It’s a good thing I’m not from Singapore.

It’s a good thing I’m not from Singapore.
by: Long Yingtai
China Times, Oct. 10, 1994
還好我不是新加坡人
撰 龍應台
中國時報，1994年10月10日

I’d like to tell you why I feel so blessed to not be from Singapore.

Back in September, twenty-two foreign ministers from Europe and Southeast Asia met in Germany. At the meeting, the foreign minister from Singapore felt compelled to lecture his European colleagues, “In Asia, we have enough money and technology to sustain long term economic growth well into in the future…since the end of the Cold War, Europe has tried to get us to buy into their cultural values. While we can accept some aspects, we cannot buy into everything. Together we need to learn how to respect our differences.”

That bold statement seems to place all of Asia under its umbrella. German papers noted what they say saw as important news with the headline: “Asian and European cultures clash.” Of course, Samuel Huntington was quoted there as well, “Western culture, with its concern for freedom and personal dignity is confronted with an Asian culture that stresses authority and collective interest.”

So is there anything wrong with what the minister had to say? At first glance, the answer would seem to be no. Europe has been exporting its culture for far longer than the end of the Cold War. If we start counting at the beginning of the Opium Wars, Europe has been in China for over 150 years. In truth, it’s about time Europe starting learning a bit from others.

However, what bothered me about the statement is that Singapore has taken to going around and talking to the West as the spokesperson for Asia. Every time they open their mouth it’s “our Asian values this” and “our Asian values that.” Incredibly, the Western media goes right along with this, parroting the same phrases in chorus as if Singapore actually represented Asia and Singaporean cultural values indeed were the cultural values of all of Asia.

When exactly did Lee Kuan Yew (李光耀, Lǐ Guāngyào) become my spokesperson?

In September, right after the caning incident involving Michael Fay, Singapore executed a drug dealer from Norway. As most of Europe had already abolished the use of the death penalty, this caused quite a stir. I don’t have much sympathy for the Norwegian as he knew what he was doing was illegal. Nor do I think Singapore had any reason to show extra-legal leniency just because the criminal was from Europe. However, I don’t think Singapore has the right to be arrogant. At the very least, they don’t have the right to represent this through and through Asian who happens to be from Taiwan.

I don’t approve of the death penalty. Nor do I approve of tying up those on death row and then taking their picture. I don’t like seeing those who litter humiliated in public by the police as their legal punishment. I don’t like people telling me whether or not I can chew gum. I can’t accept not being able to buy the foreign magazines I want to read. Nor am I willing to let anyone tell me what books I’m allowed to read. I can’t accept any group of people telling me what to think, what to say, how to live, who I should fuck or how many kids I should have. And I won’t accept a bunch of people who think they’re smarter than me telling me what my cultural values are. All the economic growth, political stability and government efficiency in the world couldn’t get me to budge an inch on the issues of freedom and dignity.

I’m not the only one who feels like this: people in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and plenty more places feel just like I do. There’s also quite a few in perfect little Singapore who feel the same way too; it’s just hard to hear their voices on the outside.

Singaporeans have every right to live according to whatever values and rules they see fit, just as it should be for every country. However, the next time you have to cane or hang some Westerner, try to speak on behalf of Singapore, not all of Asia. I’d appreciate it if your statements didn’t include us supporters of personal dignity and liberty from right here in Asia.

I guess it’s a good thing I’m not from Singapore.

原文: http://bbs3.nsysu.edu.tw/txtVersion/treasure/study-group/M.907880897.A/M.935321533.A/M.935494316.A/M.988725928.C.html