Minister for the Environment Mr Lim Swee Say officiated at the opening of the Chinese Cultural Festival 2002 on March 1. Here is an excerpt of his speech.
Culture will never remain static. As society and times change, so will cultural development. Changes in domestic and regional environments and a faster pace of living will continue to shape our mindset and thinking.
Cultural development must therefore keep abreast with the new environment that we face. However, economic development and social cohesion will remain our two pillars for prosperity and stability. Cultural development is an important element for building a cohesive society and a vibrant cultural environment will contribute to our economic development.
Here, I would like to highlight three challenges in the process of development of cultural traditions.
First, in a globalised and knowledge-based economy, Singaporeans are inevitably affected by new trends and materialism. Under such circumstances, if we seek success blindly, we may end up drifting with the tide in a borderless global village.
We must therefore constantly strengthen our traditional values and virtues of various ethnic communities and avoid becoming “rootless duckweeds”。
The second challenge is that, in this New Economy, economic competitiveness hinges on people‘s innovation and imagination. Some people may say that traditional Chinese culture will clash with an innovative society that we are pursuing. I beg to disagree with such a view.
For I believe that Chinese culture and traditions do not advocate pedantry or preserving the sacred cows. On the contrary, they attach importance to education and encourage constant learning and thinking.
The third challenge concerns strengthening our sense of national identity. We are now encouraging all Singaporeans to participate in the reshaping of Singapore.
All citizens have a duty to the country. Every Singaporean should care about national affairs, come forward to take part, voice their views and opinions in a responsible manner and, at the same time, accept and accommodate others' views with an open mind. This way, we will be able to enhance people‘s sense of participation in nation building, as well as their sense of national identity and sense of pride.
Of course, in a multi-racial society, we must not only promote cultural development, but also stress the need for social harmony. It has been the Confucian philosophy to accommodate divergent views. All ethnic cultures have different unique practices, but they also share a common goal of doing good.
In promoting its own culture, all communities should try to enlarge our common space. In other words, all communities should bear in mind that, as Singaporeans, we should all work for the common goal while preserving our small differences.
In short, the promotion of traditional culture in our multi-racial country, which is being reshaped, is not only a tradition but is also a mission.
I believe that as long as we have a solid cultural foundation and as long as we cherish the spirit of unity amidst diversity, the various communities in Singapore will be able to create a vibrant economy, a cohesive society and a resilient new Singapore in a turbulent, fast-changing world.
文化傳統(tǒng)發(fā)展過程的三大挑戰(zhàn)環(huán)境發(fā)展部長(zhǎng)林瑞生在3月1日為華族文化節(jié)2002主持開幕,以下是他致詞的摘要。
文化并不是定型的,也絕不是一成不變的。隨著社會(huì)和時(shí)勢(shì)的改變,文化也相應(yīng)的在演變。國(guó)內(nèi)和區(qū)域大環(huán)境的轉(zhuǎn)變,以及快速的生活步伐,將繼續(xù)影響著我們的心態(tài)和思路。
華族文化注重個(gè)人修身養(yǎng)性。
文化的發(fā)展,必須迎合我們所面對(duì)的新環(huán)境。不過,經(jīng)濟(jì)發(fā)展與社會(huì)凝聚力,始終是維持國(guó)家繁榮與穩(wěn)定的兩大支柱,而文化事業(yè)的推動(dòng),正是凝聚社會(huì)的重要元素之一。同時(shí),文化蓬勃發(fā)展也可以為經(jīng)濟(jì)的繁榮進(jìn)步作出貢獻(xiàn)。
在這里,我要提出文化傳統(tǒng)在發(fā)展的過程中所面對(duì)的三個(gè)挑戰(zhàn)。
首先,在環(huán)球化和知識(shí)經(jīng)濟(jì)體系里,國(guó)人難免受到新潮流和物質(zhì)主義的影響。在這種情況下,如果我們一味盲目的追求成就,我們可能在這一個(gè)沒有國(guó)界的環(huán)球村里隨波逐流。
因此,我們必須不斷地加強(qiáng)和鞏固各族群的傳統(tǒng)價(jià)值觀和美德,以避免成為“無根的浮萍”。
其次,在新經(jīng)濟(jì)體系里,經(jīng)濟(jì)的競(jìng)爭(zhēng)力取決于人民的創(chuàng)意和想像力?？赡?有些人認(rèn)為,華族傳統(tǒng)文化和我們要追求的、富有創(chuàng)意的社會(huì),是有沖突的。對(duì)這種論調(diào),我不以為然。
