Don’t Be A Wimp!
This happened 2 hours ago. I was at East Coast park MacDonald waiting for the cab. There was a queue in front of me as taxi was slow coming due to the light rain.
A white merc taxi appeared and alighting a customer 10 m away from waiting queue and a very fat white man with his asian girlfriend just move into the merc cab amidst of loud calling from the crowd that there’s a queue waiting. The couple ignored and proceed to slam the door. I dashed out (kids at home do not do this without parents guidance, okie? 
) and stood in front of merc cab and demanded the couple to move out from cab and join the queue. You know what? The fat white guy just instructed the cab to drive forward! I stood firm and stared into the driver eyes and “communicated”: “DON’T YOU DARE!”
The cab stopped and driver instructed the couple to get out immediately as it was attracting a viewing crowd. The fat white guy (3 time my size) shouted that it was no big deal and threaten that I watch my mouth. I pointed to the queue and they joined in eventually.
The key reason why I am sharing this is not to tell you my “silly heroic act”. I gather 3 keys learning lessons:
1. It takes courage to do what YOU THINK it is right as much as I have alot of fear at that point (Hey, he is at least 1 and half head taller than me!). Courage cannot exist without fear.
2. Do not be a wimp! As much as there are at least 8 people in the queue, none actually step out to stand for their rights and I am the last in the queue. In business, if you do not stand for your own right and defend them, NO ONE WILL!
3. I believe we have been too conditioned and accept bully or unreasonable behavior from the West/White easily. Maybe, it is our culture where conflict is frowned upon. And this is especially true in our industry, Asian get lower pay and tend to work longer hours while those Creative Head from some la la la land get most of the credit. Worse of all, some Asian client tends to listen more when the white/west speak! And before you brand me as anti western, I have equal share of friends from Europe and Amercia and they are beautiful souls. The bottom-line is that we still have that “White Superiority Diease” in the Asian society.
Your comment would be greatly appreciated.
P/S: Actually, I felt good standing up for my country men.
Lots of love and support,
Ken Chee
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Joe said,
December 18, 2006 @ 12:13 pm
Bro,
You earn my respect. It’s happening everywhere. We tends to complain and make noise but no one will stand up to change the situation.
ken said,
December 18, 2006 @ 5:53 pm
“Be the change you want to see in this world” - Mahatma Gandhi
Thanks Joe!
Penny Chow said,
December 19, 2006 @ 4:54 pm
That’s great Ken! Yes it always irritates me to think that people are prone to jumping queues at teh expense of all the rest of the people waiting.
I guess the Westerners haven’t really opened their eyes and seen teh phoenomenal growth of Asia yet and what we are capable of.
Terence said,
December 19, 2006 @ 5:42 pm
I acknowledge you for your courage.
Be thankful you are in singapore and not, US or Malaysia.
Be Bless that he is not rowdy and drunk.
Seen too many fights in my lifetime.
Jeffrey Ong Chee Keong said,
December 19, 2006 @ 5:42 pm
Haha Ken, u’r the man. Somehow, u remind me of Bruce Lee’s movie. I can visual u wearing his Jing Wu Men suit and gave the fat arse bastard a signature Punch! Saying.. “You”…”No no”..”must Queue”..”now out!”. With your Finger pointing everywhere..
Indeed, i dislike ppl jumping queues. Last week, as i was queuing for Old Chang Kee, a middle age chinese guy (kinda act-blur or somethin) jump my queue. Even though at that point of time, i was using my mobile, i immediately went to him and said, Eh ‘cuse me, Don’t cut queue le’?!. He jsut said ..oh okok.
Cheers
Jeffrey Ong
22nd Platoon EAP grad.
ken said,
December 19, 2006 @ 6:43 pm
Hi Jeffrey, it is more like David vs Goliath standing in the rain and transmitting the essence of anger.
Terence, you are right. I am blessed to be protected by the Great Spirit that afternoon. In fact, I am blessed and grateful to be alive and well for every waking minute!
Peggy and Curtis, thank you for acknowledgement.
Curtis said,
December 19, 2006 @ 6:46 pm
Ken,
You did the right, i respect you for your courage. The “White Superiority Diease” not just in Asian society it also in the western society but it is reverse, some of them still think that they are the best.
Moonshi said,
December 19, 2006 @ 10:09 pm
Ken, I am glad that I am not the only one that dares to stand-up for what I believe in. I urge our fellow Singaporeans to take actions for your own life and stand-up for your rights!
