venkat,
i thought i will continue our discussion here so as not to side track the swayamvaram thread.
yes, i agree with you that s'pore is always afraid of its malay indonesian neighbours. hence the heavy emphasis on 2 years of national service (NS) for all the male citizens.
i have had extended families residing there since 1980s. the first batch of children are now adults. they have served the NS and almost all the parents appear to be in favour of it.
the result has been better toned kids, organized and self reliant. the army does instill some sense of discipline.
money (or rather saving money) does not appear to be a big deal there. all of my relatives' children have gone for u.k. or u.s. education. money does not seem to matter, and sky appears to be the limit re spending for kid's education.
proximity to india and the general acceptance of indian culture and habits in the work place (sari, churidar etc) is a good reason for those of us, who consider ourselves traditionalists.
it is also a strictly governed society. no spitting on the roads. exception being serangoon road, where apparently the government gave up on paan spitting
no drugs. mandatory death sentence for possession of ganja or cocaine or any such stuff. in fact s'pore, as a percentage of population, hangs more people than any other country in the world. quite a dubiuos record. but a good deterrent.
we are, i guess ideally suited to emigrate there. we like strong honest government. public rewards for hard study. a nice warm weather with open access to tamil culture of all sorts. above all, a society where parents and elders are respected.
so what is missing? why are not more of us moving to singapore, where the immigration policy is still open and tolerant? why more lineups to australia or usa or canada?
i thought i will continue our discussion here so as not to side track the swayamvaram thread.
yes, i agree with you that s'pore is always afraid of its malay indonesian neighbours. hence the heavy emphasis on 2 years of national service (NS) for all the male citizens.
i have had extended families residing there since 1980s. the first batch of children are now adults. they have served the NS and almost all the parents appear to be in favour of it.
the result has been better toned kids, organized and self reliant. the army does instill some sense of discipline.
money (or rather saving money) does not appear to be a big deal there. all of my relatives' children have gone for u.k. or u.s. education. money does not seem to matter, and sky appears to be the limit re spending for kid's education.
proximity to india and the general acceptance of indian culture and habits in the work place (sari, churidar etc) is a good reason for those of us, who consider ourselves traditionalists.
it is also a strictly governed society. no spitting on the roads. exception being serangoon road, where apparently the government gave up on paan spitting

no drugs. mandatory death sentence for possession of ganja or cocaine or any such stuff. in fact s'pore, as a percentage of population, hangs more people than any other country in the world. quite a dubiuos record. but a good deterrent.
we are, i guess ideally suited to emigrate there. we like strong honest government. public rewards for hard study. a nice warm weather with open access to tamil culture of all sorts. above all, a society where parents and elders are respected.
so what is missing? why are not more of us moving to singapore, where the immigration policy is still open and tolerant? why more lineups to australia or usa or canada?