These are bits and pieces of the article, especially on the G2 group, which I believe most of my readers belong to.
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According to Sim, who is also deputy chairman of the MCA think-tank Insap, anyone who wishes to understand the Chinese social and political sentiment has to first understand the Chinese who subscribe to the concept of the three pillars (G1) for the simple reason that they make up 85-90% of the 6.5 million Chinese in the country. The remaining 10-15% are, for want of a better term, referred to as the English-speaking group (G2).
The G2 encompasses those who are not Chinese-educated; they speak English and include a large number of Christians, the peranakan and also those who are part of the Lions and Rotary Clubs set.
People often talk about the Chinese as though they are one homogenous entity but they are not,” said Soong.
But the G2 who send their children to Chinese schools do so for largely pragmatic reasons. They think these schools offer a better standard of teaching and that it is useful to learn an additional language. Besides, the G2 are more likely to read English and Malay papers than Chinese papers and their social life and networking do not revolve around the traditional Chinese associations.
“Their ideas of governance, democracy, role of the media and even elections are influenced by the West, namely Britain and the United States. They like to say these are universal ideals even though half the world does not subscribe to the way the Americans and British think,” said Soong.
Soong said the G2 are issue-oriented. They are influenced by issues and their votes swing from one election to another. They are mostly middle-class, articulate and prone to take issues to the press and in recent years into the Internet.
The Chinese, it is often said, are quite inscrutable about their politics but not this group. They are not afraid to air their political views or who they will vote for.
“They are so articulate about their grievances that people think, ‘oh dear, the entire Chinese community is upset’. But actually, their views reflect mainly those in this English-speaking group,” said Soong.
The Christians in the G2 are particularly concerned about the issue of Islamic state. The survival of the common law and the secular state is very important to this group because it guarantees their modern lifestyle and for the Christians, the freedom to practise their faith.
“Their fears about the Islamic State is very real and emotional because they see it as a threat to Christianity. The fear comes from deep in the gut,” she said.
According to Sim, who is also deputy chairman of the MCA think-tank Insap, anyone who wishes to understand the Chinese social and political sentiment has to first understand the Chinese who subscribe to the concept of the three pillars (G1) for the simple reason that they make up 85-90% of the 6.5 million Chinese in the country. The remaining 10-15% are, for want of a better term, referred to as the English-speaking group (G2).
The G2 encompasses those who are not Chinese-educated; they speak English and include a large number of Christians, the peranakan and also those who are part of the Lions and Rotary Clubs set.
People often talk about the Chinese as though they are one homogenous entity but they are not,” said Soong.
But the G2 who send their children to Chinese schools do so for largely pragmatic reasons. They think these schools offer a better standard of teaching and that it is useful to learn an additional language. Besides, the G2 are more likely to read English and Malay papers than Chinese papers and their social life and networking do not revolve around the traditional Chinese associations.
“Their ideas of governance, democracy, role of the media and even elections are influenced by the West, namely Britain and the United States. They like to say these are universal ideals even though half the world does not subscribe to the way the Americans and British think,” said Soong.
Soong said the G2 are issue-oriented. They are influenced by issues and their votes swing from one election to another. They are mostly middle-class, articulate and prone to take issues to the press and in recent years into the Internet.
The Chinese, it is often said, are quite inscrutable about their politics but not this group. They are not afraid to air their political views or who they will vote for.
“They are so articulate about their grievances that people think, ‘oh dear, the entire Chinese community is upset’. But actually, their views reflect mainly those in this English-speaking group,” said Soong.
The Christians in the G2 are particularly concerned about the issue of Islamic state. The survival of the common law and the secular state is very important to this group because it guarantees their modern lifestyle and for the Christians, the freedom to practise their faith.
“Their fears about the Islamic State is very real and emotional because they see it as a threat to Christianity. The fear comes from deep in the gut,” she said.
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Questions to ponder
How different is G1 from G2 despite of their socio-political differences?
Is the description of G2, "they speak English and include a large number of Christians, the peranakan and also those who are part of the Lions and Rotary Clubs set" a gross generalisation?
Is G2 influenced by Western ideals more than G1? What ideals do G1 suscribe to?
Do the concerns of G2 irrelevant to the wider Chinese population? How can we champion issues of importance and making them relevant to the wider Chinese community?
Should the fear of an Islamic state driven by economic reasons rather than ideological?
Do we really fear having a theocratic state?
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6 comments:
swt.. looks like im a g1.. minus the smarts.. :P
I actually don't really like the stereotype given to G2. English educated, Christian, peranakan and those of Rotary and Lions club set.
It seems that the researchers have skewed and narrow perception on what it means to be non-mainstream chinese. It seems to suggest that G2 are either elitist or culturally more inferior than the mainstream.
Worse still, associating the non-mainstream with groups like Rotary and Lions seems a bit weird and insulting, because that's really a gross simplistic generalisation. There are various other social organisations like interest groups, company social groups and charity-activist-business organisations.
It further shows that G2 are more likely to break from their cultural networks to engage with the wider society. Besides, there is a sizable group in G2 who are generally middle class working urbanites who are less associated with social organisations.
They also do not consider those who are in between. Those who have both Chinese and national education, chinese who are gradually being westernised in urban areas and overseas, english-speaking buddhists, chinese muslims and those who are disconnected from the traditional chinese cultural-social networks.
I feel that Insap should better appreciate the distinctiveness of the non-mainstream chinese group, and avoid generalisation and stereotype labelling such complex minority. Failure to do so reflects the inability of MCA to be inclusive to all and to break from narrow chauvinist-driven politics.
I actually don't really like the stereotype given to G2. English educated, Christian, peranakan and those of Rotary and Lions club set.
It seems that the researchers have skewed and narrow perception on what it means to be non-mainstream chinese. It seems to suggest that G2 are either elitist or culturally more inferior than the mainstream.
Worse still, associating the non-mainstream with groups like Rotary and Lions seems a bit weird and insulting, because that's really a gross simplistic generalisation. There are various other social organisations like interest groups, company social groups and charity-activist-business organisations.
It further shows that G2 are more likely to break from their cultural networks to engage with the wider society. Besides, there is a sizable group in G2 who are generally middle class working urbanites who are less associated with social organisations.
They also do not consider those who are in between. Those who have both Chinese and national education, chinese who are gradually being westernised in urban areas and overseas, english-speaking buddhists, chinese muslims and those who are disconnected from the traditional chinese cultural-social networks.
I feel that Insap should better appreciate the distinctiveness of the non-mainstream chinese group, and avoid generalisation and stereotype labelling such complex minority. Failure to do so reflects the inability of MCA to be inclusive to all and to break from narrow chauvinist-driven politics.
dun have to say twice ma.. i know u feel strongly about this.. :P
hahaha, the verification thing gave me problem ma. aiyo.
"Soong said the G2 are issue-oriented. They are influenced by issues and their votes swing from one election to another."
I take this line as a compliment.
It reminds me that our first and foremost loyalty is not to individuals, nor regional boundaries, but to God.
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