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its chinese new year again. the time of family reunions and visitings. no biggie, i'm just glad for the long weekend so i can catch up with my sleep before the last few days of work.

So the all famous MTR incident in HK has sparked off a new discussion online. Many articles have been written these few days about the incident and the divide between hk people and the mainlanders. many mainlanders think that the hk people act like they are one notch above them, while many hk people have become intolerant and tired of the inconsiderate behaviour of some mainlanders.

I cannot help but look around, there is a similar problem prevalent in Singapore as well, just that we don't call them mainlanders here. Its the PRCs vs the locals and it goes far beyond these two groups of people. Some will say it encompasses all the foreign talent vs the locals. Given the nature of Singaporeans and the tight grab-hold over this sensitive topic, my guess is that the MTR incident will never reenact itself here. And this issue is probably different because Singapore is independent and not part of China like HK is.

My issue isn't with Singaporeans looking down on the PRCs, but instead, its with the way we view ourselves. Isn't it amazing how we were all Chinese just a few generations ago, all of us coming from the same country and probably sharing the same loyalty. All it took was one or two generations spent out of China, be it directly from China or through Malaysia, done in the name of finding a better living, to create a totally separate group of people with the same race. To me, its abit like those who made it out looking down on those who stayed. Just like if you ask any Singaporean Chinese on the streets here, they'll probably say that they feel no connection with China at all. Ironically, just a few generations ago, the ancestors of these people were living side by side with those in China now. And it is precisely this lack of roots and gratitude, and even culture, that leaves me irked. Most of my peers will probably question why this thing about roots even matters at all. I don't have an answer to that question yet, but all i know is that, yes, it matters a whole damn lot.

As i grow up, i do admit that i've become much more critical of the environment around me. even my mum cannot stand how harsh i am of this place. maybe because of the fact that i have a choice and something to fall back on, and so the tendency for comparison comes about.