Times are a Changing

 Times are a Changing....

The concept of a white Christmas is alive and well here! Even though its 85 degrees, it's been looking a lot like Christmas since November 1. Unlike the U.S. there is no Halloween or Thanksgiving to concentrate on before the decorations and carols and giant Santas with life size horses and reindeer are rolled out... Some places even offer "snow" and along the beach front, there are frosty dunk tanks to get us all in the mood. The malls and retailers sport the most spectacular decorations such as the ginormous Tiffany tree of blue and silver gracing the lobby of Takashimaya Mall. The store clerks are decked out in elf ears and Rudolph noses and tights. Loads of Christmas hampers and mince pies are on offer and it all seems a little incongruent.

The past several weeks have been a mix. I suppose it is normal to hit a wall and just simply pose the question - What am I doing here? Thus the lack of posts... Yet, Singapore has not stopped and continues to move forward in a variety of ways drawing from its past while hurtling forward at break-neck speed and confronting its future.  Some may say that it is a victim of its own success. Whereas I am not wholly convinced that Singapore is a "victim", it is clear that it has some some serious issues at the forefront that must be dealt with now rather than later. For example the traditional family structure where by the aging parents are cared for by their children is changing - Everyone has to work. Even moms who would prefer to stay home, have to work. Thus the elderly parents are caring for the grand children and also working. The elderly without children have a very hard time of it. No pension or social security. They are often found selling "mantou" or kleenex packets in the hawker centers since food stalls generally don't provide napkins.

The youth is leading the charge for change and social media is their weapon. Just recently, Anonymous declared "war" on Singapore and threatened to shut down the government and reportedly proceeded to hack into the president and prime minister's personal email accounts.

As I sat late one night pondering, a news flash crossed my screen "Breaking news. Rioting in Little India. Over 200 involved". As the number of participants was revised upwards from 200 to 400, the murky details of the event emerged - a Bangladeshi guest worker was run over by a bus and killed. Angered citizens, some possibly under the influence of alcohol,  revolted at the news. It seems that the uprising stemmed from the frustration of the poor treatment of guest workers including what is now substandard pay (It is difficult to stretch s$800.00 or $640.00 a month between support of oneself in Singapore and supporting a family back home). As people flooded the streets in anger and set an ambulance ablaze, the rest of us could only utter "but wait, this is Singapore. Singapore where one can be fined for littering. Singapore where one can be caned for vandalism. Singapore where gum chewing is questionable. How is this happening? And sure enough, true to this country's reputation, the riot was neutralized in short order. The Gurhkas were called out. No mention of the victim's name. No mention of his family. Nothing.

 For several days, I could see and hear choppers flying in formation - ever ready.  Keeping us safe from drunken guest workers. The military was activated and not for a parade, UN event or official state visit. They must wait years for something like this. An opportunity to test the military mettle. Justification for national service.

 Over the next few days more details emerged as well as the arrest and subsequent deportation of 53 migrant workers. Commitments were made to further explore the conditions of the guest worker, restrictions on selling alcohol were placed on Little India and jokes were made by cabbies about buses being careful not to run over guest workers in the future.