Indians are not black and Chinese do not have slanted eyes

A photo of a group of Chinese men donned in turbans and kurtas has been making the news lately. Sadly, it’s not their elegant outfits that were newsworthy, but their jet-black faces. The theme was apparently Bollywood. So to match their traditional costumes, they must have thought it apt to have their faces painted black.

            

Age is probably responsible in causing me to take a more measured attitude towards this. I trust, as the company had claimed, that it was all in the name of good fun and humour. I do believe that there was no malice intended. After the largely negative feedback the company has received, I also doubt that its employees would dabble with something so controversial ever again. Even though I wouldn’t have joined the group of vocal Indian, Chinese and Malay Singaporeans in the huge outcry over this incident, I must admit that I did feel a tinge of pain when I first saw the picture.

               

I am writing this note, not to further condemn the company. I know a lesson has been learnt. We should let them move on. I am writing this more for those who up to this point, still see absolutely no harm in the actions of the gentlemen and have even dismissed critics as being too sensitive. Is there something they are missing?

               

A writer to the press even posed this question: Would Chinese Singaporeans be offended if Indians painted their faces yellow for a Gongfu-themed event? You know what, I really don’t think that they would. I sort of agree with the writer's implication. He or she is right. I doubt that Chinese Singaporeans would be offended if Indians arrived at a Gongfu-themed event with their faces painted yellow.

              

But really, is this example analogous enough? It is surely not.

             

Personally, whenever the word “black” has been used on me by a less sensitive Chinese, it has rarely been in humour. In fact, it was usually in sneer, contempt, disgust, hatred, ridicule, as a means to inject fear in their children, or simply out of anger. Let’s try mixing that with my knowledge of the Chinese culture— Black is not an auspicious colour and black is not a particularly attractive colour as far as complexion goes. Therefore, there is nothing positive about a Chinese making references to an Indian being black. In fact, it is something that is far from being funny.

                                  

Perhaps then, it’s not what one says, but WHO says it. I suppose… and let me say at this point that I write this largely in response to the lady or gentleman who had raised the yellow-paint analogy and not to offend my friends and family— most of whom I must add are Chinese Singaporeans…I suppose, if a group of Caucasian men attended the gong-fu-themed event with the sides of their eyes stretched and taped with masking tape, then I would consider this a closer analogy. In formulaic terms:
Chinese -> Indian (black skin) : Caucasian->Chinese (slanted eyes).

                                          

When I was a student in Australia, I remember a young man coming up to me in church. He put his face a few inches away from mine, and slowly studied it for many a second as a physician would. “My…you look… just like a man from an ancient painting,” he finally spoke. “You are so dark.” I can tell you one thing. I was uncomfortable. But I was strangely not offended. Likewise, I remember my sister telling me tales of mums who would stop with their kids and gush at Jesse, my eldest nephew. “Look at this chocolate baby! He’s so cute” Attention had been drawn to skin colour, but in a way that was so positive.

                          

At the end of the day, what makes stereotypes sometimes just so offensive is the untruth behind them and the ignorance of those who live by them. Educated people will tell you, Indians come in a variety of shades and colours. Yes, there are those as dark as I think I am. But I tell you, I will never say that I am black. I am dark brown, perhaps. Black? No. Then, there are Indians who seem as white as snow. But did you know, that there are Indians who could be considered yellow? Google “Nagaland” and you’ll find a land situated far-east of India, a land where the people look, well, pardon my layman language, Chinese.

                         

Similarly, I am sure, if you really look around, you’ll see that not many Chinese have slanted eyes. And if you are going to claim that that they do have slanted eyes, then I am going to ask you for data, and your angle of tolerance before you claim that the eyes are indeed slanted. I might even point you to other nationalities that have people with so-called slanted eyes to tear down your claim.

                              

The government implemented the double-barrelled race classification in 2010. Why? Partly in response to interracial marriages being on the rise. My children are Indian-Chinese. I wonder what would their children be labelled should they marry say, a Caucasian-Malay? Would their offspring be then, Indian-Chinese-Caucasian-Malay? The point I am making is that we live in a society that is becoming more and more diverse. This is also a society where freedom of expression is greatly valued. Rightfully so. But let's not forget to throw in tolerance and sensitivity as key ingredients of this diverse society. If you have the slightest inkling that something might offend, best to be sensitive and drop it. Likewise, the offended should be gracious enough to tolerate the natural sins of humanity, forgive, and most importantly, move on.

