.Originally posted by Gedanken:Well, he's raised a couple of kids in Singapore, so I don't think the culture's lost upon him. If anything, he's just pointed out an aspect of Singaporean culture that Singaporeans see and choose to ignore.
Perhaps Keating aimed a little too far north when he used the word "recalcitrant".
But it is easy to mistake Buxton for a foreigner because of his looks, even if he has lived in SG for 16 or even 50 years. -
From the responses here, it looks like the garbament wasted our money on lame courtesy campaigns.
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The money could have been put to better use subsidising health & education costs.Originally posted by Gedanken:From the responses here, it looks like the garbament wasted our money on lame courtesy campaigns.
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Aiya.. xenophobia is sth tt's hard to eradicate. Everybody has a certain degree of it. Some show it outwardly n some don't. Surely everyone has a certain perception of other races n is guilty of stereotyping. How often we hear blanga this blanga that..