THE REALITY： bonds between the different races here exist. Another reality： fault lines exist too.
These realities create a dilemma for the Government. While the Government aspires for a more integrated Singaporean Singapore, it also realises that attempts to bring communities together quicker than they are ready to will only generate resentment, resistance and further entrench divisions.
Even though Singapore has made progress in racial integration, there are still quarters in the different groups which do not want to be forced together and risk losing their distinct characteristics.
A small elite which aired their views in Feedback Unit and Singapore 21 dialogues, however, feel that the Government could do more to speed up the process of racial integration and strengthen understanding between them.
I think the Government can only do so much. It can help protect and promote the different cultures but to play the leading role in bringing about greater integration among the races is a risky task. As long as sensitivities and differences exist, the Government has to tread the safe path.
Also, the capacity of the Government in promoting multi-culturalism is limited by the people's ability to help themselves understand one another.
Fault lines will always be there whether between the different races or within a race. There will always be differences even if we share the same skin colour and belief. It is a reality that differences in opinions have led to quarrels, leadership struggles and even fights within a race, a religion, a religious institution, a clan or a family.
That's because we are all individuals. There will always be differences of opinions as each one of us are at different stages of discovering, learning and understanding. Once a person has formed an opinion about a certain thing, he will not like to change his opinion even if there is everything to dispose it.
The ability to learn another's culture or religion does not guarantee good human behaviour, mutual understanding and peace. It is because of awareness and intolerance of religious differences that wars break out.
Apart from religion, the other main cause of civil unrest and war is economics. There will always be friction if people only live for themselves and unwilling for his neighbour and enemy to prosper or share in the prosperity. There will always be disharmony as long as there are individuals who harbour animosity, hate or jealousy.
What's essential for harmony is to rise above one's self-righteousness, selfish needs and ego to create mutual trust, respect, help and love in all relationships.
I'm fortunate to have certain good friends who come from different races and faiths. It was genuine feelings for one another and not a keen understanding of each other's religious practices that have brought us together. We do not impose our beliefs on one another but focus on the quality of our friendship instead.
When one of them, a Protestant Christian, fell ill, she was quite touched when two other friends —— a Roman Catholic and a Hindu —— prayed for her at their respective places of worship. She accepted their concern graciously without questioning their religious practices.
I also have acquaintances who insist that their beliefs are the only right ones. It's a dilemma for me when I have to decide whether to include such people in my social gatherings. There are some who share the same faith but their differences in worshipping style are reasons for not wanting to come close to one another.
I wish that those with a better-and-holier-than-thou attitude should focus on loving others instead of arguing that their doctrines are right.
It's therefore more important to teach the young of each generation tolerance and respect for other's viewpoint first than multi-culturalism. They should be taught how, as groups and individuals, to be responsible in bringing about better and harmonious conditions for Singapore. When all of them share this as their main goal, differences can become less worrying.
