appreciate>>shutter for the articleOriginally posted by ShutterBug:Taken from The New Paper:
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THE job advertisements made her mad.
Indian housewife R Mages, 32, was looking for a clerical job in the classified ads six months ago.
'Every time, every day, you just go to the admin jobs section and there'll be some ads with Chinese as a requirement.'
Even when she called companies that didn't ask for Mandarin proficiency, she would be told Mandarin speakers were needed.
'We are a multi-cultural society, we should not just be going for one race,' she said.
But is it a race or language issue?
One Indian who can speak some Mandarin said that it helped her in her predominantly Chinese office.
The manufacturing engineer who wanted to only be known as Ms Salma, 28, said: 'There's a wall that's removed. You're more approachable in work situations.'
Speaking the language got her through the door. Making friends was a different matter.
She said: 'On virtue of not being Chinese, of not sharing the same sociological viewpoints, I was still left out.'
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong warned employers last month not to discriminate against non-Chinese by setting Mandarin as a requirement when it's not needed.
Similarly, Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng said recently that if Chinese employers were to discriminate by race, the situation could potentially be a 'time bomb' if the jobless felt marginalised.
When you have many employers advertising for Mandarin speakers, does it make it more difficult for ethnic minorities here?
Madam Halimah Yacob, NTUC assistant secretary-general, 51, said: 'Yes, it does, if speaking Mandarin is not necessary in order to perform the job.
'But we also have to be realistic. Not all failures on the part of a non-Chinese to get a job is because of discrimination...
'Skills and experience are still the predominant factors.'
Guidelines were set in March 1999 by the Ministry of Manpower, National Trades Union Congress and the Singapore National Employers Federation, that job advertisements cannot use race as a criterion.
But Madam Halimah said: 'It is only a guideline and does not have the force of law.
'The other problem is investigations are done quietly and the outcome is not shared with the public.'
The Ministry of Manpower said it received 29 cases of feedback or complaints from job seekers last year.
They were mainly on job advertisements that stipulated proficiency in Mandarin or bilingualism in English and Mandarin as requirements.
Racism does exist everywhere. In the usa it does exist. But you will not find this extreme of ads in the papers, etc. Most of it is only in history - but old small towns, you can still find ignorance, like you find here.Originally posted by pat33:Racialism, or more correct term discrimination, although bad exists everywhere and not just overtly in Singapore. All form of discriminations exist in this world - even in the West where they are supposed to be more democratic and thus more enlightened.
Mind your bloody lang here Who the hell you calling ignoranceOriginally posted by Northwind:Racism does exist everywhere. In the usa it does exist. But you will not find this extreme of ads in the papers, etc. Most of it is only in history - but old small towns, you can still find ignorance, like you find here.
Democracy is not Enlightenment....And neither word has anything to do with racism...However I don't see that defending racism by saying it is everywhere is a good thing...Let's just try to have a little more heart and see every person as a person with unique traits, and value them for who they are.
Nobody said democracy = enlighten. Did I said that in my thread? Read carefully before you reply or post. Did I said Racialism is good? I said racialism is discrimination and it is bad. Read carefully again.Originally posted by Northwind:Racism does exist everywhere. In the usa it does exist. But you will not find this extreme of ads in the papers, etc. Most of it is only in history - but old small towns, you can still find ignorance, like you find here.
Democracy is not Enlightenment....And neither word has anything to do with racism...However I don't see that defending racism by saying it is everywhere is a good thing...Let's just try to have a little more heart and see every person as a person with unique traits, and value them for who they are.
If you defined racialism narrowly by the ads in the newspaper, you miss the point, my friend. In the West, they may not ads in the newspaper about color, race and religion. But the moment you appear before them, they would pass you on. As I said many countries, esp the western countries may not do it overtly but it is subtle and it is there. So long as diff and prejudice in human exists, discrimination too will exist. No form of govt legislation or law can completely eredicate it.Originally posted by Northwind:Racism does exist everywhere. In the usa it does exist. But you will not find this extreme of ads in the papers, etc. Most of it is only in history - but old small towns, you can still find ignorance, like you find here.
Democracy is not Enlightenment....And neither word has anything to do with racism...However I don't see that defending racism by saying it is everywhere is a good thing...Let's just try to have a little more heart and see every person as a person with unique traits, and value them for who they are.
lol - you are trying to incite here....I did not call anyone ignorance, and I didnt call anyone ignorant either. Ignorance is a "state", meaning that it exists everywhere - individuals are unique, and you will find ignorance in the usa, and here as well. that was my point.Originally posted by pat33:Mind your bloody lang here Who the hell you calling ignorance![]()
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Uh, yes you did. You said "...be more democratic and thus more enlightened." the word thus means because of, consequently, etc.Originally posted by pat33:Nobody said democracy = enlighten. Did I said that in my thread? Read carefully before you reply or post. Did I said Racialism is good? I said racialism is discrimination and it is bad. Read carefully again.
