Singapore- A Fine City

When I was a kid, I would sometimes talk with friends about the heavy handed punishments for criminal acts in other countries. These days, rape victims being stoned to death for their "crimes" in some backwards corner of the globe are more in the forefront of my own, as well as the collective, consciousness. However, my 12 year old self didn't think of such heavy topics. Instead, we were concerned with stories about Singapore.

Back then, I heard through a friend, whose cousin's step-uncle did a semester in Singapore (I assure you that this was a reliable source), that in Singapore, if you steal something, they chop the hand off that you stole with (ouch!). I also heard that you can't chew gum (gasp!), and if you do, they cut your tongue off (double gasp!). I remember thinking what a weird place Singapore was - what a fanciful and far away place for a 12 year old in NW Chicago ...