In Praise of Taxi Drivers

Taxi drivers are impatient, reckless, aggressive, mistrusting, money-minded and rude.

          

That was what I thought of them. Not anymore.

             

That notion of them was first surfaced and then challenged when I heard about the plight of the husband of my wife's friend. He had switched from being a driving instructor at a reputable driving centre to driving a taxi. But, a few months into the job, he quit taxi driving. It wasn't easy, he had said. I am sure there were a lot more issues, but I only heard of two main ones.

           

He had encountered customers who demanded discounts, or who simply refused to pay when they assessed that he had taken them on a longer route than should have been. I know this person. He's a mild-mannered man, almost gentle. Nice chap. I could tell that he was one of those non-confrontational types. He would have given in to their demands without much protest just to avoid trouble.

             

The other incident is hard to classify. I wouldn't say it was a case of a difficult customer, but just one of the many unexpected scenarios taxi drivers face on the road. A lady cradling a baby hailed his cab one afternoon. She was crying. Apparently for some reason, her baby had stopped breathing. Without delay, he rushed them to the hospital. Nearing the end of their journey, a police car showed up. She got out of the cab to explain her ordeal to the police officer, who then decided that it was his duty to complete the journey. So, lady with baby in arms left with police officer. In such a situation, how does one ask for his wages? It would have been insensitive, wouldn't it? I wouldn't if I were him. But then again, I am making this judgment based on what I perceive to be of his financial situation, which might not be too accurate. What if every cent counted? So, who is going to be sensitive to him, and his need to feed his family?

           

Life is fraught with problems and difficulties. "Happily ever after" is a false ideology. Loved ones die, jobs are lost, relationships fall-out, depression sets in sometimes for no rhyme or reason, and life-threatening illnesses cripple a person's ability to lead a normal life. While we should not be negative and wait for these things to happen, it is important to remember that such is life if one of these is ever encountered. We should be ready in season and out of season to accept what life throws at us. Sanity must prevail, and we should do our utmost best to stay in control, if not for anything else, for the sake of others. I type this note as a reminder for myself too.

             

Taxi operators have raised the fares. And the people who have received the most flak from this increase have been the taxi drivers. People vent their anger on them in all kinds of ways. A few hardworking taxi drivers were featured recently in the news. It was reported that if they worked 12 hours a day, they would be able to earn $3000-$4000 monthly. This may seem like a lot of money, but perhaps we should ponder deeply about what exactly it entails to be a taxi driver. What do they go through in a typical day? Think about the tolerance for risks, the skills and tacit knowledge that a taxi driver must possess, and the challenge of having to deal with difficult passengers. I cannot help but wonder if taxi drivers are indeed getting their just wages.

            

The theory of plasticity argues that the functions of the brain adapt over time in response to the cognitive demands it is required to tolerate. Not longer ago, I read an article from National Geographic entitled "Beyond the Brain" by James Shreeve. The article cites research to prove that the size of the Hippocampus of taxi drivers is larger than the average person's Hippocampus. Apparently, it grows with the job of being a taxi driver. When one leaves the job, the Hippocampus shrinks back to its original size. The Hippocampus is the part of the brain in charge of memory functions and spatial navigation. So, guys, if you felt 'rusty' returning to school after two years of NS, you know why. Your brain had 'forgotten' the rigours of JC/Poly life. If you are labelled clumsy, it can be argued that brain exercises would help to develop your ability to navigate space better.

             

Having to memorise pretty much any and every route to minimise time and maximise profit (and preferably have a toilet within range) certainly does put some load on the brain. Taxi drivers also engage in some major multi-tasking. They need to communicate with (converse, negotiate, argue, pacify) a wide range of customers, drive safely in all kinds of weather and traffic conditions, navigate their way, and plan where to get their next customer.

              

Fellow drivers, the next time a taxi swerves wildly in your path, brakes suddenly or tailgates you, and you are tempted to curse and swear at him or her, do glance and see if there is a passenger seated at the back. This passenger might very well be one of those back-seat drivers we have all had in our car at some point or another. Worse. A back-seat driver who expects the taxi driver to make up for his or her lack of time management. Hurry! Why so slow! I am late! Worst. A fickle-minded back-seat driver. Stop here! No! Not here. A bit more up. Turn left! No! No! Right! I said right, right? What should we expect the taxi driver to do in this case? Risk another scolding? Let's face it, nobody enjoys getting scolded. So, they probably try to accede to the passenger's requests. Besides, remember the old adage that badly needs revisiting: The customer is always right.

