Fault lines in Singapore Society

http://maos-corner.blogspot.com/2008/03/fault-lines-in-singapore-society.html

Recently there was a public outcry when the principal of Boon Lay Garden Primary School banned all non-halal food in the canteen, after a student took pork into the canteen for a sandwich-making session. The decision was reversed following the outcry.

Another incident worth mentioning was the one last year where a few bloggers got sued for posting racist articles and comments on their blog.

Both these incidents show that fault lines do exist between the different races and religions in Singapore, that race and religions are very sensitive topics here, and that the racial bonding is really not as robust as it seems.

Have you heard or made comments against the other races and religions, for example that Malays are lazy and that Indians are stupid? (I am a Chinese so I never get to know what is being said about the Chinese.) Do you bond more with those of the same race than with other races? Do you stereotype those of other races? It would certainly be unusual, if not downright odd, if your answer to these questions was no.

Personally, I have come across a lot of racist jokes and comments. I join in and laugh too, even though I know it is a show of social fragmentation and discrimination. You may accuse me of being hypocritical but I feel it has got more to do with the herd mentality – we follow the crowd. When everyone around you is telling racist jokes how can you resist the urge to join in, no matter what you feel about it?

Upon reflection, of course, I find doing such things particularly unsavoury. But then again, given a choice between upholding one’s ideals and risk being ostracized, what would you do?

So, what do we do about this? Do nothing and allow such fault lines to further widen, eventually fragmenting our society into different racial groups? Was the lesson of the 1963 race riots in vain? Must there be bloodshed in the streets again before we, the younger generation learns the lesson anew?

Some may argue that the 1963 race riots were caused by UMNO radicals spreading dissent, and that the lack of racial bonding had little to do with it. However, I must refute this in that the lack of understanding and communication between the races was the underlying factor for this. If the races had stood as one, the UMNO radicals could not have ignited such dissent that led to violence.

Evidently, something has to be done. As a mere one in the populace of four million there is nothing ground-shaking that I can do. What I can do is to encourage my friends to not be racist, and stay out of racist jokes myself. And so can you. Being one of a great many it may not seem that you are doing anything, but a society is made up of individuals, and one has to start at a personal level. In any case that is better than doing nothing.