[wahern]

  > > rose to power on a platform of communism
  > This is the funniest part.

Not just funny, but suspiciously racist. Ethnic Chinese in Malaysia and Indonesia were branded as communist all through the 1950s and 1960s and, especially in Indonesia, slaughtered. contingencies sounds like he might be from one of the non-Chinese ethnic groups in SE Asia, or part of such a family.

He's not wrong that there's deep racism in Singapore. But it goes both ways. Singapore was ejected from the Malaysian Federation for baldly racist reasons--the ethnic Malays wanted to consolidate political power. The Chinese in that region are like the Jews of Europe--economically successful but culturally still the out group. It creates a ton of resentment for all sides.

Also, I've traveled widely throughout the world and turns out _everybody_ is racist. The U.S. is probably one of the least racist countries in the world. Why? Because we _talk_ about it and _admit_ it. In the vast majority of countries people still literally take for granted that ethnic group X is obviously naturally inferior, without making the connection between that belief and the Western concept of racism.

In the U.S. even the most rabid racists go through great lengths to justify and explain their prejudice. Believe it or not, that's what progress looks like. People need to stop using racism as a cudgel as it makes it impossible for people to discuss issues of racism. It's like calling somebody Hitler--it just ends the conversation. Ultimately it makes it easier for people to stay in denial about racism.

[contingencies]

Sorry, I should have said "platform of socialism". See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People%27s_Action_Party#Politi...

I do not appreciate your made up comments about my character. For the record I am not: (a) of SEA-origin; (b) within such a family; or (c) racist.

[hitekker]

> Not just funny, but suspiciously racist.

Absolutely. The flagged comment espoused so much hatred that I wouldn't want any Singaporean to hear it.

Really sickening.

[contingencies]

The only properties of the society discussed with the exception of political history were "a significantly racially charged, class-entrenched society". How exactly is summarizing factual and historical properties of a society espousing hatred? Some of the comments here, including this one, are just plain illogical.

[kranner]

I'm a little shocked that your comment was flagged for supposedly being hateful. Even if it can be seen as a matter of opinion and not entirely factual, it wasn't hateful to me in any conventional sense of hate.

It is laughable what people are saying here, that they wouldn't want any Singaporeans to read it. What?

[Nutomic]

You must have never been to Europe. Just look how many black people live in poverty in the US, and how many are shot dead every day.

[wahern]

Europeans know all about American racism. But Americans know very little about European racism, especially modern European racism. Ever wonder why that is?

That's my point. In most parts of the world someone could discuss American issues of racism like they studied under Cornel West. 5 minutes later they might say, in an off-handed comment, that group X is lazy and/or mostly criminals. And they'll never make the connection. It's mind-boggling.

Which isn't to say that plenty of Americans don't deny racism. They just have to work much harder at it, and they at least realize that their opinion is non-normative (even if it's technically the majority opinion).

[tacomonstrous]

Europe is racist as all get out. I, as a brown man, never once felt like I belonged or had a chance of belonging. Urban America on the other hand never made me feel out of place (More rural places are different: my wife and I still get asked if we need separate checks).

[rorykoehler]

I agree that Europe is racist unfortunately however I recollect serious ghettos in New York. I stayed on a Jewish Street in Brooklyn and there were practically 90% orthodox Jews in the area who avoided me like the plague (I'm white)... I walked a few blocks south and I was the only white guy. The black people there were very friendly and helpful but I could tell my presence was a novelty. I've never seen anything like that in Europe. The other thing that I notice is that race is on the top of everyone's mind all the time in the states to the point that it is a serious problem even when it shouldn't be.