Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe “utopia” literally means “no place.”

Singapore is many things indeed, but a utopia where everything is fine and dandy it is most certainly not. We’ve paid (and continue to pay) a steep price for overall stability. If you prod below our summery surface (as I’m sure you did, U-Ming) you’ll find more than a few dead bodies buried beneath.

But as many Singaporeans would say, fuck it. We’re rich. I don’t know if I agree—I would certainly like a little bit more freedom of speech, among other things—but I have to admit that stability and wealth does bring with it a lot of benefits.