<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR>Timely reminder of fragile racial ties
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->SATURDAY'S Special Report, 'The Meaning of Tribe & Territory', offered fine insights into the fragmented racial and ethnic fault lines in some of the major parts of the world.
The reports were objective, balanced and took an approach other than the over-used 'us versus them' model. Instead they allowed us to take a hard look at the probable reasons that split people.
They were also a good reminder to our own country that race relations are more than skin-deep and have many other components that could either make or break fragile inter-racial/ethnic relationships.
Singapore has come a long way since the 1964 and 1969 racial riots and those born after those turbulent years, like myself, can never truly understand the harm bigotry can bring.
It would be ideal if we agree that race and ethnicity are highly sensitive issues and should always be given the highest priority in policy planning by the Government, and all citizens should do everything to maintain the peace we have enjoyed in the past 40 years.
This is all the more urgent now with the influx of new immigrants making a living on our shores.
Will assimilation work?
Perhaps.
Creation of enclaves?
That would certainly undo all our years of hard work building a multiracial community.
Lee Khum Thong
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->SATURDAY'S Special Report, 'The Meaning of Tribe & Territory', offered fine insights into the fragmented racial and ethnic fault lines in some of the major parts of the world.
The reports were objective, balanced and took an approach other than the over-used 'us versus them' model. Instead they allowed us to take a hard look at the probable reasons that split people.
They were also a good reminder to our own country that race relations are more than skin-deep and have many other components that could either make or break fragile inter-racial/ethnic relationships.
Singapore has come a long way since the 1964 and 1969 racial riots and those born after those turbulent years, like myself, can never truly understand the harm bigotry can bring.
It would be ideal if we agree that race and ethnicity are highly sensitive issues and should always be given the highest priority in policy planning by the Government, and all citizens should do everything to maintain the peace we have enjoyed in the past 40 years.
This is all the more urgent now with the influx of new immigrants making a living on our shores.
Will assimilation work?
Perhaps.
Creation of enclaves?
That would certainly undo all our years of hard work building a multiracial community.
Lee Khum Thong
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