English language is vital for Singapore to survive. We are the
crossroad of the world and english had been the common language
used by many in the commerce world. Commerce is the life blood of
our sea trading nation. It is no surprise that many deplore the
standards of foreign employees on the lack of such knowledge.
But first of all, let us recognise the plight of such
foreigners. They are humans, just like you and I. They only want to
earn a living, doing jobs as best as they can, and as cheaply as
they can, giving up on many things we singaporeans take for
granted.
We can identify and recognise them - they were like our
forefathers after our nation gain independence. Our forefathers
knew little lingo except their own mother tongue. Yet they never
gave up but gave us what we have today. So too will these new
foreigners and PRs become one day, if not them, at least their
children will be.
Let's not be too harsh on them, but instead insist that
employers be responsible for their lingo training. In the case of
service industry, at least the rudimentary words be taught.
Another aspect of the foreigner issue is the fear of our jobs
being taken away. While it may or may not be true, we must know
that in order to survive, we must be prepared to move where the
money for survival is. To remain where we are with diminishing
prospects is to wait for death. We Singaporeans are no inferior or
lacking in productivity as compared to anyone else. We had been
highly educated, and with our knowledge of english, the world is
our oyster, be one a 'N' level or 'A' level cert holder.
Singapore is a great place to live, but it has only a market of
3million. No matter how hard govt and biz leaders try, the
opportunities are not unlimited.
Go boldly forth and conquer the world. Bring the story of our
nation to other developing nations to give them hope. But REMEMBER
to return when the country is in a crisis. Without our
courageous society, evolved from painful past, none of us present
today would be better off than a 3 world serf. We owe our past
generations a debt of honour