You may wonder, why do I bother to set up an interest group for AC users interested in Southern American culture. Well, I think Southern America is much more positive as a culture than Singapore, for a Singaporean like me.
It is because while I do not deny I am a Singaporean, I am, first and foremost, a person with autism. I think autism is a beurobiological condition that knows no borders. In addition, with immigration (which has high obstacles that could be overcome), anyone can change his, or her, nationality. But autism is something that will stay with me. With education, internal thought processes and interest, I think I may retain some Singaporean/Asian characteristics, but I am looking for a more suitable place for my personal development.
European societies are always better, in terms of social development, than most Asian societies. I even took a look in my local IKEA store, and imagined the possibility of me moving to Sweden. Looking at all the Swedish signs on the Swede foot imports, some of which I seem to know a little, others making me confused, I realised that Singapore is a English-speaking country with Asian characteristics; while Sweden has always been, after all, at best, Scandinavian. Scandinavian life, other than the language, the taxes (and hence, prices) and the bitter cold, attracts my attention mostly. I'm not sure how will I adapt to them.
If I were to move to Sweden, I have to fully assimilate to the Swedish culture, and it seems the Swedish are okay with it. Even more so, I hear from my parents that Sinology/the study of China and Chinese culture is really good in Sweden. I feel great if I do indeed have a chance to move to Sweden, or a country with a similar profile.
I even seem to read from somewhere than no other country has more than 3% of non-Caucasians in any European country's border, with the exception of perhaps France and Britain (Germany has a really substantial Turkish population, but Turkish people are somewhat European). And we know what happens to France - the 2005 suburban riots explain the weaknesses of French pluralistic society. Either you're French, or you aren't. Some people choose to be French, like the ex-President of France Nicolas Sarkozy, son of a Hungarian immigrant. Some, however, do not assimilate. I think it is obvious to me that any decision to plan to move to France has to involve the ability to assimilate with the normal French population.
As for Britain, as well as fellow Commonwealth countries like New Zealand, Australia and Canada, plus its neighbour, Ireland, they evoke a sense of familiarity. Well, when road names are named after cities like Canberra, Ottawa, Wellington, Dover and Dublin, I thought it is just like a feeling visiting a long-lost brother's house. Familial vibes abound, I suppose. I may consider them.
America is a really interesting place. I find people from the South particularly friendly, people from the Northeast really intellectual, people from the West, pretty cool, and those from the Midwest are really trustworthy. I like a mixture of Midwest and South, though I hope to sprinkle in some Pacific and Rockies hip and big-city brains.
I see nothing but awesomeness everywhere outside Singapore.
Why overseas forums and friends may be better for many Singaporeans with ASD than Singaporean wants - while other societies accept Aspies for what they are, Singaporean society doesn't, even amongst her very own Aspies, who don't accept other people of their kind. So, well, what would be more beneficial to Singaporean Aspies? The Internet has no borders, but physical existence does has borders, no matter what.
Since Singaporeans are not accepting of ASDs, they need awareness. However, we have to acknowledge, we do not have the ability to make acceptance happen, because we are simply not able enough. Hence, for now, the consensus in the Singapore Special Needs community is, we lay low, stay anonymous or use fake real-sounding names, and with these assurances, talk frankly about our issues, even though we desire 'real names' subconsciously, from my own experiences with at least 100 Aspies.
If Singaporeans have to set barriers within our collective mindsets, I think it will be a separate community - one which is the excluded community that doesn't get out to reach one's autism community, another is a bickering community that cannot accept fellow Auties, and the last one, those who cannot stand the quarrels, and find ways out - through leaving the community altogether and joining another community. At the moment, with the autism community in Singapore confined to Singapore's borders in mind, I think it could only mean leaving the country altogether, however unfortunate it is, if I did my best to change things and they don't change. Or maybe I should just participate in another truly supportive physical autism community instead.
I believe the autism culture should break barriers, and start new ground for new possibilities and pleasant surprises to happen. I believe every person with autism has gifts and talents. Using them, we can work together, for our common good.
I am open to any country that could accept my presence in their country. I am open to various new possibilities, since they may not be my native countries, but countries I chose to settle in.
Perhaps all I need to do, is to travel around the world, and stop where my mind feels the most comfortable. Maybe, by then, either my mindset changes, and I can accept the autism community's inaction better, or, with sheer luck, we can have a wonderful borderless autism community that is all-accepting for all Aspies around the world.
