Chinese In Singapore.
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or perhaps you can't read too?
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Gentlemen,
Fellow "sgForum-knights" jousting each others' minds with each stroke of the keyboards,
Why tear at each otherÂ’s throat over the position adopted by "ProudSGChinese" ?
One should know that each generation will have different hang-ups, preferences, fads, high-jinx, and exuberances that differ from the generations passed.
It is from the premise of dissatisfaction with oneÂ’s own lot that motivates each of generation to reflect on our own situation, and push us to improve by imitation or innovation.
With age will come wisdom.
Wisdom will awaken the senses of querying the philosophical side of oneself – where is one’s origin? Where does one belong? What is one’s history?
In time, one will grow out of oneÂ’s youthful exuberance, and mature in oneÂ’s philosophical and political development, and with that will come pride in oneÂ’s history and future.
This is what Life is all about.
No need to get excited and tear at each other.
When one is young, one’s taste bud is more tuned to sweet things; as a teen, the taste is for something more exotic; as a young adult, the taste will be more “critical”; with age, one’s taste will be more “discerning” to the extent of even appreciating the nuances of enjoying “bitterness”.
There is yet hope for those who have temporarily gone “astray”. -
well said. i agree to end the feud. The people here provide no intellectual anyhow...Originally posted by Atobe:Gentlemen,
Fellow "sgForum-knights" jousting each others' minds with each stroke of the keyboards,
Why tear at each otherÂ’s throat over the position adopted by "ProudSGChinese" ?
One should know that each generation will have different hang-ups, preferences, fads, high-jinx, and exuberances that differ from the generations passed.
It is from the premise of dissatisfaction with oneÂ’s own lot that motivates each of generation to reflect on our own situation, and push us to improve by imitation or innovation.
With age will come wisdom.
Wisdom will awaken the senses of querying the philosophical side of oneself – where is one’s origin? Where does one belong? What is one’s history?
In time, one will grow out of oneÂ’s youthful exuberance, and mature in oneÂ’s philosophical and political development, and with that will come pride in oneÂ’s history and future.
This is what Life is all about.
No need to get excited and tear at each other.
When one is young, one’s taste bud is more tuned to sweet things; as a teen, the taste is for something more exotic; as a young adult, the taste will be more “critical”; with age, one’s taste will be more “discerning” to the extent of even appreciating the nuances of enjoying “bitterness”.
There is yet hope for those who have temporarily gone “astray”. -
A very broad and sweeping statement, don't you think? The fundamental issue here is the disagreement with ProudSgChinese's views. Why drag age and other youths into the equation?Originally posted by Atobe:Gentlemen,
Fellow "sgForum-knights" jousting each others' minds with each stroke of the keyboards,
Why tear at each otherÂ’s throat over the position adopted by "ProudSGChinese" ?
One should know that each generation will have different hang-ups, preferences, fads, high-jinx, and exuberances that differ from the generations passed.
It is from the premise of dissatisfaction with oneÂ’s own lot that motivates each of generation to reflect on our own situation, and push us to improve by imitation or innovation.
With age will come wisdom.
Wisdom will awaken the senses of querying the philosophical side of oneself – where is one’s origin? Where does one belong? What is one’s history?
In time, one will grow out of oneÂ’s youthful exuberance, and mature in oneÂ’s philosophical and political development, and with that will come pride in oneÂ’s history and future.
This is what Life is all about.
No need to get excited and tear at each other.
When one is young, one’s taste bud is more tuned to sweet things; as a teen, the taste is for something more exotic; as a young adult, the taste will be more “critical”; with age, one’s taste will be more “discerning” to the extent of even appreciating the nuances of enjoying “bitterness”.
There is yet hope for those who have temporarily gone “astray”.
With that statement, I do not think you intended it, but you have downplayed and put a cap on the views of the youth in the SGforums community, putting the innocence
of youth as the reason behind the many views expressed by the youths in SGforums.