Sorry, but I don't define it that way....my friend...Originally posted by pat33:If you defined racialism narrowly by the ads in the newspaper, you miss the point, my friend. In the West, they may not ads in the newspaper about color, race and religion. But the moment you appear before them, they would pass you on. As I said many countries, esp the western countries may not do it overtly but it is subtle and it is there. So long as diff and prejudice in human exists, discrimination too will exist. No form of govt legislation or law can completely eredicate it.
Yes You did here......Originally posted by Northwind:lol - you are trying to incite here....I did not call anyone ignorance, and I didnt call anyone ignorant either. Ignorance is a "state", meaning that it exists everywhere - individuals are unique, and you will find ignorance in the usa, and here as well. that was my point.
Read in my context and not your context. I meant raciallsim also exist in the supposedly more democratic countires, like the Western nations. I did not equate democracy like to way you equate democracy with enlightenment.Originally posted by Northwind:Uh, yes you did. You said "...be more democratic and thus more enlightened." the word thus means because of, consequently, etc.
I am simply saying that someone is discussing troublesome situation, and if the only answer we can give is that the same problem is everywhere is not good. Your statement is TRUE, however it's not helping
Originally posted by pat33:I sent you a PM about this and you choose to ignore...Okay....Then I will have to say it in public....
Yes You did here......
Racism does exist everywhere. In the usa it does exist. But you will not find this extreme of ads in the papers, etc. Most of it is only in history - but old small towns, you can still find ignorance, [b]like you find here.
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Can you lay off the heat? Why do you come across as rude and wanting to be beligerant?Originally posted by pat33:Read in my context and not your context. I meant raciallsim also exist in the supposedly more democratic countires, like the Western nations. I did not equate democracy like to way you equate democracy with enlightenment.
So what if my thread is not good enough for you? It is not for you to brush ppl aside like to way you did. I did not write in response to you. You wrote response to us.
Ignorant - adjOriginally posted by Northwind:I sent you a PM about this and you choose to ignore...Okay....Then I will have to say it in public....
Ignorance and Ignorant are two different things....
First off the word is Noun. Not nounce. Secondly, you know what I was trying to say, but are twisting it to make it sound as though I am insulting you or am insulting singapore. I think everyone else here knows what I meant.Originally posted by pat33:Ignorant - adj
ignorance - nounce
You can choose to say it however you choose. It is the meaning and how you put forth.
I state my positions
I do not condone discrimination. But a fact and is here and everywhere.
I do not trivialised, generalised or talked it away. This is not my style.
I just read your PM message, I sympathise with you. I hope your first posting in this forum helps you to achieve whatever you hope to achieve here in Sg.
Don't come here and show off your perfect English, ok? This is a forum not some English Lesson. Nobody cares about your "English lessons" here.Originally posted by Northwind:First off the word is Noun. Not nounce. Secondly, you know what I was trying to say, but are twisting it to make it sound as though I am insulting you or am insulting singapore. I think everyone else here knows what I meant.
And what I hope to achieve here in singapore...you dont condone racism and yet...you can not think that maybe I am trying to make Singapore my home??
Read my first post again - I am not "working here"...I am trying to live here...
Many thanks for your sincere sympathies...
tsk tsk tskOriginally posted by Northwind:Can you lay off the heat? Why do you come across as rude and wanting to be beligerant?
I am not brushing any person aside. I responded to the issue. Tell me what it is you are so upset with me about.
LOL!!!!Originally posted by pat33:Don't come here and show off your perfect English, ok? This is a forum not some English Lesson. Nobody cares about your "English lessons" here.
Nobody twists your word here. Who cares if you make it here in Sg. Ang Mo like you - no sympathy. Can't make it here can simply go back to your country. Let me ask you what about those singaporean who are unemployed? Do they have a country to go back to?
Ang moh like me? You dont even know me. What high horse, moron? I have zero money, no job, no family, no friends, and waaaay too many people "like you" who dont take the time to know the truth about someone - but just treat them because of their skin color. Where the hell is the area to be on high horse??? Ang moh like me....English lessons...lmao...try again...Originally posted by pat33:tsk tsk tsk
You may not be direct as me but you are rude, ok. Have it occurs to you that maybe to live here in sg, Ang mo like you should get off your high horse? Twisting your words here and there and giving ppl English lessons.