In the midst of depressingly troubling times in the United States, one American is ruminating about what went wrong in his home country, while taking time to cherish his newly adopted one.
Jon Paul Dante, a Boston native who’s been a Section Principal Trumpet of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra since 2013, took to Facebook last Friday to reflect on what he observed to be one of the best things about Singapore: People of all ethnicities and religions living peacefully side by side. This, after he saw hundreds of Malay Muslims spilling out onto the pavements to perform their Friday prayers just below apartments where Chinese families were celebrating their Lunar New Year festivities.
“Everyday, Singapore is putting on a racial and religious integration masterclass for the whole world to see,” he wrote, expressing conflicting emotions about his homeland. Heartbroken over the state of things in America, Dante lamented how the US appeared to no longer be the admirable country it was supposed to be. Considering the ongoing issues of gun control, incompetent leaders, and the rise of white nationalists there, Singapore seems utopian in comparison (despite being boring AF, sure).
“In Singapore, a place that I ended up living in nearly completely by accident, I am honestly living my dreams, both on and offstage,” he wrote.
The post can no longer be seen on his Facebook page, but here’s a reproduction of his message below:
“Malay Muslims at Friday prayer time just below apartments where joyous Chinese New Year celebrations are taking place throughout Singapore.
Once again, I have conflicting emotions of humility and immense gratitude for where I am so lucky to be living in the world right now, versus a deep feeling of disgust and heartbreak for the country from which I am from.
After all, America is supposed to be a country of immigrants; multiracial and multicultural where everyone is living in harmony.
America is supposed to support freedom of religion.
America is supposed to be the place where, with hard work, you can make your dreams come true.
America is supposed to be the place where mutual respect and compassion for one another is fundamental.
America is supposed to be where the government is supposed to be elected for the people by the people.
America is where anyone from anywhere is supposed to feel safe.
America is where I grew up being taught to love my brothers and sisters regardless of race, color or Creed.
America was where I was taught to say ‘please’ & ‘thank you’
America was a place where people held doors for one another, and young people were taught to respect their elders.
Sadly, it doesn’t appear to be any of these things anymore.
But yet, here I am in Singapore, exactly half a world away from America, experiencing all of these things on a daily basis. Everyday, Singapore is putting on a racial & religious integration masterclass for the whole world to see.
Singapore. A country only 446 square miles (1/4 the size of Rhode Island) with nearly 6 million people of all ethnicities and religions living and working peacefully side by side. And with zero gun and drug crime due to zero tolerance enforcement policies and mandatory death penalties for first offenders.
In Singapore, a place that I ended up living in nearly completely by accident, I am honestly living my dreams, both on and offstage.
I believe I may be the luckiest man on earth.
Thank you Singapore.”
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