And yah, you are gonna say this view of mine is due to my 'youthful exuberance' as well, but I hereby inform you that this is just my opinion on why age, to a large extent, should NOT be a factor when disputes occur.
and yes I'm 15 -
The piece posted is certainly due to observation of the different generations, and querying the avenues of youthful expressions available to different generations.Originally posted by laser51088:A very broad and sweeping statement, don't you think? The fundamental issue here is the disagreement with ProudSgChinese's views. Why drag age and other youths into the equation?
With that statement, I do not think you intended it, but you have downplayed and put a cap on the views of the youth in the SGforums community, putting the innocence of youth as the reason behind the many views expressed by the youths in SGforums.
And yah, you are gonna say this view of mine is due to my 'youthful exuberance' as well, but I hereby inform you that this is just my opinion on why age, to a large extent, should NOT be a factor when disputes occur.
and yes I'm 15
Generalising it must be, as the symptoms brought up by ProudSGChinese cuts across all ethnic groups, and not a symptom exclusive to the Chinese alone.
There was no intention to trivialise the post brought up by ProudSGChinese, who may have expressed his concern at this stage of his youthful life - which reflects highly of his character - that shows his early anxiety to the future of the Chinese Community.
By all means post the conflicting views to convince each other of one's preferred position, but why tear the fabric of sensibility by not being able to understand the treasured position of each person's views ?
Youthful exuberance should be the most important period of one's life before one get stuck in the economic grind to make ends meet for one's family (whether married or not), and the Company that one works for.
This is the most creative time for one's intellectual development, and it is through this sgForum that one has the opportunity to put one's position on any issue to public debate. -
hahaOriginally posted by Mazohyst:In what way does that make me a wannabe? Don't see your logic. Sheesh... was i talking to you? Who the hell are you anyway... mind your own business, noob.
..u tok as if u own tis forum...
get a life dude..y get so piss off?
noobs? u play too much game liao lah..wahahaha -
With this statement you just owned yourself. Why do you bother posting on a forum anyway then, since it's technically none of YOUR business either. SGChinese didn't make a personal attack on you~
In what way does that make me a wannabe? Don't see your logic. Sheesh... was i talking to you? Who the hell are you anyway... mind your own business, noob.
At least i use far more polite words than the ones you use~
Of course you will never see my logic, the same reason why i don't see myself as a noob. That's a redundant question. Why even bother asking that in the first place ~ Surely one of your dubious intellectual level could see that. -
I think ProudSGChinese's concern is valid. Afterall, the youth are the future builders of Singapore, and wouldn't it be a pity to see our nation's rich culture disappear? So naturally one would be concerned about the cultural erosion that's happening, because, who would spread this culture to the next generation if they don't do?
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smart boy Mazohyst, one cookie for u
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Culture grows, changes and moves with the times.
Sometimes I see the traditionalists ranting about "Culture dying", I wonder if they know what they are saying...
Without change in culture, would we still be wearing untreated skins of animals? Would we have all be living in Pagodas, hovels, caves, thatched-roof huts or whatever our ancestors lived in?
I see most of those who keep ranting about "lost Culture" as those who do not want change and will fight tooth and nail to defend the past.
Well, I would say that we remember the past and our roots.. and we have to move forward, else we stagnate. No one has said anything about destroying the past like Mao Tsetung or Pol Pot tried to do.
They, of all people, should know the dangers in that... in the recent past, the grip on the past destroyed China... the Boxer Revolution.. those who refused to move with progress... were ultimately destroyed.
Would we want our children to be like that?
Teach them about our past, our roots, but never hold them back when they want to move forward.Originally posted by SingaporeMacross:I think ProudSGChinese's concern is valid. Afterall, the youth are the future builders of Singapore, and wouldn't it be a pity to see our nation's rich culture disappear? So naturally one would be concerned about the cultural erosion that's happening, because, who would spread this culture to the next generation if they don't do? -
totally agree... actually, i think one only perceives "loss" of culture because it is weak and vulnerable to perceived "erosion" in the first place.Originally posted by the Bear:Culture grows, changes and moves with the times....
would we be raising this issue if we were all confident of our identity and our heritage??? i don't think so...
