Shane Gill: Ok. Enough. Amy Cheong has paid for her sins.
She lost her job. Enough. Everyone complains about foreigners but this
shows we can hardly tolerate our own Singaporeans. She said what she
said. She lost her job. Enough. She's still one of our own.
Within the hour, I received a private message in my inbox. Name's have been changed for privacy reasons of course.
Perhaps enough Shane of 'everyone complains about foreigners'. In my
country I would be considered a racist and a bigot if I went on the way
you do. This foreigner felt very unwelcome here when she read your
comments in the last months she lived in Singapore. I've gone home now,
where I try to remember to be respectful to those who have changed areas
if the city by migrating from Asia. in Singapore I gave my skills and
love to thousands of kids and the local economy got all of my earnings
returned to it. Do you really want a works in which no one is free to
live beyond their countryside boarders? Your country and mine would
never have developed as they have were that the case. And where would
our ancestors have been if they had been surrounded by your attitude
towards foreigners?
I like when people respond with differing views. We really need more of it. Too many people just refuse to speak, frightened perhaps, when their opinion differs. And that's sad. Here's my response.
big·ot
[big-uht]
noun
a person who is utterly intolerant of any differing creed, belief, or opinion.
rac·ist
[rey-sist]
noun
1.
a person who believes in racism, the doctrine that a certain human race is superior to any or all others.
Hi Linda
Racist. Bigot. Extremely strong words. Perhaps you misunderstood, perhaps you skipped over a few details. Never have I criticized the people who have come to my country seeking better a future. They are entitled to it. If I felt I could better provide for my family in a foreign land, I too would go. It only makes sense.
You have taken my criticism of my government’s policies as criticism of the individual. I have an issue with the rate at which my government has opened the floodgates on immigration. The infrastructure of Singapore is under such severe strain that the Prime Minister himself has acknowledged the fact that the immigration policy needs to be looked at.
As you have so wisely observed in your country, I too am grateful for all the people from other countries that have made Singapore what it is today. The flats built, the roads paved, the grass cut. I see these things. They do not fall beyond my field of vision. I understand. But my people are suffering. Wages are being depressed to the point of poverty. Many foreigners are hired do the job at a fraction of the cost of a Singaporean. Our old cannot retire. They clean fast food outlets and it breaks my heart, Linda. The falling birthrate has the government pointing squarely at the people when they fail to see the people are struggling to feed themselves, let alone start a family.
I have never called for the picture you painted. Where people live and work only where they come from. I just ask for some semblance of sanity at which our gates are open. I understand where progress has brought this country but I do not think it is ok to sacrifice the people for the sake of progress.
Racist. Bigot. Linda my dad owns a shop in Race Course Road. I have sat by the road side and eaten meals with foreign workers from India and Bangladesh. I have been the best man at a Muslim wedding. My best friend is gay and from the Philippines. I have gone into mosques, churches, temples, and have actually knelt and prayed in them. Before I was a teacher I spent six years serving our military and reached the rank of Sergeant First Class. With people of all races and creeds. I have cried and bled with these people. And they with me. I have a tattoo in my flesh that states that everyone is the same.
I read your message just before I stared teaching five classes. And I must say those words hit me rather hard. If you were ever offended by my updates on FaceBook, and if you ever felt unwelcome in this country, I am truly sorry. That was never what I meant to do. I hope you’re happy where you are right now. And I hope you have the life you’ve always wanted. I will never stop fighting for the rights of my people.
Much love (and I mean it)
Shane Gill
[big-uht]
noun
a person who is utterly intolerant of any differing creed, belief, or opinion.
rac·ist
[rey-sist]
noun
1.
a person who believes in racism, the doctrine that a certain human race is superior to any or all others.
Hi Linda
Racist. Bigot. Extremely strong words. Perhaps you misunderstood, perhaps you skipped over a few details. Never have I criticized the people who have come to my country seeking better a future. They are entitled to it. If I felt I could better provide for my family in a foreign land, I too would go. It only makes sense.
You have taken my criticism of my government’s policies as criticism of the individual. I have an issue with the rate at which my government has opened the floodgates on immigration. The infrastructure of Singapore is under such severe strain that the Prime Minister himself has acknowledged the fact that the immigration policy needs to be looked at.
As you have so wisely observed in your country, I too am grateful for all the people from other countries that have made Singapore what it is today. The flats built, the roads paved, the grass cut. I see these things. They do not fall beyond my field of vision. I understand. But my people are suffering. Wages are being depressed to the point of poverty. Many foreigners are hired do the job at a fraction of the cost of a Singaporean. Our old cannot retire. They clean fast food outlets and it breaks my heart, Linda. The falling birthrate has the government pointing squarely at the people when they fail to see the people are struggling to feed themselves, let alone start a family.
I have never called for the picture you painted. Where people live and work only where they come from. I just ask for some semblance of sanity at which our gates are open. I understand where progress has brought this country but I do not think it is ok to sacrifice the people for the sake of progress.
Racist. Bigot. Linda my dad owns a shop in Race Course Road. I have sat by the road side and eaten meals with foreign workers from India and Bangladesh. I have been the best man at a Muslim wedding. My best friend is gay and from the Philippines. I have gone into mosques, churches, temples, and have actually knelt and prayed in them. Before I was a teacher I spent six years serving our military and reached the rank of Sergeant First Class. With people of all races and creeds. I have cried and bled with these people. And they with me. I have a tattoo in my flesh that states that everyone is the same.
I read your message just before I stared teaching five classes. And I must say those words hit me rather hard. If you were ever offended by my updates on FaceBook, and if you ever felt unwelcome in this country, I am truly sorry. That was never what I meant to do. I hope you’re happy where you are right now. And I hope you have the life you’ve always wanted. I will never stop fighting for the rights of my people.
Much love (and I mean it)
Shane Gill
