:
It is immensely saddening but perhaps not as surprising that 40
years of education has failed to eradicate or has even execerbated
racist notions. Peranakans settled here (or in Malacca) in the 15th
century, and have a distinct culture and language (hokkien
patois?). They have also held on to the traditional Chinese
religions, much longer than Singaporean 'chinese' Chinese
have.
:
The "Speak Mandarin Campaign" and the "Second-Language Policy"
perhaps dealt a fatal blow to baba identities, as their children
must now learn Mandarin instead of Malay or Hokkien. The constant
reminder, too, that there are only 4 ethnic groups in Singapore,
put pressure on the Peranakans to fit into the Chinese
mould.
:
It is never wrong to adopt another culture's customs and language,
especially if you retain your own identity after 500 years of
assimilation. Therefore, labelling Peranakans as bastardized
Chinese is definitely uncalled for, and is probably a result of a
rising Chinese nationalist tide.
No, it is not wrong to adopt another culture or customs and
language, especially if you RETAIN your own IDENTITY after 500
years of assimilation.
What is the IDENTITY that the 'Perankan' has retained, when a
'Peranakan' can consider to be no longer 'Chinese' ?
If a 'Peranakan' can disclaim the ancestory line that it
originate from, is it not accurate to consider such an offspring to
be a 'BASTARD', and hence, being ostracised accurately as
a 'bastardized Chinese' - at least by the Chinese cousins of this
very unfortunate 'Peranakans' who no longer claim to be part of the
'Chinese' family ?
It is not a result of Chinese nationalism, or Singaporean Chinese
racism that this response is made to slap the foolish claim that
'Peranakans' are no longer Chinese.
If your line of thought is to be extended to the Indian Community,
who have lived in Singapore as the 500 year old 'Peranakans' have
lived in Malacca, surely it will be foolish for the Singaporean
Indian Community to deny themselves as no longer
being Indians ?
[quote]:
More worrying though, is the embarassment at being labeled
part-Malay. An indication of failed social policies
perhaps. No, it is not failed social policies of the
Government, but the failed social education on the part of the
parents of the foolish 'Peranakan' offsprings, who have failed
miserably to impart the history of the 'Peranakans', their origins,
their struggles, their successes, and the original pride of having
been a part of the Chinese diaspora.
More embarrassing is the failure of the 'Peranakan' community to be
so quick in adopting foreign cultural and social norms, and
abandoning traditions, and now even disclaiming their own ancestory
lineage of being a Chinese.
