In another episode of ‘Asked Nobody’
It’s August and Singapore will turn 54.
Every year, it is a time where we are fed with images and songs of prosperity, peace and harmony what with the impending National Day celebrations.
But not in 2019.
This year, the NETS-MediaCorp-Dennis Chew-PreetiPls debacle has blown out of proportion and greatly overshadowed Ramli Sarip’s soulful remake of our national anthem, Majulah Singapura.
While all parties have issued public apologies for their part in the fiasco, one wonders whether we can still say that Singapore enjoys racial harmony.
Or, do we just tolerate one another?
I, for one, seem to be tolerating the many unsolicited opinions of the privileged this past week.
In another episode of ‘Asked Nobody’, many netizens offered their two-cents on social media, without first acknowledging the genuine insult and hurt feelings of the minorities.
Some shared stories of minority schoolmates, friends and colleagues they’ve crossed paths with and tried to explain why the whole ‘brownface’ situation was wrong. But I haven’t read one that said they apologised to those they’ve upset with their ignorant ways before.
Worst still, those who took offence with Preetipls, decided to report the rap video to the police.
I get that they may have been offended, and I even empathised with them and thought about how I’d feel if Preetipls changed the lyrics to “Malay people f*ck f*ck f*ckin’ it up”.
I’d raise my eyebrows for sure. But I’d also have the sense to see the video entirely as satire and parody, even though it might have pushed some buttons. If you watched a stand-up comedy, wouldn’t it be filled with plenty of digs on race and nationality, and chock-full of stereotypes? You’d probably feel a little hurt sitting in the audience, but laugh along and forget about it shortly after you’ve left the show. After all, it’s a comedy and most, if not all, of the digs at stereotypes are said in jest, and have no seriousness behind them.
Would you be calling the police to arrest the comedian?
No.
Although we’ve since become “woke” and try our best to avoid making racist jokes lest it comes across as bullying or belittling; there are more serious occurrences of casual racism than just jokes or what is portrayed in media as “entertainment” that seem to be forgotten, such as discrimination at the workplace.
Let me ask you, the Majority, if a job promotion was up for grabs, would you give it up to your colleague – a minority who is as every bit as deserving as you?
If you’re the Majority and privileged, you haven’t walked a mile in our shoes or experienced the microaggressions faced by minorities every other day, so how can you think to agree or disagree with whatever Preeti and Subhas said?
What we would appreciate though is for you to ask us how we felt about it, how it affected us, and how to improve the situation.
With proper conversation, it would have been more respectful, more insightful and more meaningful for both of us.
Because the only way to understand a minority’s struggle is to ask them.
It’s time to stop sweeping issues like casual racism and discrimination under the rug. Who better to give clarity than someone who faces them daily?
Surely not you?
