This blog explores the need to embrace diversity and create harmony in our society.
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“We all should know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry,
and we must understand that all the threads of the tapestry
are equal in value no matter what their color.”
- Maya Angelou
"We have become not a melting pot but a beautiful mosaic.
Different people, different beliefs, different yearnings,
different hopes, different dreams."
- Jimmy Carter
"Variety is the spice of life."
- Proverb navigations on top. =)
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
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Importance of racial harmony authorname here
The MOE Racial Harmony logo is in the shape of a heart, representing both the brotherhood of Singaporeans and the deep emotional, visercal bond that we all share. Red is also the colour of passion and energy, representing how we as a country are moving forward and boldly embracing our challenges and future. This heart is also made up of four people, all joined together in a joyous embrace in a collective dance as they live in harmony. Where they have joined hands, there is a wonderful coming together of energy and efforts, and the yellow represents a bright light shining forth that illuminates our way and progress forward into the future.
What is social harmony all about?
What does social harmony means to you? Does social harmony means tolerating your Malay friends, or does it means to be able to accept the cultures of your Indian friends? Actually, social harmony is definitely more than this. Racial harmony is harmony between the races to maintain a good relationship between racial groups. It is to look beyond one another's differences, and strive to greater heights together hand in hand. This is very important for a multi-racial country like Singapore to ensure peaceful living here. If the different racial groups were to fight among themselves, a small country like Singapore will fall. Without peace, what will happen to all of us? Will Singapore still be able to survive as a nation?
Racial harmony is fundamental to our national well-being. Unless the different communities live harmoniously together, neither the majority nor minority communities will be able to prosper as they have done.
Once the social fabric is torn, it cannot easily be sewn together again. Racial harmony has been the distinguishing trait of Singaporean society since Independence. This is not because our social fabric is inherently stronger than other multi-racial societies, or that we are immune to such problems. It is because a great deal of hard work and care has gone into tending and strengthening it. It should not be taken for granted.
Singapore commemorate Racial Harmony Day on 21st July annually.
On this day in 1964, Singapore saw racial riots. Racial Harmony Day serves to remind everyone that social division costs us dearly and that race and religion are potential fault-lines in Singapore society.
It is a day for Singaporeans to reflect on, and celebrate our success as a harmonious nation and society built on a rich diversity of cultures and heritages.
Consequences when there is no social harmony
Clinton blasts racial violence following attack on black boy
Washington - Condemning the "savage, senseless" racial attack in Chicago that recently left a 13-year old black boy in a coma, US President Bill Clinton has urged all Americans to overcome the "constant curse" of racial divisions and "find kinship in our common humanity'.
'The divide of race has been America's constant curse," Mr. Clinton said. But he counseled that the nation's future "depends upon laying down, the bitter fruits of hatred and lifting up the rich texture of our diversity and our common humanity".
Lenard Clark and two friends were returning home on March 21 after playing basketball when they were attacked by three white teenagers, according to Chicago police. His head was rammed against a wall and he was felled by repeated kicks and punches that left him unconscious.
The three white teenagers have been arrested and charged with attempted murder.
"This kind of savage, senseless assault, driven by nothing but hate, strikes at the very heart of America's ideals and threatens the promise of our future, no matter which racial or ethnic identity of the attackers or the victims" Mr. Clinton said.
"We must stand together as a nation against all crimes of hate and say they are wrong. We must condemn hate crimes whenever they happen. We must commit ourselves to prevent them from happening again. And we must sow the seeds of harmony and respect among our people'
Mr. Clinton called on white Americans to recognize the reality that 'racism is not confined to acts of physical violence" but also includes the daily discrimination and indignities suffered by minorities, from bigoted remarks to discrimination in housing and at the work place.
But he also called on the African American community not to use the attack as an excuse to condemn all white Americans as racists. adapted from the Straits Times, 31 March 1997
From this article, we have seen how much damage can be done when there is no social harmony between races. How is it possible that some teenagers can attack another teenager just because he is of different color? This is insane! We are all human, why care about what race we belong to? Does it matter? After reading this, you might be wondering that "This is America and not Singapore, This kind of things won't happen here". If you think that way, then you must be warned. Similar events like this has happened before and there is no guarantee that it won't happen again. Read on.
Riots on Prophet Mohammed's Birthday
In July 1964, the whole of Singapore was talking about the relationship between Malaysia and Singapore. After Singapore had merged with Malaysia to form the federation of Malaysia, there had been much upset over this matter. Some felt that this merger was just not right. Although Singapore leaders were given a very warm welcome at Malaysia just about a year ago, the situation had changed drastically.
The papers accuse the Malay Communist parties and UMNO of being unhappy over the fact that the Singapore government, PAP, won them over by many seats in the September 1963 general elections. This was held just five days after Singapore had merged with Malaysia.
Later, on 12 July 1964, Umno Singapore held its convention with 123 Malay and Muslim organizations including UMNO's traditional opposition Malay parties. They met at the New Star Cinema in Pasir Panjang to express their displeasure over the fate of the Malays in Singapore. Here, main speaker Syed Ja'afar Albar gave inflammatory remarks about Lee Kuan Yew, which fanned the flames of the riot which took place on 21 July.
On that day, about 25,000 Malays gathered for a procession to mark Prophet Mohammed's birthday. Somewhere near the Kallang Gas Works, trouble broke out, sparking off clashes between Malays and Chinese. The condition was so serious that the whole island of Singapore was placed under curfew and the curfew was only lifted for a few hours every day to allow people to buy food. Even so, violence continued to rage through Singapore, and after a week, the death toll was 23 and 454 people were injured.
Later in September more riots broke out, leaving 13 dead and 106 people injured.