if "culture" is in "danger" of "erosion", shouldn't we be considering if these "cultures" are in the process of change, adaptation and re-interpretation to suit modern context instead of declaring that we are "losing" it? -
cool, new person to argue with. neway... I didn't attack him to begin with. I just made my views known. To which he responded and attacked me. So, when i return the favor, im pretty much entitled to defend myself. As for you, I don't seem to recall saying anything to you... And i finally know why ill never see your logic. Because for one, its flawed, and secondly, i'm not currently very fluent in speaking the language of microbes, so do pardon me if I can't comprehend what you're saying. My intellectual level may be dubious, but its a sight better than yours, which has constantly shown itself to be nearly non-existant.Originally posted by Stevenson101:With this statement you just owned yourself. Why do you bother posting on a forum anyway then, since it's technically none of YOUR business either. SGChinese didn't make a personal attack on you~
At least i use far more polite words than the ones you use~
Of course you will never see my logic, the same reason why i don't see myself as a noob. That's a redundant question. Why even bother asking that in the first place ~ Surely one of your dubious intellectual level could see that. -
id say i agree that the singaporean chinese are indeed losing their culture.
firstly, as i mentioned in one of my other threads an racial differences, it is hard to keep a balance between having national pride and keeping your roots. for instance, when asked about your nationality or race, what would you answer? some say singaporean, some would answer chinese.
secondly, the govt had placed too much emphasis on the english language in the 1970s and 80s. as a result, more and more people learn english because they feel that english is more suitable if we were to suceed in this world, thus discarding their mother tongue. with the loss of their language, how can they appreciate and embrace their culture?
thridly, id also like to say that getting good grades for chinese does not mean that you keep your roots or embrace your culture. so what if we score well? the main point is whether we score well for a cert or to truly understand our culture. in my opinion, the govt has placed too much emphasis on marks that students today are gradually losing touch with reality. they dont know what in like are they working their heads off for.
thats y i think that singaporean chinese are gradually losing their culture. -
One question..who decide that any chinese who does not speak mandarin is a banana man , huh?
I speak cantonese and I dont speak mandarin well...so what...What makes u think mandarin is greater than cantonese. I agree most of china people used it...does it mean I have to take mandarin as my first chinese language....damn NO!!! Sometimes I got really pissed off with such mentality.
Many people keep saying to me that I am like a banana man...how low mentality...and poor sight they have..well unless I see $$$$$$$$ in investing money in China..U bet I rush for mandarin course.
Can anybody spare some thoughts..how did mandarin came about? Was it from Manchurian? -
My chinese is completely rosak, F9 o-levels thanks to a childhood raised on american red-white-and-blue culture. I can only speak and write chinese barely (good enuff to communicate decently though).
On the other hand, despite my languare handicap, if you ask me if I am ashamed to be chinese, I'll slap you several times in the face. I am extremely okay with my heritage if you ask me, and apperciate it's rich history and diversity (americans, virtual upstarts with only 200 years behind them, have nothing much to offer save ignorance and arrogrance) not to mention being the most technologically advanced civillisation until Ming-started zenophobia shut development down. Still, it took the westerners over 200 years to catch up. Though regretably my masterly of my mother language is poor, I do not look down, nor fail to associate myself with my people.
It could be said the demographics l am in, the westernized asian chinese, are at the crossroads of cultures. In between those who don't want to be chinese at all, wanting to be japanese, korean or westerners, and between those who are largely zenophobic. -
Besides, pls note that a lot of our co-called traditional chinese values which place great suspision and phobia of other cultures are greatly Ming-inspired xenophobic rules. For the majority of chinese history, our people was actually marked by their open and diverse assimilation of different and diverse cultures. The chinese are more of a blendwork of differing cultures and people rather then something you can point out and say that or that is distinctly chinese. I believe our current culture is evolving at an extremely rapid rate, after having spent years locked up since the Ming until recent years.
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So which is more "chinese"?
Not mentioning the fact that race as a scientific term is actually invalid and does not exist, does a chinese person who can speak his language well considered more chinese then a westernized, english speaking one who has a greater apperciation of his own culture? -
Friend,
Don't be too worked up over being Chinese. I am a chinese. But the Chinese culture I practice is not the same as the Chinese culture practiced by the Chinamen in China, nor the Taiwanese, Nor the HongKies. Its Singaporean Chinese culture.
