khaosworks | On the radio

On the way to work today, the morning show was on the taxi's radio, and a young girl, Malay from the sound of her name, was asked what her thoughts were that morning. She hesitated at first, but the DJ prompted her on. She then went into how she thought that the US deserved what was happening because of all their interference in other countries' affairs, particularly in the Middle East. She also said that people talk of the innocent lives lost, but what about the innocent people and babies and lives killed by the US in other countries. The DJ wrapped it up pretty quickly and went on, probably regretting that he had asked her to speak her mind.

What appalls me is that this level of ignorance should exist in Singapore, of all places, a place with strong ties to the West, and not exactly completely sequestered from world affairs. I joke about the state of education and lack of awareness in the young these days (at the ripe old age of 31 that I am... why, in my day...), but this is the first time I've actually wanted to reach into the ether and throttle someone for their stupidity.

I wonder how widespread this feeling that the US "deserved it" is, and whether it's only limited to the Muslims. I worry. I really do.