So a Man Got Stabbed . . . What's Your Point?

This past Friday, November 14th, down in the financial district in broad daylight, something strange happened. A man was stabbed as part of a robbery attempt. The lone assailant was quickly captured and the Civil Defence [sic] Force called. After investigating, the police are charging the man with "armed robbery with hurt," an offense that according to an online news source could garner the man two to ten years in prison and a caning (Indonesian Man Charged Over Stabbing at Raffles Place). The man who was stabbed was taken to the hospital and has already been released. He also walked away with the $800,000 (yes, you read that right) that he was carrying that day. 

In Singapore, this story has been huge all over the internet and in the newspapers this week. Pictures of the incident, which are numerous, show droplets of blood splattered on the sidewalk, the knife laying on the ground, the victim with his blood-covered arm being assisted by good samaritans, and concerned bystanders milling about watching what went on. From all the coverage this episode has garnered, you would have thought it was a major world event, like the G20 summit or something. I suppose in a country where there's only 534 crimes (and that includes all kinds of crimes) per every 100,000 people (See article above), it's a pretty big deal. 

But then I got to thinking, why aren't these kind of things a big deal in America anymore? The day after the stabbing, my coworker and I were chatting about it. She said something to the effect of "In America, if someone tried to rob you, they'd get laughed at if they used a knife. They'd need a gun, at least." Ouch! What does that say about the society that I come from? I guess that's the thing - living in someone else culture certainly makes you take a step back and evaluate your own.