Well done Ken!
Stay driven!
Moonshi
David said,
December 19, 2006 @ 10:55 pm
Ken, I agree and think you really exposed what is happening in the real world esp me cos i dont think i will be bothered and waiting for that someone to stand out. You really made me go into deep thoughts about myself, I SALUTE YOU.
Lilian Ng said,
December 19, 2006 @ 11:13 pm
haha… I thought Singaporean will not stand up for themselves anymore. I remembered standing up for myself when a man jumped my queue. When my friend and I politely tell him to move back to the line, he scolded us with nasty words, still refused to move back. The best part was no one said anything even though they know he was in the wrong. They just looked at us like watching Channel 8 drama. so the question is, will you help the person who stand up for his rights or just be safe bystander?
Florence Lim said,
December 20, 2006 @ 12:09 am
Gees! I am one who’ll always speak up for my own rights but dont tink I’ll go to your extend of blocking the cab’s way. U’r good, Ken! If I’m at the scene, I’ll applaud u. Guess I don like attracting attention.
ken said,
December 20, 2006 @ 1:07 pm
Hi Moonshi, thank you for the acknowledgement.
David, clearing work and educational programs does help. Life is a learning journey.
Lilian and Florence, our country need more gungho spirits like you!
Lots of love and support,
Ken Chee
Andi Ong said,
December 20, 2006 @ 4:59 pm
Hi Ken,
if i were you i will also do the same ! i had a few similiar incident … infact it happen few times already..
I was borading the service bus at my place …. the long service bus type …. before i board the bus.. i look at the back end of the bus… it was all empty ( standing space i mean) … the crowd was all ssqueeing infront … No one want to take an initiative to move backward for the passenger infront to board the bus, the bus driver refuse to do something about it also… i was damp piss off, what i did was i shouted loudly to the crowd : ” can you guys have some courtesy to move backwards ! ”
everyone was shock why am i shouting.. then the crowd started to move back ….
to me SAFETY come first , what happen if the bus suddenly brake , all the passenger infront will fall and squee like pan cake !
It’s happening everywhere … everyone sure encounter this … maybe the gov. should have a stronger campaine to educate these ppl !
Love reading your blog !
Andi Ong
M&Y Grad March 04
Edmund Ng said,
December 21, 2006 @ 3:29 pm
Hi Ken
Top stuff, stand up for what you believe in even if no one else breaks away from the pack and shows their support. Once again, its an ‘asian mentality’ of conforming to the norm and ’saving-face’ without creating a scene in public.
Having grown up in Australia, i find that myself and friends who also grew-up overseas seem to be the ones who always speak up in public.
Having said that, “it takes 2 hands to clap” and its not that the public dont do anything about it, the obscene lack of support from those in charge (ie, cab drivers, bus drivers, ushers) exacerbates the situation. If they have the ‘bo chup’ attitude of “who cares, i’m just doing my job.. not going to get an increase in my pay whether i do the right thing or not etc”.. then it doesn’t help the situation.
After securing & doing a damn fine job of the ’speak better english’ campaign, perhaps your company should take charge of the “better civic mindedness” program…
cheers
Edmund
Matoula Piskopani said,
December 25, 2006 @ 2:23 am
Standing up for your rights is more than an act of courage.I acknowledge your true sense of respect for yourself.
The crowd can act with indifference or can follow up, eventually.
The difference comes, always, from an individual.
Then, what happens is what we call precession.
VS said,
December 25, 2006 @ 8:27 pm
I enjoy reading your blog. But this one is not connecting with me. A West/White mentality? White bullies? What is that? It can happen in any country inspite of race. It’s all about the upbringing.
ken said,
December 25, 2006 @ 10:01 pm
Dear VS, the key message is to stand up for our right when situation call for it. As for the my last point on “White Superiority Diease”, I’m merely stating a fact that is happening in Asian countries. Have you stay and work in Asia long enough to understand this point?
P/S: I have nothing against White.
Lastly, Merry Christmas!
Dear Matoula, thank you for the acknowledge. Yup, it starts will individual. Merry Christmas!
Tashi Khoo said,
February 27, 2007 @ 11:14 am
Well done Ken,
I’m also a person who fights for right. I signed lots of petition against that blood sucking demon T.T.Durai. But, just too bad that petition is not enough to put him to death. Any suggestion?
Tashi Khoo
pauline said,
April 22, 2007 @ 11:03 pm
its all abt integrity… ^_^ i m proud of u!