How best to respond to hatred? With reason and kindness

“Go back to China”– this is a phrase that has been occasionally hurled at Asian faces in the United States in the past few years, especially during the rampant spread of Covid-19. Behind it lies a complex backdrop: US-China tensions, rising populism and the economic fallout of the pandemic. Xenophobia often festers when people face adversity. Last week, a friend from China shared in a WeChat group that this phrase was recently uttered in Singapore, where she has lived for 10 years. A few days ago, her parents came from China to visit their grandchild. One evening, as they were about to take the child downstairs to play, a delivery man handed them a takeaway meal. The elderly parents thought it was ordered by their daughter, who was working overtime, and without looking closely, brought it inside. Shortly after, the delivery man rushed back over, but the couple didn’t understand English. Upon realising their mistake, they hurried back upstairs – it turned out that the meal was meant for their daughter’s neighbours. By then, the neighbours were already furious. One of them accused my friend’s parents of theft and another was ready to throw punches. Amid the elderly couple’s repeated apologies, the grandchild cried in fear. Yet the neighbours wouldn’t back down. Their son, in his 20s, yelled, “Singapore is an English-speaking country. If you don’t understand, go back to China!” After my friend recounted this “minor incident”, the WeChat group of new immigrants to Singapore was shocked. Some members shared similar experiences, while others mentioned an increase in negative incidents, perhaps due to the recent surge in tourists following a bilateral visa-free policy. However, many in the group emphasised that Singapore is generally a harmonious and friendly society. This made me think of an incident weeks ago, on September 18, the anniversary of the start of Japan’s invasion of China. In Shenzhen, a Japanese boy was fatally stabbed on his way to school, a tragedy that sparked international outrage. In June, four American teachers in the northeastern Chinese province of Jilin were stabbed. That same month, a Japanese mother and son were attacked while waiting for a school bus in Suzhou, in the eastern Jiangsu province. A bus attendant, Hu Youping, bravely intervened to protect them and tragically lost her life. In the US, the presidential debate brought attention to Springfield, Ohio. Former president Donald Trump revived a debunked myth, claiming that Haitian immigrants were eating local pets. Here, the story worth telling is that, like many towns in the rust belt of the US, Springfield lost manufacturing jobs, leading to economic decline and population loss. Amid efforts to revitalise the town, including foreign investment and a manufacturing boom, there’s been a new demand for labour. Tens of thousands of Haitian immigrants came to find opportunity. After an 11-year-old boy, Aiden Clark, died in a traffic accident involving a Haitian driver, anti-immigrant rumours spread. In the current election season, public discontent is being weaponised by politicians. The world once seemed like a global village. As globalisation surged ahead, the freer flow of goods, resources, culture and people was touted as a win-win situation. But in recent years, the downside of globalisation has become more apparent. Foreign competition has intensified as xenophobia, like a time bomb, quietly ticks away, ready to violently explode at any moment. Right-wing populism, nationalism and tribal politics have reared their ugly heads in many countries, pushing an “us versus them” narrative. People label each other, divisions deepen and no one seems to have the patience to listen or seek common ground any more. Yet, despite the relentless waves of hate, there are still deeper, quieter forces at work – those who believe in reason and kindness. They understand that only through dialogue and mutual understanding can we bridge divides and avoid the vicious cycle of violence and revenge. In Singapore, the government clarified that after the visa waiver with China, the crime rate among Chinese tourists has not risen. “Singapore and Singaporeans benefit from the tourism revenue and employment opportunities that foreigners, including those from China, bring,” said Minister of State for Home Affairs Sun Xueling. In Shenzhen, within days of the 10-year-old Japanese student’s death, his school received more than a thousand bouquets from members of the public expressing their condolences. After the stabbing, I messaged a Japanese friend who works as a correspondent in China. Her husband is Chinese and their six-year-old attends a Japanese school. When I asked about their life in Beijing, she replied, with a smiley face emoji, “Ordinary Chinese people are friendly, especially toward kids!” She also mentioned a letter purportedly from the slain boy’s father, which has spread widely on Chinese social media. The letter reads: “I don’t want the crimes of a few despicable individuals with twisted ideas to damage the relationship between our two countries.” It says working towards the countries’ mutual understanding will be an act of atonement for the loss of the child, and of revenge on the perpetrator. This reminded me of another grieving father, who wanted his son to be remembered with love. “My son Aiden Clark was not murdered,” said Nathan Clark. “He was accidentally killed by an immigrant from Haiti. This tragedy is felt all over this community, this state and even the nation, but don’t spin this towards hate. In order to live like Aiden, you need to accept everyone, choose to shine, make the difference, lead the way and be the inspiration.”

How best to respond to hatred? With reason and kindness

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}In the midst of tribal politics, communities can bridge divides and avoid the vicious cycle of violence and revenge – through dialogue

In the midst of tribal politics, communities can bridge divides and avoid the vicious cycle of violence and revenge – through dialogue