因?yàn)?傳統(tǒng)華族文化并不提倡“食古不化”、“墨守成規(guī)”。相反,華族文化傳統(tǒng)不但注重教育,而且在個(gè)人修身養(yǎng)性方面,鼓勵(lì)我們不斷學(xué)習(xí),不斷思考。
第三個(gè)挑戰(zhàn)是有關(guān)于加強(qiáng)我們的國(guó)家意識(shí)。現(xiàn)在,我國(guó)正在鼓勵(lì)國(guó)人積極參與國(guó)家建設(shè),改造新加坡。
所謂“國(guó)家興亡,匹夫有責(zé)”,如果每一個(gè)新加坡人都抱著這個(gè)信念,關(guān)心和參與國(guó)事,以負(fù)責(zé)任的態(tài)度來提出意見和看法,同時(shí)也虛心接納和包容別人所提出的意見,我們就能加強(qiáng)國(guó)人在建國(guó)大業(yè)的參與感、認(rèn)同感和為國(guó)服務(wù)的自豪感。
當(dāng)然,在一個(gè)多元種族的社會(huì)里,我們必須推動(dòng)文化發(fā)展、更必須強(qiáng)調(diào)和諧共存。正如儒家所說的“君子和而不同,小人同而不和”。每個(gè)族群的文化,雖有不同和獨(dú)特的習(xí)俗,卻有共通的做人宗旨。
因此,各族群在發(fā)揚(yáng)其文化傳統(tǒng)的同時(shí),也必須盡量爭(zhēng)取擴(kuò)大彼此的共同空間。也就是說,我們各族群都必須牢記,身為新加坡人,我們應(yīng)該抱著“求大同,存小異”的精神,尋求共同的目標(biāo)和理想,一齊來實(shí)現(xiàn)未來的新加坡。
總而言之,使傳統(tǒng)文化能夠繼續(xù)發(fā)揚(yáng)光大,對(duì)我們這個(gè)在轉(zhuǎn)型中的多元種族國(guó)家,不只是一種傳統(tǒng),更是一種使命。
我深信,只要有深厚的文化傳統(tǒng)為基礎(chǔ),我國(guó)的各族同胞是可以在這動(dòng)蕩不安,急速變遷的新世界里,本著“不同而合”的建國(guó)精神,一起打造出一個(gè),不單是有活力的經(jīng)濟(jì)、有凝聚力的社會(huì),而且是個(gè)更有彈力的“新新加坡”。
Culture will never remain static. As society and times change, so will cultural development. Changes in domestic and regional environments and a faster pace of living will continue to shape our mindset and thinking.
Cultural development must therefore keep abreast with the new environment that we face. However, economic development and social cohesion will remain our two pillars for prosperity and stability. Cultural development is an important element for building a cohesive society and a vibrant cultural environment will contribute to our economic development.
Here, I would like to highlight three challenges in the process of development of cultural traditions.
First, in a globalised and knowledge-based economy, Singaporeans are inevitably affected by new trends and materialism. Under such circumstances, if we seek success blindly, we may end up drifting with the tide in a borderless global village.
We must therefore constantly strengthen our traditional values and virtues of various ethnic communities and avoid becoming “rootless duckweeds”。
The second challenge is that, in this New Economy, economic competitiveness hinges on people‘s innovation and imagination. Some people may say that traditional Chinese culture will clash with an innovative society that we are pursuing. I beg to disagree with such a view.
For I believe that Chinese culture and traditions do not advocate pedantry or preserving the sacred cows. On the contrary, they attach importance to education and encourage constant learning and thinking.
The third challenge concerns strengthening our sense of national identity. We are now encouraging all Singaporeans to participate in the reshaping of Singapore.
All citizens have a duty to the country. Every Singaporean should care about national affairs, come forward to take part, voice their views and opinions in a responsible manner and, at the same time, accept and accommodate others' views with an open mind. This way, we will be able to enhance people‘s sense of participation in nation building, as well as their sense of national identity and sense of pride.
Of course, in a multi-racial society, we must not only promote cultural development, but also stress the need for social harmony. It has been the Confucian philosophy to accommodate divergent views. All ethnic cultures have different unique practices, but they also share a common goal of doing good.
In promoting its own culture, all communities should try to enlarge our common space. In other words, all communities should bear in mind that, as Singaporeans, we should all work for the common goal while preserving our small differences.
In short, the promotion of traditional culture in our multi-racial country, which is being reshaped, is not only a tradition but is also a mission.
I believe that as long as we have a solid cultural foundation and as long as we cherish the spirit of unity amidst diversity, the various communities in Singapore will be able to create a vibrant economy, a cohesive society and a resilient new Singapore in a turbulent, fast-changing world.
