oh man I can't believe they said that. what bitches.
Bitches? Isn't it the damn truth?
This whole debate about foreign based talent... is a question of opinions. Everyone has his or her own ideas of what is right and wrong. Some of us feel that it is just not right to have foreign born talents to fly our flag, while others see it that, since it is our flag, we don't care who flies it. So there isn't exactly a right or wrong answer to this. It is a matter of opinion.
Here is my opinion: the ladies have put in their best to go so far into the competition. In the perspective of sports, they have done well. They SHOULD be proud of their achievement. As I am proud of them... as individuals in sports. And legally and technically, speaking, they ARE Singaporeans. The system has made it so, their IC has validated that.
However, as a Singaporean, I do not see the true representation of Singapore at all in the match, apart from the flag they wore on the chest. I'm sure the reasons as to why.. you should be able to guess.
But I would like to address something that has been cited by others as to why we should be proud: our forefathers are from China, India, Indonesia, and wherever else, so it's okay and all that etc etc.
Have you all forgotten that at the time when our early forefathers came, it was close to 200 years ago?
Some of them managed to go back home, but most have to stay put simply because they could not afford to. Back then the work was hard, the pay meager and technology has not yet allowed them to be able to bridge the gap between here and their home. They sure as hell don't get hundred thousands of SGD to play sports.
So we, born Singaporeans, are a result of 200 years worth of history. We come from a generation that saw the World Wars, the Depression, the independence and the growth of Singapore to this very day. We come from a generation of Singapore's very history.
All due respect to the foreign-born talents of Singapore, but the way our citizenship is so freely thrown about like the way it is now shows how much respect we have about the Singapore that our forefathers really built. A million dollars for a gold medal and denouncement of your true nationality. Is our history and our pride THAT cheap?
Yes, we need foreign based talents to keep the economy going so that every child in this country can own a PSP, but now we are dependent too much foreign based talent for nearly everything. And with travel and technology becoming so affordable and cheap, do the foreign based talent really feel like they are away from home, just like our forefathers were? I tell you, in the very instant that this country no longer become attractive, it's so easy to say "Bye, Singapore. Hello, birth place"
I am not blaming the foreign-born talents of Singapore for coming to our shores for careers. We have a strong economy, plenty of opportunities and a stable and safe environment. If I am a foreigner, I would come here too.
But in times when it is so easy to just leave, how could we just assume than we can harvest a 200 year old pride, in just a few short years and a pink card?
If you want to embrace the help that foreign based talents have given to us, then the average Indian/Thai foreign worker constructing and upgrading our HDB would be celebrated as much as our national foreign-born sportsmen. They are as involved in building this nation, if not more. Instead, they are seen and treated worse than 3rd class, and they get paid scraps. Maybe it's just me, but I am seeing double standards here.
And I wonder what will happen to the foreign-based Singapore talents in sports when at the age past 30, they retire from their sporting career. Will they end up being forgotten or still celebrated for the efforts by their adopted country?
while for me I feel that the bad outweighs the good by alot