                

On the rare occasion when I am not driving, and need to get into a cab, I always head for the front seat. This habit I credit to my wife. She had once said during our courting years that doing so showed respect to the driver. I had never thought of it that way. I had always enjoyed the extra space at the back. Then I realised sitting at the front did help to facilitate better conversations. So, I once had this conversation with a taxi driver.

             

I was so impressed by his ability to articulate 'the tricks of the trade'. In academic language, we call it tacit knowledge. He could rattle off the best time to start work, best locations and even the types of passengers he avoids. "From far, you see the fella sway left, sway right, senget senget...ah... then I quickly off the light," he said. One would think that a passenger from the airport heading towards Jurong would be a taxi driver's favourite. Not true, he said. "All expressway. Then, Jurong where to find passenger?"

              

The most profitable time to work seems to be when the taxi driver is able to earn the midnight surcharge, the witching hour, which would be from midnight to 6am. But that also happens to be the riskiest time, for that is when a taxi driver is most likely to encounter the intoxicated passenger. The most common difficulty we have heard of with such passengers is that they sometimes vomit in the cab. Few of those, sober enough to realise what they have done, pass an additional amount, usually $20 as compensation. But think about it. The taxi driver has to abandon his or her plans for work, endure the stench of a person's insides for a while, and drive somewhere to get it all cleaned out. I was told by one taxi driver that sometimes cleaners refuse to clean a taxi with vomit. Getting the vomit cleaned out must not be an easy task. I hear that the smell sometimes lingers for a day or two. Then once the taxi is cleaned, the taxi driver is finally able to proceed on to real work. I wonder if the $20 is truly sufficient for the inconvenience caused.

                        

Some drunk passengers pass out. Experienced drivers ask for the passenger's Identity Card to take note of the address as soon as he or she gets into the cab. But, more often than not, I should think, passengers refuse to hand it over. So, when the drunk passenger does pass out, and if the drop-off location has yet to be finalised, then most drivers resort to calling the police for help. Once again, all this at the expense of time and convenience.

                  

Alcohol certainly makes one lose his or her inhibitions. So, if you are not aware that it is making you lose your inhibitions, then you probably will not consciously try to control yourself. It's not a sin if you suddenly find yourself friendlier or more talkative. But alcohol has been known to wreak havoc on one's emotions. I have seen drunk passengers turn violent and kick taxis for not stopping for them or hurl verbal abuse. Worse, drunk passengers who physically abuse. I suspect it happens more often than is reported.

             

This note may be anecdotal in nature. It is not a research paper. So, I wouldn't be surprised if you have indeed come across the nasty taxi driver, just as you would come across the nasty person. But I think, we should always challenge our assumptions, consider the alternatives, adopt a measured attitude and approach issues from a more balanced perspective. Most importantly, empathise. And I cannot imagine empathy coming about without having deep conversations with the people you seek to empathise with.

            

Many of you probably have a relative, a friend or even a loved one, who is a taxi driver. Please do convey my message of praise to them. Tell them that if they are ever required to state their occupation on a form, they should be allowed to enter "Professional".

Raising the Bar

My Facebook posts about my children, like most proud parents, are always glowing with positive emotions. This will continue. Always remember the good stuff, right? And why not? Since Facebook posts linger long after tough times pass. But here is an incident that is not positive, but worth documenting...

            

Leanne was in tears when we picked her up from school this morning. Teacher had given her a sweet. Then took it away. She had been instructed to keep it in her bag, but didn’t. I know Leanne. She cherishes her gifts no matter how small they are as long as they are from people that matter. She sometimes even goes to sleep with them under her pillow. In the last one month, the teacher had become someone that mattered to her.

               

There were many ways in which I had really wanted to jump to her defence. The instinct has always been in me to protect. But I know in this case, it wouldn’t have been right. If there is something, and in this case, failing to listen to instructions, that the home has not yet caught, then I am glad she has a school with a teacher that can be counted on to catch it.

            

But as parents, who are ultimately responsible for her character development, I'd say it's time to raise the bar of discipline for my five-year-old...