（The writer is Assistant Manager of Corporate Relations, SPH）
共同目標可縮小分歧
本地各種族之間互相溝通,這是事實；種族之間存在裂痕,這也是事實。兩方面的事實使政府左右為難：既希望締造一個全民融洽無間的新加坡,又認識到,如果超越各族群的意愿而令其快速融合,則足以引發(fā)怨恨、抗拒而加深彼此的疏離。
盡管新加坡的種族融合已取得進展,各族群中仍有部分人不愿勉強同化,以免喪失自身的特性。在民意組以及新加坡21遠景的幾次對話會上,有少數(shù)精英人士提出,政府還應多加努力,以加速種族融合,增進各族間相互了解。
筆者卻認為,政府只能協(xié)助各族群保存并發(fā)揚各自的文化；試圖去主導種族間同化的進程,是要冒風險的。只要敏感問題仍在,歧異仍在,則政府只能步步為營,謹慎為要。
此外,政府推行多元文化的能力如何,也須看人們能否主動去彼此了解。無論是種族之間,或是在種族內部,裂痕總是存在的；盡管膚色相同、信仰一致,也還不免有分歧。事實證明,即使在同一族群內,信奉同一宗教、屬于同一宗教機構、同姓同宗、一家之內,都可能由于意見分歧而導致言語沖突、爭權奪位乃至大打出手。
原因在于人皆為個體,在認識、學習、領悟等方面的層次各有差別,因此意見分歧便永遠存在。人對某一事物的看法一旦形成便不樂意改變,盡管事事表明那看法非改不可。
能夠了解他人的文化或宗教,也不能保障相互間行為舉止合宜,彼此諒解,和平相處。戰(zhàn)爭就有因人們宗教意識不同、互不容忍而爆發(fā)者。
宗教之外,社會動蕩及戰(zhàn)爭的一大起因便是經(jīng)濟。有人生活唯我獨好,容不得鄰人、仇人也過上好日子,不許人分享繁榮,于是摩擦沖突便無了期。只要有人常懷怨恨、妒忌之心,便永遠會有不和諧發(fā)生。
要達致和諧,最重要的是摒棄唯我正確的心態(tài),去除自私自利、自高自大,才能建立起互信互尊、互助互愛的關系。
筆者有幸,有幾位好朋友是種族不同、宗教信仰不同的,彼此交往純然出于感情,而不是因為對各自的宗教習俗有何深入了解。朋友之間唯以友誼為重,不將自己的信仰強加于人。其中一位新教徒生病時,有兩位分別信奉天主教、興都教的朋友,各自在天主教堂、興都廟里為她祈禱。病人深受感動,同時也欣然領受朋友的關懷,并不以其宗教習俗不同為忤。
筆者另有幾位熟人是堅信唯有自己的信仰才是正確的。舉行社交聚會,這樣的人請也不是,不請也不是,令我煞費周章。還有幾位雖屬同一宗教,禮拜的方式卻有所出入,也成了彼此不愿碰頭的理由。
那些持“唯我正教、唯我虔誠”心態(tài)的人,筆者真希望他們不要把心思放在爭辯自己的教條如何純正,而是專注于愛他人。
因此,要推行多元文化,首先更重要的是教育年青一代寬容、尊重他人的觀點；教育他們無論是作為群體或作為個人,都有責任為新加坡創(chuàng)造更美好和諧的環(huán)境。只要人人以此為共同目標,那么即使歧見仍在,也不足為慮了。
These realities create a dilemma for the Government. While the Government aspires for a more integrated Singaporean Singapore, it also realises that attempts to bring communities together quicker than they are ready to will only generate resentment, resistance and further entrench divisions.
Even though Singapore has made progress in racial integration, there are still quarters in the different groups which do not want to be forced together and risk losing their distinct characteristics.
A small elite which aired their views in Feedback Unit and Singapore 21 dialogues, however, feel that the Government could do more to speed up the process of racial integration and strengthen understanding between them.
I think the Government can only do so much. It can help protect and promote the different cultures but to play the leading role in bringing about greater integration among the races is a risky task. As long as sensitivities and differences exist, the Government has to tread the safe path.
Also, the capacity of the Government in promoting multi-culturalism is limited by the people's ability to help themselves understand one another.
Fault lines will always be there whether between the different races or within a race. There will always be differences even if we share the same skin colour and belief. It is a reality that differences in opinions have led to quarrels, leadership struggles and even fights within a race, a religion, a religious institution, a clan or a family.
That's because we are all individuals. There will always be differences of opinions as each one of us are at different stages of discovering, learning and understanding. Once a person has formed an opinion about a certain thing, he will not like to change his opinion even if there is everything to dispose it.
The ability to learn another's culture or religion does not guarantee good human behaviour, mutual understanding and peace. It is because of awareness and intolerance of religious differences that wars break out.
Apart from religion, the other main cause of civil unrest and war is economics. There will always be friction if people only live for themselves and unwilling for his neighbour and enemy to prosper or share in the prosperity. There will always be disharmony as long as there are individuals who harbour animosity, hate or jealousy.
What's essential for harmony is to rise above one's self-righteousness, selfish needs and ego to create mutual trust, respect, help and love in all relationships.
I'm fortunate to have certain good friends who come from different races and faiths. It was genuine feelings for one another and not a keen understanding of each other's religious practices that have brought us together. We do not impose our beliefs on one another but focus on the quality of our friendship instead.
