♥ Princessa's Royal Diary ♥ - Royalty has never been so PINK!

Let me first say this has no link to the previous Sunday Sharing topics (the one Precious lead) I've been following closely to - reason for stopping as stated.

The new "Sunday Sharing" is just me sharing what I receive during Sunday mass - it can be bible extracts, positive/negative opinions and/or etc. (Hopefully Precious doesn't mind me continue using "Sunday Sharing" as a category name. And yes, I will be changing the category image soon.)

And er... This may or may not be a weekly thing.

Anyway.

The inspiration for this weeks' Sunday Sharing topic came to me while attending Sunday mass at Holy Cross.

I'm not sure if disagreeing with a priest is considered a sin but agreeing because he is one just doesn't seem right. But before I go into that...

^{Image from wf-f.org.}

I got this off Catholic Online,

Making a comment on this page of the gospel, my venerable predecessor, servant of God Pope Pius XII, wrote in 1952: "The family of Nazareth in exile, Jesus, Mary and Joseph, emigrants and taking refuge in Egypt to escape the fury of an evil king, are the model, the example and the support of all emigrants and pilgrims of every age and every country, of all refugees of any condition who, compelled by persecution and need, are forced to abandon their homeland, their beloved relatives, their neighbors, their dear friends, and move to a foreign land."

_{- catholic.org}

... Okay. Now for the disagreement.

During mass, the priest brought up the whole "foreign workers' hostels to be build in Serangoon Gardens," and how we should welcome them.

Yes, foreign workers have been a great help in Singapore's development in becoming a modern city, and yes without them we wouldn't have our beautiful skyscrapers, condominiums and such. BUT that still doesn't mean I want them in my backyard.

Reason 1

I agree that not all foreign workers would resort to criminal actions, but there are just too many case to prove that they are capable of doing so.

Think about it, the reason why they are willing to come to Singapore and work as labourers is because thy are incapable of finding a better job. In other words, they are here for money, and some may just do anything to achieve that goal.

Money is the root to all evil. Opening our doors to invite them as neighbours are like creating temptation. Creating an opportunity for them to be tempted to conduct crime.

If 1 out of a 10 foreign workers may be bad hats, a thousand would mean there's a possibility that a hundred of them may be. Would we want a possible a hundred bad hats running around in our neighbourhood? Who are we to tell who may or may not be 1 of that 100?

Reason 2

We have all witness how these foreign workers have the tendency of gathering at void decks and such, drinking, leaving their empty beer bottles, and causing noise pollution. Are they the kind of neighbours you would welcome with open arms? Is this the kind of environment we want our children to grow up in?

Reason 3

Serangoon Gardens isn't just any ordinary HDB neighbourhood, it is a private estate where the wealthy Singaporeans live and residents.

"Assuming there were 1,400 households, each worth $1 million, in the estate, he said 'even a 1 per cent drop in asset value (because of the workers' presence) would mean a $14-million loss" - Serangoon Gardens Resident

"Why is no one looking for suitable places to house these workers away from all the inconveniences and insecurity that people feel?" - Serangoon Gardens Resident

This is probably going to sound nasty - they may be the ones that build the skyscrapers, condominiums and such, but aren't we the ones striving to build up the economy and pay for this constructions?

Do we not have the right to oppose what we feel might be a danger to our community?

If they want us to welcome them as a part of our community, they should first learn to respect our culture and behave. Gathering at void decks, drinking, leaving their empty beer bottles and causing noise pollution is definitely NOT what I consider as the right kind of conduct, don't you agree?

Did "the family of Nazareth in exile, Jesus, Mary and Joseph, emigrants and taking refuge in Egypt" behave the way these foreign workers are behaving?

Enough said.

P/s: No offence to the whole "World Day for Migrants" but I don't think this occasion gives reason to say "welcome" or even "okay" to the whole "foreign workers' hostels to be build in Serangoon Gardens."