Countries in history
1950s after the japanese occupation, the bristish gov passed a law that says all country dwellers, if not born in sg will be considered overseas chinese and will not be granted citizenship. At that time, the chinese community was very stirred by this law and came up with petitions to overrule it twice over 2 years... "We toiled here almost all our lives, fought for the country's survival, how came you not recognise us as citizen?!" was the angry response among the chinese. So our ancestors fought on and finally with more overseas-educated chinese young men joining the gov also, the bristish gov finally passed a new law that allows overseas chinese to be granted citizenship if they lived in sg for more than 8 years - which made everybody happy.
50 years down the road, in our times now... Overseas pple, guys in this instance, after being here for some years and granted citizenship - "Huh... but i dun wanna serve army!" ..................
Dan, from australia, is trying to settle in SG cos he thinks it's a better place. Pat, from Hong Kong, thinks that HK is still superior to SG in many ways. My granddad moves btw China and SG, considering each his equal home. Msia students come to SG for a better environment, but some even go back home every single week. Filippinos leave Phillippines for good to settle anyway else they can, some graduates even willing to work as maids in SG juz for the opportunity to leave their home country.
Some time ago, in the train, i heard some China youngsters talking abt our SG team in the sports games (was it SEA games? the one that just passed).. they were say the team shouldnt be called "Team SG", should be called "Team international"... But isnt it true that team SG really are all Sgaporeans, despite they all might be from different lands of birth. Yet, the older ping pong player (who i dun remember the name) who was originally from China, married a sgaporean and calls herself a sgaporean as well...
Back in the 1950s, the chinese commerce association while fighting for the petition, decided that it is more impt for their children of the next generation to keep their roots and not become overly westernized. Together, they raised money, even msia chinese came into the picture, and founded the 1st and only chinese local uni, Nanyang University, now known as Nanyang Technological University (which has became eng speaking). The land that held the Nanyang university was donated by the Hokkien Hui Guan - wah i didn't know we hokkiens had such a glorious contribution.. haha...
In the past, msia helped sg, sg helped msia... Now, quarrel over water - and Mr Brown appears... I am sgaporean and I dun like being mistaken for a msian here. Yet, alone in Ireland, the sight of a malaysian convenient store feels so much like home and juz being with a msian person is like having found a fellow country man...
Life is full of paradox, indeed. But it's heartening to know that Christ died not just for His own earthly country, nor for just sg, hk, australia, phillippines... But Christ died for all countries in the world. His plans and history is written differently for all, but His love is equal to everybody and His grace is not hidden. Give BIG praises to Him!
12 March Birthdays