it’s not just the old argument about how we were an immigrant society so why aren’t we more accepting of foreigners. it’s the other way round too. hundreds and thousands of singaporeans now live and work and study all over the world. we have been sending our young people overseas for college for decades, and we’re proud of them when they get jobs in the us (or wherever) after graduation. don’t let’s be two-faced about this: when you say proudly that your son is working in new york or studying at columbia, do you think of your son as someone out there stealing american jobs, clogging up american subways, taking up college places, using up american resources when they are not even american citizens? no, you think they’re bright, cosmopolitan people who have achieved success and recognition that they deserve and not even in their own country of birth. really, if america and china and european countries treated their singaporean students and residents the way some singaporeans now behave towards foreigners, singaporean parents would be up in arms about racism and xenophobia and american protectionism and employer hiring prejudice in this age of global labour mobility and what have you. so why are we so hostile to foreigners coming here doing exactly the same thing? for heaven’s sake try and remember that your own children are foreigners abroad and for the most part they are not treated with open hostility. when you next look at a non-singaporean resident just think that this person is also someone’s child and be a little kinder and more understanding and hope very hard your own children are also treated as well and fairly abroad.and i don’t even know what nationality has to do with anything. i’ve been a foreigner abroad myself long enough to value the fact i don’t have to fight for acceptance wherever i’ve gone. when i live in the us i enjoy many privileges without being an american citizen and why shouldn’t i? no one begrudges me this. i also do happen to pay federal and state taxes (why do people use the word taxpayers as if it is synonymous with citizens — in fact, since i don’t have a vote, you could say i dont’ even have control over how my tax dollars are spent and that is a kind of taxation without representation, isn’t it?) i belong to the public library in 3 different counties and am a card-carrying organ donor in 2 different states. i donate to local charities, give blood to the american red cross, go to vigils and protests with americans on campus and national issues. i’ve lived in the us during 9/11. my local shopkeepers know me by sight: i try to buy and eat local to support community businesses. and i have american and non-american friends and neighbours and departmental colleagues (and no one asks me stupid questions about where i come from or comment on my accent — which by now is a mishmash of singapore and british with various kinds of american regional characteristics.) none of this has anything to do with whether i am a us citizen. no one invited me to go to the us. no one owes me a living. but then no one begrudges me my presence in the country or that i took up one of 14 spots in my department or will go on the tenure market at the same time as a glut of american phds and probably stand an advantage for being post-colonial and a woman and asian (pity i’m not queer, i’d have had the full four suits in the identity politics game of -isms, hah!). and no one tells me to go home to singapore either. what is it about being “foreign” that has anything to do with anything? your home is where you make it, and your life
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