A Question of Roots

The past few days my mind has still been elsewhere, entrenched somewhere in the ethos of the Spanish colonial past and the loss of Chinese culture under the repressive policies of Mao Ze Dong. And it made me wonder at these two separate cultures, so different from American culture that we as Singaporeans are constantly being bombarded with on mainstream media and the internet, and open my eyes to alternative realities.

With the Chinese, their sense of collectivism, that one for all, all for one spirit that can make it seem like they treat each other with misrespect sometimes, or too harsh, but it really is with the person's own value in mind as part of society. With the Spanish, their sense of pride in their Catalan language, so different from Spanish and closer to French, the ability to express so much in their expression and body language, the sensuality and vibrance they emphasize in their dressing, their interactions, their lifestyle and their architecture. How did each of these cultures shape to be the way they are?

The Chinese have their culture back to 3 millenias, and so do the Spainiards, if they consider the Iberians who first crossed the Iberian Peninsula in 1000BC and conquered Spain. The Spanish history was then followed by conquests and wars, resulting in the intermarriage of Iberians, Celts, Basques, Andalusian Muslims, Greeks and Roman Catholics that give rise to the Spanish people of today. Much of who they are are tied to their unique history, unique, dashing and painful as it may be.

Which gives rise to my question: As Singaporeans, what are our roots? Are we more closely tied to our ancestral homelands as we consider ourselves to be? Or are we part of a fresh generation bounded by no cultural norms, part of a really global class that is dominated by American culture? Just who are we?