As you can see, what had happened was much worst than what we had read in the previous article. And this had happened in our own country, Singapore. Luckily, after all this had happened, the government has make sure that none of these would happen anymore. The penalty of rioting in Singapore is very serious. So, social harmony and racial harmony cannot be taken for granted. We must ensure that social and racial harmony preserve in Singapore.
Benefits of Social Harmony
What are the benefits of having a harmonious and cohesive society? Firstly, there is peace. When there is no riots, everyone would live happily . And as a result, the country can prosper. With different races working peacefully with one another, there would be economical stability and therefore, there would be wealth for the country and for everyone else. What a happy scenario! We can see the advantages of social harmony compared to when there is social disharmony.
Consequences of a disharmonious and an uncohesive society.
As we have seen earlier, when there is no social harmony, riots happened. Death results and there is no peace. People will live in fear, innocent people will be killed. Nobody would want to invest in the country and the country will become poor. Imagine this, would anyone want to come to a country where there is chaos all the time? When the country becomes poor, there will be no jobs available, and people will resort to stealing or worse. Worst still, war could even result within the country, increasing the death toll. We all hope that this scenario would never happen, but in reality, this can happen anytime, anywhere.
Finally, some here are some ways you can help ensure or preserve racial harmony and social cohesiveness in your country.
1) Be tolerant. You must be tolerant of the other's races habit or culture which brings us to the second point.
2) Share one another's culture. Explore the rich culture the other races has. Share your culture with your friends. Like Pocahontas once sang, "If you walk the footsteps of a stranger, you'll learn things you never knew..."
3) Finally, interact with other races. Don't always hang around with friends if your own races. Don't think that it is "uncool" to be seen with a Malay or Indian. The truth is, it is not! Mix around with people of other races. You can learn more interesting thing about their culture. Make friends without caring about what is their racial group!
Here's a video. Enjoy!
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
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Racial Harmony video (song) authorname here
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Diversity :) authorname here
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Friendship among different races :3 authorname here
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Building Community authorname here
SINGAPORE: Singapore's multi-religious, multi-racial and secular society is "not a weakness, but a strength", said Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean on Sunday at a community event organised by the chairmen of 69 mosques here.
And it is through our daily interactions with other races and faiths in schools, workplaces and housing estates that we "forge and strengthen this spirit of mutual understanding", said Mr Teo, who is also defence minister.
"We are fortunate that despite our many faiths and ethnic origins, we live, work and play as one nation," said Mr Teo in his speech to guests at the Blessings-To-All Day (BTA).
He noted how mosques have "gone beyond just providing for the religious needs of the Muslim residents, to reaching out to other residents in their neighbourhoods" by collaborating with organisations such as the Community Development Councils.
The BTA Day, held in conjunction with the Racial and Religious Harmony Month, was marked for the first time last year.
On Sunday, Mr Paiman Supangat, chairman of the BTA Day committee, also invited members of the public-individuals and groups keen on community bonding projects to apply for funding from the Rahmatan Lil Alamin Foundation. The foundation initiated by the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) was launched earlier this month, and project grants will range between S$2,000 and S$20,000.
A community outreach scheme called Befriender's Scheme @ MacPherson was also officially launched. In operation since last year, volunteers from the Wak Tanjong and Sallim Mattar mosques visit needy MacPherson households. Among other things, this scheme makes it easier for needy residents to renew the financial assistance received.
Where previously residents had to approach MUIS after approaching the mosque, the Befrienders can now prepare assistance applications to MUIS for them, Mr Zulkifli Sarmani, office manager of Sallim Mattar Mosque, said.
"For older folk, we try to extend financial assistance for just six months, to visit them more often," said Mr Zulkifli, whose mosque has 17 active Befrienders reaching out to 180 clients. "We're trying to recruit more volunteers so we can see them once a month."
Singapore's diverse, multi-racial society is a strength
Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean speaks of Singapore's multi-religious and secular society as a strength. He noted that, through daily interactions with people of different races and faiths at schools, workplaces and housing estates, the people of Singapore live, work and play as one nation.
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Racial Harmony in Singapore authorname here
People can be categorized in many ways, such as by gender, race, religion, ethnicity, language, income, age, or sexual orientation.Look around and you will see that our society is very diverse.cultural diversity brings together the resources and talents of many people for the shared benefit of all. Sadly, the differences among us have historically formed the basis of fear, bigotry, and even violence.multiculturalism advocates the idea that maintaining our different cultural identities can enrich us and our communities.diversity allows us to value our individual heritages and beliefs while respecting those of others.Lack of respect is often based on ignorance or misinformation. If you do not understand another's values, lifestyle, or beliefs, it is much easier to belittle them. And so the seeds of prejudice and intolerance are sown.
Monday, June 21, 2010
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The discrimination of Filipinos' in SG...
This is about fillipinos being discriminated in singapore. People should not look down on fillipinos just because most of them come and work in singapore as domestic workers. There are always different types of people in every country: rich and poor. There are also intellectuals fillipinos in singapore but they are looked down because they are *fillipinos*.
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Diversity in Britain's Got Talent authorname here
They're all from different walks of life but dance is what brings them together. "We're diverse...ages, race, heights, hairstyles..." says team leader Ashley!
This dance group is made up of different races, ages , styles and heights. They united together as one and produced a fantastic dance. This shows that unity is a very important thing in a place that has diversity.
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Avoid stereotyping! authorname here
This video shows us that we shouldn't make fun of Indians for the way they talk. Just because we have seen some Indians talk with an accent, we cannot say that all Indians talk the same way. In a place with diversity, understanding is necessary. Therefore, we would be able to understand each other and build a peaceful, successful country.