It is because while I do not deny I am a Singaporean, I am, first and foremost, a person with autism. I think autism is a beurobiological condition that knows no borders. In addition, with immigration (which has high obstacles that could be overcome), anyone can change his, or her, nationality. But autism is something that will stay with me. With education, internal thought processes and interest, I think I may retain some Singaporean/Asian characteristics, but I am looking for a more suitable place for my personal development.
European societies are always better, in terms of social development, than most Asian societies. I even took a look in my local IKEA store, and imagined the possibility of me moving to Sweden. Looking at all the Swedish signs on the Swede foot imports, some of which I seem to know a little, others making me confused, I realised that Singapore is a English-speaking country with Asian characteristics; while Sweden has always been, after all, at best, Scandinavian. Scandinavian life, other than the language, the taxes (and hence, prices) and the bitter cold, attracts my attention mostly. I'm not sure how will I adapt to them.
If I were to move to Sweden, I have to fully assimilate to the Swedish culture, and it seems the Swedish are okay with it. Even more so, I hear from my parents that Sinology/the study of China and Chinese culture is really good in Sweden. I feel great if I do indeed have a chance to move to Sweden, or a country with a similar profile.
I even seem to read from somewhere than no other country has more than 3% of non-Caucasians in any European country's border, with the exception of perhaps France and Britain (Germany has a really substantial Turkish population, but Turkish people are somewhat European). And we know what happens to France - the 2005 suburban riots explain the weaknesses of French pluralistic society. Either you're French, or you aren't. Some people choose to be French, like the ex-President of France Nicolas Sarkozy, son of a Hungarian immigrant. Some, however, do not assimilate. I think it is obvious to me that any decision to plan to move to France has to involve the ability to assimilate with the normal French population.
As for Britain, as well as fellow Commonwealth countries like New Zealand, Australia and Canada, plus its neighbour, Ireland, they evoke a sense of familiarity. Well, when road names are named after cities like Canberra, Ottawa, Wellington, Dover and Dublin, I thought it is just like a feeling visiting a long-lost brother's house. Familial vibes abound, I suppose. I may consider them.
America is a really interesting place. I find people from the South particularly friendly, people from the Northeast really intellectual, people from the West, pretty cool, and those from the Midwest are really trustworthy. I like a mixture of Midwest and South, though I hope to sprinkle in some Pacific and Rockies hip and big-city brains.
I see nothing but awesomeness everywhere outside Singapore.
Why overseas forums and friends may be better for many Singaporeans with ASD than Singaporean wants - while other societies accept Aspies for what they are, Singaporean society doesn't, even amongst her very own Aspies, who don't accept other people of their kind. So, well, what would be more beneficial to Singaporean Aspies? The Internet has no borders, but physical existence does has borders, no matter what.
Since Singaporeans are not accepting of ASDs, they need awareness. However, we have to acknowledge, we do not have the ability to make acceptance happen, because we are simply not able enough. Hence, for now, the consensus in the Singapore Special Needs community is, we lay low, stay anonymous or use fake real-sounding names, and with these assurances, talk frankly about our issues, even though we desire 'real names' subconsciously, from my own experiences with at least 100 Aspies.
If Singaporeans have to set barriers within our collective mindsets, I think it will be a separate community - one which is the excluded community that doesn't get out to reach one's autism community, another is a bickering community that cannot accept fellow Auties, and the last one, those who cannot stand the quarrels, and find ways out - through leaving the community altogether and joining another community. At the moment, with the autism community in Singapore confined to Singapore's borders in mind, I think it could only mean leaving the country altogether, however unfortunate it is, if I did my best to change things and they don't change. Or maybe I should just participate in another truly supportive physical autism community instead.
I believe the autism culture should break barriers, and start new ground for new possibilities and pleasant surprises to happen. I believe every person with autism has gifts and talents. Using them, we can work together, for our common good.
I am open to any country that could accept my presence in their country. I am open to various new possibilities, since they may not be my native countries, but countries I chose to settle in.
Perhaps all I need to do, is to travel around the world, and stop where my mind feels the most comfortable. Maybe, by then, either my mindset changes, and I can accept the autism community's inaction better, or, with sheer luck, we can have a wonderful borderless autism community that is all-accepting for all Aspies around the world.
