Now that we got the academic accolades out of the way, WHO is the top EURASIAN student then?
One has a Malay name but his father is Eurasian and the other is a first generation Eurasian by all dictionary definitions. Who cares, they both earn a place amongst the nation’s brightest at Raffles Institution!
In 1995, The Eurasian Association amended the definition of Eurasian to include children of inter-marriages. European + Asian = Eurasian.
Wikipedia describes Eurasians in Singapore, the kind of cloth I am cut from, as those of mixed ancestry. NOT mixed parentage. In which case, Ahmad Ashraf, despite his name… IS the true Eurasian here, because his father is of mixed ancestry (European & Asian). So case closed. I guess the dictionary definition of Eurasian is where it gets complicated.. Some say it’s of European & Asian DESCENT, while other’s define it as of European & Asian PARENTAGE.
Well, with no discrimination and not discounting the many Eurasians of mixed parentage, MY definition of a Eurasian is one who has a complex. Hahaha..Simply because it IS complex! if you can’t define your heritage in ONE breathe and you suffer the occasional bouts of identity crisis – congratulations you are authentically Eurasian of the old blood line!
At first, when I read the article, that old chip on my shoulder started to nag at me – that neither student can be classified Eurasian when one student has a Malay parent, and the other student should be considered “Pan Asian” because one parent is Caucasian. And i started recalling all the many times I was faced with an identity crisis, having to answer the question of my racial background. It seems many Singaporeans have “forgotten” our colonial history and become unfamiliar with the Eurasians of the bygone era.
When asked, I would simply say “Eurasian” which never seemed to suffice. the next question would then be “oh so your father is European?” No, my father is Eurasian. i’d then be further pressed to explain if my grandfather, maternal or paternal is Caucasian.. and I would say NO they are both Eurasian which would in turn draw a quizzical look as a response. Sigh!
The “complex” was further compounded when as an actress I would go for auditions requiring “Eurasian females” and then be told I wasn’t Caucasian looking enough because what they were looking for was in fact “Pan Asian” or rather – first generation Eurasian.
That is, one parent white the other Asian. It’s confusing even for me. And I can forget about casting for a typical Asian role… i’ve been told i’m not Chinese looking enough or Malay enough either… why? cos I’m NEITHER.. I AM EURASIAN! Sigh..
And yah, I know I know… TV land and showbiz is a superficial industry. I accept that, but should I seriously try to keep out of the sun so I’d look as fair as someone who is half-white and dye my hair a lighter shade of brown JUST so I could pass off MORE “Caucasian” and prove that i am INDEED Eurasian, to a stupid casting director, no less? 
At least Ahmad Ashraf can explain succinctly that his mother is Malay, and his father Eurasian.
In a multiracial society like ours, one that thrives on statistics and definitions and labels – BOTH the designer type and the ones automatically bestowed on us based on RACE or PSLE SCORES – have we really progressed from the days we were collectively categorized as “Others” to now having our own separate box to tick in the official forms we fill out, “aptly” labeled “Eurasian”? Don’t you agree that being categorized whether by demographic, geographic, or in any graphic way, just further holes us up and can only limit our potential?
Eurasians of the “breed” I descend from are becoming rare these days and too “rojak” to explain in one sentence. But in any other country, I’d just be called Asian. Who cares???????????
Ok ok.. I did.. I used to. Maybe, I still do … in a teensy bitsy way. But I’m also starting to realize, the more labels we accept on our heads – no matter WHAT they are – the more we try to “become” this identity or DO more instead of just BEING.
The problem with society these days, especially in light of the global financial crisis is exactly that – IDENTITY, or rather the quest to find one in the things we do or own, or even what is registered on our identity card.
The fear that grips the whole world is the fear of losing, worrying about tomorrow instead of living for today.
We invest far too much – not just in stocks and shares – but in the THINGS we THINK define us – our jobs, our clothes, our age, our education, our RACE, how well travelled we are, the books we read, the social circles we schmooze in, our partners, our looks, our partner’s looks, the size of our cars, the size of our boobs (or pecs) and butts, our homes, our bank accounts, our age, our cellulite, our wrinkles and grey hair we try to hide..etc. Why are we so easily willing to invest millions of dollars in property but yet spend so little time and energy investing in our SELVES and appreciating our uniqueness?
it is sad that the idea of losing any of our possessions and wealth is rooted not so much in the fear of starving or the fear of losing the roof over our heads… BUT of losing our place in society, of losing face – and what racial features that face has.
If we lose what defines our social status – our names on title deeds or the title below our names stated on our business cards, the one that determines the level of “respect” we can command in this society, do we cease to exist?
Sure we all need to eat and pay our bills, but WHY are we driven towards wanting MORE and fearful of having less. Why isn’t what we have enough and why do we need to make comparisons in order to feel better about ourselves that things could be worse and then waste energy being envious of those we deem to have more?
there is NO shame in aspiring towards being better or possessing more; it is part of our natural growth and journey in this life. But placing our self worth in mere THINGS and other superficialities can only set ourselves up for downfall. How many people committed suicide in the last recession and during the Great Depression? and already, psychiatrists are expecting more clients on their couch.
When a friend is troubled, we often console them or even ourselves when we’re feeling low, by saying empathically, “things will get better SOON”. But why can’t we just live in the NOW and be OK with it – warts and all?
EVERYTHING is transient; the only thing constant is CHANGE. BUT if we WAIT for change, for things to get “better”, then happiness is a commodity we trade in for misery when things aren’t supposedly “better”. you can STILL be happy despite the myriad of obstacles or burdens you bear, as long as the happiness, security and fulfillment is not sought or vested in temporary things like your looks, other people or situations BUT discovered within your SELF.
I think now more than ever is the time to surrender attachments, especially when things were never meant to be permanent. millionaires have recently been made bankrupt and bankrupts can soon become millionaires, you’ll never know!
The only labels that should STICK are the ones you put on boxes when you start spring cleaning!
Its a beautiful time, people! The world may be in disarray and in economic turmoil but one thing’s for certain.. it’s moving towards a higher consciousness, increased self actualization and hopefully a greater appreciation for the simple things in life… and oooh watch out.. cos with globalization comes MORE Eurasians of undefinable heritage! hahah
So, I have an “identity crisis”…..
… and it’s ironically liberating.
SO…
Music, Musings & Me 
