Thursday, January 6, 2011

Changing phase of Singapore Society

As we look around at current day Singapore, we see the hustle and bustle of city life; we hear the buzzing and whirring of machinery and vehicles. This is nothing unusual in our revolutionized and modernized country. As time passed we have undergone numerous transformations; from a small fishing village, to a port, to a world recognized independent country.

What catches my attention however, is the exponential increase of percentage of immigrants and foreigners in our Singapore population over the past few years. Our government has been encouraging more foreigners to become a part of our everyday lives. Right now the ratio of foreigners to Singaporeans in Singapore is 1:3. As our country evolves and transforms itself once again, will there be further dilution of our already diluted culture? Will we lose our sense of belonging in our own country? Will we lose our national identity? What worries me the most is that with all the competition with foreign workers and foreign "talents", will there be unrest and internal conflicts within our own "home"?

Yes, we should not become xenophobic and drive away foreigners, which will be to our detriment. But at the same time, should we sacrifice our culture and sense of belonging just so as to achieve economic gains? If so, wouldn't Singapore be better off run as a company instead of a country? I believe that introducing foreigners into our country is not a bad idea. It helps to supplement our economy. However, all these should be done in moderation. Too much of a good thing is always a bad thing.

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