Hey, I have a racist joke, you wanna hear it?

We all know about the importance of saying the right thing at the right time, just as important as wearing the right thing to the right occasion.  You don't wear red to a funeral or like many Chinese believe we don't wear black to house visit during Chinese new year.

But, is there a good time for a racist joke?

We probably crack a few at the bar with your close friends. (maybe you don't, I'm not sure.)

We can't crack those jokes for sure in the public or national TV.

Neither are we allowed to update your twitter, Facebook or blog with it because you will get judged, Retweeted and the gahment might also come and kick your ass.

But....

There are people who gets paid dollars to do it at a comedy club.

Jimmy Carr




Russell Peter




Our very local Fuzz - During Happy Every Laughter



Our local favourite - Kumar



I'm not complaining, I love stand up comedy, I love these guys but my point is how come we can let our hair down, take a chill pill and laugh at these but we get so agitated on other scenarios? Is it because we are behind closed doors? Is it because these people in the comedy club paid for the jokes so it's okay?

I'm not saying that we should practice racist comments or joke like a daily thing but I'm just saying sometimes we need to take things with a pinch of salt. That's the only way we can achieve racial harmony, when we don't take things so hard isn't it?

Anyway, love your race, love your friend's, have a happy ever laughter! (for those haven't watch one ah, pls go go go!)

P.S: to prove I'm not racist, this is my favourite malay friend and I - Fadilah. LOL. Oh a French guy, another Malay Squid and last but not least the Indo Minah. oh oh. and Mr. KFC.

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Sensitive or Racist?

So I saw this image being circulated around on the Facebook and the caption was "Racists Stereotypes were perpetuated in 1980s textbooks in Singapore!"

The image actually links back to the article on TheRealSingapore.com by one of their writers Mr. Andrew Pereira

Basically in this article, there were a few quotes taken out from the book "Constructing Singapore: Elitism, Ethnicity and the National Building Project by Michael Barr and Zlatko Skrbis". The book states that the English textbooks in the 80s transmitted and reinforced racial stereotypes. 

According to the article, the book was published in 2008, which is almost 30s apart from the print of the text books. Why does such "problem" only surfaced after 30 years? Did nobody make noise about it or is it because back then it was "okay"?

I ask myself the FIRST question: is it being done deliberately? Are people being too sensitive? Are people getting too narrowed minded? We are definitely more educated now as compared to back when we were in the 80s but why are we picking on such tiny little detail on a book and making a mountain out of a mole hill now? We are so sensitive that an announcement has to be made in four different languages and all national videos or story books have to include 4 characters that more often are Ali, Bala, Xiao Ming and John. Why? Because leaving anyone out means that we are not respecting anyone? Is that the case? Is that REALLY the case or are we being really sensitive here? Is there a need to be THAT sensitive?      

I asked myself the SECOND question: Are all stereotype "negative"? I remembered when I studied history when I was in school. There were such similar mention such as the Indians are the money changer or the milk selling dude. Chinese are the traders and coolie and the Malays are the fisher men. Of course we are talking about post World War jobs but the text books were talking about the 80s. That could be "facts" during the 80s no? 

History aside, what about currently? For example, most of our Neighbourhood polices are Malays and the army boys are mostly made up of Chinese boys while the Indians very often get posted to the civil defense force. Isn't that a stereotype too? Is this stereotype or is this just a common sight? But is that true at the same time? I say yes. In Chinese, we have a saying - 职业不分贵贱行行出状元 which simply means there is no job more superior than any other jobs, there will be an elite in every job out there. Sure enough I have friends who sells fishes in the market but he drives a BMW, I have friends who works as an office worker in nice tie and suit but has a credit card debt of over $10,000 as well. So how can we judge a person by his job? So is social standing and social stereotype THAT tricky as long as you earn an honest living and able to answer to your own conscious? Is it really an insult to say that Ali is a bus driver or Fatimah is one who give parking ticket? Imagine a world without these people? 

With these 2 questions asked, I would say I disagree with the argument of the book/article. I felt that they are simply picking on minor points and these are the points that makes people so sensitive and feeling unbalance which is the caused of unhappiness. Without these pettiness and calling everything as a racist remark, life could be a lot easier and better. 

Just take it easy and everything will better. You just have to Laugh. 

Mr.Smith, take a chill pill lah deh.

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