pardon me.

For my previous post, I recieved some flak from a couple of total strangers for NOT raising my hands when my lecturer asked if there were any Singaporeans in class.

Many seem to have gotten the idea that I was ashamed to raise up my hand become I was embarrassed of the country that I grew up in.

YOU GUYS ARE SO WRONG.

However, to say that I didn't raise my hand because I was a Singaporean, and because I was born that way, then you've got it right. As one reader put it, "Shows how much of Singaporean indoctrination you've gotten into you already."

I once read an article that Singaporeans who have emigrated overseas or are just staying in foreign countries on a temporary basis, love to fade into the background. They seldom do or say things that makes them stand out from the crowd, but rather, they seem contented to remain just another face in the sea of crowds.

Another reader lamented that it was a shame that I choose to melt into the background, and that "The country has no connection with you, apart from the fact that you were born there. "

REALLY???

I have no idea why he would choose to romanticise the entire scenario. The truth is, people have their own biasness and prejudices, and people form baseless opinions of you just based on your nationality. For example, I would say that China people have a pretty bad reputation among Asians in Australia. And, even if you were just a product of your country, there is no denying the fact that the culture you grew up in has a very vital role in shaping and forming you as an individual.

Also, just as a final thought, as another reader also pointed out, if I had really went on to raise my hand, would the lecturer then have minced his words? On the other hand, wouldn't it be interesting for the lecturer to speak with unbridled flow, without biting his tongue or toning down his language just because there was a Singaporean around? Maybe only then could he really say what he intended to say.

And, that's probably the best excuse I can give for not raising up my hand.