The recent Chinese culture revival is actually because of some people wanting to create a idealized Chinese identity, and hence want to standardize the perception of what Chinese are like. And being the Majority, the China people will assume that their Chinese "culture" and "society" is the master design.
Whenever a China man call me a Banana, I merely ask him how many kids does he want. He will reply one. Then I will say, the chinese culture needs you to have many. Why stop at one. They will then say, the country can not support more. I will say that is AGAINST chinese culture. I will also bring up ancestor worship, respect for elders and burial customs. I will also touch on how the communist has destroyed all the cultural heirlooms and banned certain practices. All these will be more than enough to shut up any Chinaman over we banana's lack of chinese culture.
We must not have the mentality of ONE chinese culture. Culture is able to adapt to each country that we chinese are in. The Anglo culture that is in USA, UK and Australia has evolved into distinct identities. Hence my own belief that we must have our own chinese identity and culture in Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, HK and China. -
Face it... you all think the American and Western culture is superior... you are wearing shoes... you are wearing jeans,... you are talking in slangs.. you are dyeing hair... you are getting contact lens with colour.... you GO ALL GOOEY WHENEVER WE TALK TO AN "ANGMOH".... you all are mostly Christian... you all would rather be Jap....and the Japs would rather be white.... so in theory you all want to be white... you all watch american tv rather than channel 8...
Face it... you all think west is best... whether it is... is another matter. -
But my friend the world is round.......we are also considered westOriginally posted by mixedblooder:Face it... you all think the American and Western culture is superior... you are wearing shoes... you are wearing jeans,... you are talking in slangs.. you are dyeing hair... you are getting contact lens with colour.... you GO ALL GOOEY WHENEVER WE TALK TO AN "ANGMOH".... you all are mostly Christian... you all would rather be Jap....and the Japs would rather be white.... so in theory you all want to be white... you all watch american tv rather than channel 8...
Face it... you all think west is best... whether it is... is another matter. As for the rest of you statement.....well it is simply wrong on so many levels -
Look at your clothes... your shoes... your cross around your neck... your tv... look at all of it... I think that's the way it is... Chinese think its more fashionable to be AMerican. Some of my Chinese guy friends seem ashamed to admit they speak mandarin. It has become like a fashion to fail Chinese in my school, people don;t care about the language.
Well as for the WEst and the world being round stuff... well i meant West as in White people, Caucasians... but specifically American, that was what i meant by WEST. -
Christian=Ang mo
I suppose you think Jesus was a white man too.
A common mistake and misconception.
It's from the middle east dude, pls do yr reasearch b4 u shoot yr mouth off... -
Besides, I have yet to see you point out why there is anything wrong with some of us being westernized. All I have heard is mindless complaining.
This is a self-choice to make. -
I dunno if there is anything wrong with it... I am not the one making noise... its the guy who started this forum. I am merely stating my observation of most Chinese people.
Yeah I know Christianity was from the middle East, whether Jesus was a white blue eyed blond dude is neither here nor there, but most probably he would be caucasian looking... anywayz... the point is.... that Chinese...or not just Chinese... most people... believe that Christianity is taken up by Western White people... even though its dying out in Europe, but its still strong in America... i mean look at the Prez....
the point is: public opinion is that Christianity is a white man's religion, and that it is fashionable to be part of Christianity because it gets us into the Western circle... that;'s what i think.
As for whether it is wrong or not... i don't know... i am just stating what i am seeing... no offence to anyone... not even you Tyranosaurus man! -
Christianity did come from the middle east... Jesus was a Jew... he may have been caucasian... most likely was...since the jews did look relatively white... but anyway.... although Christianity is a Middle Eastern thing... public opinion is that Christianity is a Western White man's religion.
I believe that most people think that Christianity is the Western fashsionable thing....which it is to a certain extent... but not in Europe anymore... but certainly in USA.... look @ the prez....
Hence I believe yall think Christianity will get yall into the Western circle... that's why we all wear the cross...
I am not picking a fight or saying it is wrong... i am just stating my observations... no offense to anyone.. not even you Tyranosaur man!