When one of them, a Protestant Christian, fell ill, she was quite touched when two other friends —— a Roman Catholic and a Hindu —— prayed for her at their respective places of worship. She accepted their concern graciously without questioning their religious practices.
I also have acquaintances who insist that their beliefs are the only right ones. It's a dilemma for me when I have to decide whether to include such people in my social gatherings. There are some who share the same faith but their differences in worshipping style are reasons for not wanting to come close to one another.
I wish that those with a better-and-holier-than-thou attitude should focus on loving others instead of arguing that their doctrines are right.
It's therefore more important to teach the young of each generation tolerance and respect for other's viewpoint first than multi-culturalism. They should be taught how, as groups and individuals, to be responsible in bringing about better and harmonious conditions for Singapore. When all of them share this as their main goal, differences can become less worrying.
（The writer is Assistant Manager of Corporate Relations, SPH）
共同目標可縮小分歧
本地各種族之間互相溝通,這是事實；種族之間存在裂痕,這也是事實。兩方面的事實使政府左右為難：既希望締造一個全民融洽無間的新加坡,又認識到,如果超越各族群的意愿而令其快速融合,則足以引發(fā)怨恨、抗拒而加深彼此的疏離。
盡管新加坡的種族融合已取得進展,各族群中仍有部分人不愿勉強同化,以免喪失自身的特性。在民意組以及新加坡21遠景的幾次對話會上,有少數(shù)精英人士提出,政府還應多加努力,以加速種族融合,增進各族間相互了解。
筆者卻認為,政府只能協(xié)助各族群保存并發(fā)揚各自的文化；試圖去主導種族間同化的進程,是要冒風險的。只要敏感問題仍在,歧異仍在,則政府只能步步為營,謹慎為要。
此外,政府推行多元文化的能力如何,也須看人們能否主動去彼此了解。無論是種族之間,或是在種族內部,裂痕總是存在的；盡管膚色相同、信仰一致,也還不免有分歧。事實證明,即使在同一族群內,信奉同一宗教、屬于同一宗教機構、同姓同宗、一家之內,都可能由于意見分歧而導致言語沖突、爭權奪位乃至大打出手。
原因在于人皆為個體,在認識、學習、領悟等方面的層次各有差別,因此意見分歧便永遠存在。人對某一事物的看法一旦形成便不樂意改變,盡管事事表明那看法非改不可。
能夠了解他人的文化或宗教,也不能保障相互間行為舉止合宜,彼此諒解,和平相處。戰(zhàn)爭就有因人們宗教意識不同、互不容忍而爆發(fā)者。
宗教之外,社會動蕩及戰(zhàn)爭的一大起因便是經(jīng)濟。有人生活唯我獨好,容不得鄰人、仇人也過上好日子,不許人分享繁榮,于是摩擦沖突便無了期。只要有人常懷怨恨、妒忌之心,便永遠會有不和諧發(fā)生。
要達致和諧,最重要的是摒棄唯我正確的心態(tài),去除自私自利、自高自大,才能建立起互信互尊、互助互愛的關系。
筆者有幸,有幾位好朋友是種族不同、宗教信仰不同的,彼此交往純然出于感情,而不是因為對各自的宗教習俗有何深入了解。朋友之間唯以友誼為重,不將自己的信仰強加于人。其中一位新教徒生病時,有兩位分別信奉天主教、興都教的朋友,各自在天主教堂、興都廟里為她祈禱。病人深受感動,同時也欣然領受朋友的關懷,并不以其宗教習俗不同為忤。
筆者另有幾位熟人是堅信唯有自己的信仰才是正確的。舉行社交聚會,這樣的人請也不是,不請也不是,令我煞費周章。還有幾位雖屬同一宗教,禮拜的方式卻有所出入,也成了彼此不愿碰頭的理由。
那些持“唯我正教、唯我虔誠”心態(tài)的人,筆者真希望他們不要把心思放在爭辯自己的教條如何純正,而是專注于愛他人。
因此,要推行多元文化,首先更重要的是教育年青一代寬容、尊重他人的觀點；教育他們無論是作為群體或作為個人,都有責任為新加坡創(chuàng)造更美好和諧的環(huán)境。只要人人以此為共同目標,那么即使歧見仍在,也不足為慮了。