<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR>Don't take hard-won harmony for granted
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->I WAS one of many who were privileged to attend the National Day Rally on Sunday night. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's speech in English was not only enthralling, but also peppered with humour.
On a more serious note, he cautioned that race and religion can be the most visceral and dangerous fault lines. I cannot help but agree with him. Although Singapore is blessed and continues to enjoy racial and religious harmony, we should not take this for granted.
The harmonious racial and religious relationship we enjoy was not a gift to Singapore on a silver platter. It was a prize fought for and won by the selfless efforts and sacrifices of Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew and his team of old guards. I know this at first hand because I served in the police force during the tumultuous 1960s.
My day was brightened yesterday morning when I caught sight of the photograph on the cover of The Straits Times of PM Lee shaking hands with Roman Catholic Archbishop Nicholas Chia, with leaders from other religions looking on. The photo was elating. I thanked God for blessing Singapore with so many good things and, in particular, racial and religious harmony.
Where else in the world can one see leaders of different religions cooperating amicably and in a true spirit for the good of the country? This is only in Singapore and it is made possible by good governance and the impartiality of the Government to all religions here.
God bless Singapore.
Lionel De Souza
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->I WAS one of many who were privileged to attend the National Day Rally on Sunday night. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's speech in English was not only enthralling, but also peppered with humour.
On a more serious note, he cautioned that race and religion can be the most visceral and dangerous fault lines. I cannot help but agree with him. Although Singapore is blessed and continues to enjoy racial and religious harmony, we should not take this for granted.
The harmonious racial and religious relationship we enjoy was not a gift to Singapore on a silver platter. It was a prize fought for and won by the selfless efforts and sacrifices of Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew and his team of old guards. I know this at first hand because I served in the police force during the tumultuous 1960s.
My day was brightened yesterday morning when I caught sight of the photograph on the cover of The Straits Times of PM Lee shaking hands with Roman Catholic Archbishop Nicholas Chia, with leaders from other religions looking on. The photo was elating. I thanked God for blessing Singapore with so many good things and, in particular, racial and religious harmony.
Where else in the world can one see leaders of different religions cooperating amicably and in a true spirit for the good of the country? This is only in Singapore and it is made possible by good governance and the impartiality of the Government to all religions here.
God bless Singapore.
Lionel De Souza
