Thursday, 4 June 2015

Multi-coloured Facets of A Little Red Dot

Sit alongside my bak kut the eating friends, while I savour my Nasi Padang from the stall run by the jovial Malay makcik. Celebrate Chinese New Year, Deepavali and Christmas in the homes of my kakis, and inviting them over to mine during Hari Raya. Witness an Indian uncle and a Chinese uncle “lim kopi” at the coffee shop downstairs and having an exchange in fluent Malay.

Uniquely Singaporean? Yes.


Proudly Singaporean? Heck, Yes! 


Often, we take for granted this thing called “racial and religious harmony” that we enjoy. We routinely say “regardless of race, language and religion” – without fully comprehending how precious that statement is. I bet like myself, many of you will not remember the turmoil that ensued following the 1960s racial riots, cos we didn’t have to live through it. To have to live in fear of your neighbors, of your fellow Singaporeans is simply unthinkable of today. 

At the recent 66th anniversary dinner of the Inter-Religious Organisation, PM Lee Hsien Loong said that it was “quite unrealistic” to assume that there should be “unfettered discussions or even criticisms and blasphemies on matters of race and religion”. PM Lee also said that “Singapore cannot afford to take its harmony for granted”.


Bonding activities, such as those organised by the People’s Association and its grassroots and through education and activities in schools, national holidays to foster racial harmony and to bring people of various races, religions and backgrounds through their common interest played an integral role then. And I believe they will continue to play a major role in our society. Without this move, one wonders if we’ll still be as chummy as we are with one another today. Needless to say, these programmes have helped us understand better the norms and the quirks of those that are not of the same race/culture as us.


I guess we can liken this “tolerance” that we have towards each other to paper – once crumpled, it can be straightened, but the creases caused by these “memories” will never be fully erased, no matter how hard we try. Now and again, it is good to remind ourselves to be mindful and tactful in our conversations and actions, both online and offline, while we enjoy and reap the benefits of a community that is racially and religiously harmonious. 


Let’s all do our part in preserving the peace for ourselves and for many generations to come. We are colour blind and proud!



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