Commotion at a bus-stop

Although not a daily event, sparks flying at public places are not rare.

Was at the bus-stop waiting for a bus. Captured part of an argument between an old man and a young chinese girl.

Warning: Vulgar words used.

It goes like this: The old man (with a walking stick) was very upset with the girl for clearing her stuff from the bench only upon his request. Once seated, he could not suppress his unhappiness and started to lecture the girl about the need of being proactive about it.

The girl talked back.

The man started to use vulgar language on her, and she returned it "in kind".

One started to wonder, why kick up a fuss over a small matter.

Upon the girl and her boyfriend boarding their bus, my suspicion was confirmed.

The old man picked on her as she's a Mainland Chinese.

He murmured in Hokkien after they left : Tiong Gok Geen Nah Si Ani Kuan Ae! ( Mainland children are like that! )

To me, this is a case of perception on people of a particular country. Maybe he has many unpleasant encounters with people from China, and made that conclusion.

In the past few years, Singaporeans are getting more frustrated and upset about the large influx of foreigners. They compete with us for jobs, housing, education etc and caused many undesirable outcomes. I don't think i need to elaborate further. It has been well covered by the internet, rallies of opposition, and our own coffeshop talk.

But should we get upset about these foreigners?

I think the logical and objective answer will be NO.

The government polices are responsible for the undesirable outcomes.

There are good and bad foreigners just like there are good and bad Singaporeans.

So while we faced the daily challenges ahead, looking forward to the improvement in the government polices ( I assumed there would be, Since PM Lee has apologised to the whole of Singapore), treat everyone based on their own merits and not based on where they come from.