文化傳統(tǒng)發(fā)展過程的三大挑戰(zhàn)環(huán)境發(fā)展部長(zhǎng)林瑞生在3月1日為華族文化節(jié)2002主持開幕,以下是他致詞的摘要。
文化并不是定型的,也絕不是一成不變的。隨著社會(huì)和時(shí)勢(shì)的改變,文化也相應(yīng)的在演變。國(guó)內(nèi)和區(qū)域大環(huán)境的轉(zhuǎn)變,以及快速的生活步伐,將繼續(xù)影響著我們的心態(tài)和思路。
華族文化注重個(gè)人修身養(yǎng)性。
文化的發(fā)展,必須迎合我們所面對(duì)的新環(huán)境。不過,經(jīng)濟(jì)發(fā)展與社會(huì)凝聚力,始終是維持國(guó)家繁榮與穩(wěn)定的兩大支柱,而文化事業(yè)的推動(dòng),正是凝聚社會(huì)的重要元素之一。同時(shí),文化蓬勃發(fā)展也可以為經(jīng)濟(jì)的繁榮進(jìn)步作出貢獻(xiàn)。
在這里,我要提出文化傳統(tǒng)在發(fā)展的過程中所面對(duì)的三個(gè)挑戰(zhàn)。
首先,在環(huán)球化和知識(shí)經(jīng)濟(jì)體系里,國(guó)人難免受到新潮流和物質(zhì)主義的影響。在這種情況下,如果我們一味盲目的追求成就,我們可能在這一個(gè)沒有國(guó)界的環(huán)球村里隨波逐流。
因此,我們必須不斷地加強(qiáng)和鞏固各族群的傳統(tǒng)價(jià)值觀和美德,以避免成為“無根的浮萍”。
其次,在新經(jīng)濟(jì)體系里,經(jīng)濟(jì)的競(jìng)爭(zhēng)力取決于人民的創(chuàng)意和想像力?？赡?有些人認(rèn)為,華族傳統(tǒng)文化和我們要追求的、富有創(chuàng)意的社會(huì),是有沖突的。對(duì)這種論調(diào),我不以為然。
因?yàn)?傳統(tǒng)華族文化并不提倡“食古不化”、“墨守成規(guī)”。相反,華族文化傳統(tǒng)不但注重教育,而且在個(gè)人修身養(yǎng)性方面,鼓勵(lì)我們不斷學(xué)習(xí),不斷思考。
第三個(gè)挑戰(zhàn)是有關(guān)于加強(qiáng)我們的國(guó)家意識(shí)。現(xiàn)在,我國(guó)正在鼓勵(lì)國(guó)人積極參與國(guó)家建設(shè),改造新加坡。
所謂“國(guó)家興亡,匹夫有責(zé)”,如果每一個(gè)新加坡人都抱著這個(gè)信念,關(guān)心和參與國(guó)事,以負(fù)責(zé)任的態(tài)度來提出意見和看法,同時(shí)也虛心接納和包容別人所提出的意見,我們就能加強(qiáng)國(guó)人在建國(guó)大業(yè)的參與感、認(rèn)同感和為國(guó)服務(wù)的自豪感。
當(dāng)然,在一個(gè)多元種族的社會(huì)里,我們必須推動(dòng)文化發(fā)展、更必須強(qiáng)調(diào)和諧共存。正如儒家所說的“君子和而不同,小人同而不和”。每個(gè)族群的文化,雖有不同和獨(dú)特的習(xí)俗,卻有共通的做人宗旨。
因此,各族群在發(fā)揚(yáng)其文化傳統(tǒng)的同時(shí),也必須盡量爭(zhēng)取擴(kuò)大彼此的共同空間。也就是說,我們各族群都必須牢記,身為新加坡人,我們應(yīng)該抱著“求大同,存小異”的精神,尋求共同的目標(biāo)和理想,一齊來實(shí)現(xiàn)未來的新加坡。
總而言之,使傳統(tǒng)文化能夠繼續(xù)發(fā)揚(yáng)光大,對(duì)我們這個(gè)在轉(zhuǎn)型中的多元種族國(guó)家,不只是一種傳統(tǒng),更是一種使命。
我深信,只要有深厚的文化傳統(tǒng)為基礎(chǔ),我國(guó)的各族同胞是可以在這動(dòng)蕩不安,急速變遷的新世界里,本著“不同而合”的建國(guó)精神,一起打造出一個(gè),不單是有活力的經(jīng)濟(jì)、有凝聚力的社會(huì),而且是個(gè)更有彈力的“新新加坡”。