It’s no secret that some Singaporeans have xenophobic attitudes towards foreigners who work in the country.
Some of us walk past foreign workers without even registering their existence, while others openly show their dislike for them.
For instance, last year, a racist man shouted vulgarities at a foreigner in a lift at Changi Airport. He called the Indian man “dirty” and asked him to leave, saying he didn’t like to take lifts with Indians.
This prejudice towards foreigners is evident in everyday life, from the way we shun them on public transport to the way we treat our domestic helpers at home.
One Singaporean father certainly thinks so, and hopes to change our xenophobic mindset through a series of thought-provoking comics.
Teaches empathy through comics
On Saturday (2 November 2019), a Singaporean dad shared a series of comic drawings on the Facebook page “Father and son” depicting a poignant conversation about xenophobia.
The post clearly struck a chord with many Singaporeans, as it had close to 3,000 shares.
The comic starts with a young son pointing at a man seated across from him, saying “Dad can I not sit there. He smells!”
This first comic exemplifies the kind of prejudice foreign workers face on a daily basis. Many people refuse to sit with them on public transport, making them feel “dirty” and unwanted.
In the following comics, the boy’s father describes the hardships foreign workers face:
He points out that if they do “smell”, it’s because they work long, laborious hours. And that they have to pay a “dodgy agent” just to work in a country where they’ll largely be treated as inferior even though they’re doing the work we don’t want to.
The father also does something that many of us don’t when we think about or see foreign workers; he humanizes them.
Just like us, these foreign workers have families that they love dearly. Unfortunately, working abroad means that they won’t be able to see their partners and children for long periods of time.
The compassionate father also compares foreign workers to our forefathers who were immigrants too when they came to Singapore. Why are the two similar? Because they both helped build this country.
Treat everyone with kindness
The most touching of all the drawings in the series is the very last one, where the boy chooses to sit with the foreign worker.
What a sweet ending.
Working long hours in an entirely new country for low pay without being able to see your family is tough enough without the social ostracization and prejudice that these workers face in public.
If you view foreign workers as lower than you or “dirty”, ask yourself why. What did these poor souls do to deserve your contempt and disgust?
Show everyone a little kindness, people, no matter where they’re from.
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