Is Singapore an uncivilised Third World country?

Question

As much as I respect my neighbours, their religion, culture and beliefs, I'm not going to sit back and tolerate the burning of the Chinese paper money at the expense of my and my family's health.

If Singapore is to be considered a civilised and developed country, the government should take measures to curb or eradicate altogether the practice of burning the Chinese paper money throughout the year at any occasion which is deemed necessary by some of the Chinese to do so. At the drop of a hat it's being done and it's unfair to everyone, even to the Chinese themselves.

It's very much contradicting that the government is so strict and stringent about the smoking practices in Singapore, in regards to health and littering issues but is turning a blind eye to the ever present practice of burning the Chinese paper money, which is a bigger nuisance than the smoking practices. How can our government have the cheek to point a finger at the Indonesian government for the pollution.........

Answer 1

Singapore acquired independence in 1965. Foreign investments and government-led island-wide industrialization has since created an economy relying heavily on electronics and manufacturing exports and entrepôt and financial trade centering around its strategic port position.

In terms of GDP per capita, Singapore is the 22nd wealthiest country. The geographically small nation has a foreign reserve of S$197b (US$119b).
http://www.nationsonline.org/gallery/Singapore/singapore_city.jpg

Answer 2

Boy! You do sound very angry. From what I know, burning paper money is not the practise of Chinese Singaporean only but everywhere in the world include where I'm staying.

And the date you stated from your other question - from what I know - that was consider one of the big day for most Chinese, or rather most taoism.

When come to religion, there isn't much control the governemnt can do. I always find that Singapore is more racial harmony than any Asia country. So keep it up the good job and bear with your different races, culture and religion.

Answer 3

Even Singapore has a basic level of freedom of religion. Chinese people are relatively free to practice their traditional religion as long as it doesn't hurt anyone. You'd be hard pressed to demonstrate that burning paper money a couple of time a year is harmful to anyone.

According to your logic, the Singapore government should also ban incense at Buddhist or Catholic ceremonies (smoking again), body piercing at Hindu festivals (risk of infection!), and fasting at Ramadan (people could get delirious and get into a car accident!). If you really respect your neighbors and their culture, you have to put up with some things (like this) that are a trivial nuisance.

Answer 4

I don't ever remember a country's level of "civilization" and "development" being based on the Chinese (and not even the rest of Singapore's 4 main races) burning paper money.
Chinese all over the world burn paper money.

Singapore is a small country. Indonesia is a very large country. The forest fires, the pollution from the vehicles and numerous factories which do not conform to International levels of pollution and gas emissions, and many other factors, seem to overwhelm your flimsy attack on Singapore, numerous sizes smaller than your country.
Your attack is illogical, irrelevant and laughable.


Jenova.

Answer 5

i agree. but i think there have been efforts made to clean up this practice abit, like making specific spots or burning areas in HDB estates. this doesn't really help, though, since people are still burning stuff everywhere. i stay in landed property and during 7th month, all my neighbours ashes fly into my house every morning. it sucks that nothing can be done about this either.

i also found out that the indian Thaipusam festival is also only carried out in Singapore and a very few places in malaysia. hardly even in india anymore.

strange that for a "developed" country we're still so behind in so many simple ways, religiously, when some of the places in which the religious practices actually originated have dropped these practices already. i totally agree with you.

Answer 6

I don't think the Singapore government is going to ban what is essentially a form of religious expression. They get enough grief about being repressive as it is.

Answer 7

sometimes some things u can't simply relate it with the logical thinking