Growing from our differences

To gain an understanding of practices by Muslims and their underlying significance, some non-Muslim members of the Young PAP and students from Special Assistance Plan schools visited some mosques on Hari Raya Haji.

　　The tour was also a clear signal of the willingness of the Chinese to get to know the customs and habits of other ethnic groups.

　　At a time when the importance of racial harmony has been stressed repeatedly, such a publicised visit may seem rather contrived. However, the message behind it is loud and clear： promoting mutual understanding and enhancing social cohesiveness.

　　With racial harmony having become an issue, any step forward, whether taken by SAP school students or anyone from a different ethnic group, will help foster mutual trust and understanding among different communities. Such a positive manifestation of racial unity will also help reduce inter-ethnic suspicion.

　　Children should be taught our ethnic diversity when they are young. They should learn to appreciate the distinctiveness of each ethnic community and grow up in an environment of mutual trust.

　　In our multiracial society, it is a must for everyone to recognise the need to live with our differences. As the majority, the Chinese must take the initiative in demonstrating the interest, sincerity and need to reach out to and get to know other communities.

　　In an atmosphere of mutual acceptance, we will come to view our differences in habits or even outlook of life as natural. This will consolidate the foundation of our multiracial society.

　　On the other hand, playing down ethnic differences and creating a false sense of racial unity is impractical and worse still, risky.

　　It is unhealthy not to face up to the reality that different ethnic groups may not have an adequate understanding of each other, and sweep any ill feelings or misunderstandings under the carpet.

　　If we do not have a good understanding of other races, it is perhaps time to re-examine our attitude. We should acknowledge our differences and be comfortable with them.

　　It is futile to advocate ethnic harmony when each group shuts the other out from its inner world. This will create faultlines that are not immediately apparent, but will decide the fate of our nation when it comes to the crunch.

　　Each ethnic group has its own history, culture, values and moral standards. Just highlighting the common ground will not make these differences disappear. The beliefs, customs, and habits of our diverse communities will not vanish either because of some general and shared values that are supposed to transcend ethnicity.

　　For any fruitful understanding to take place, the correct starting point is to recognise and maintain our distinctiveness that cannot be compromised.

　　Our ethnic and cultural diversity is no doubt the envy of many countries. Yet we must be aware of the need to keep treading cautiously in managing inter-racial relations.

　　We must also always be ready for open and honest communications. This is a basic attitude that will ensure our multiracial society will continue to thrive.

　　At the same time, we would do well to remind ourselves that over-insistence on any particular stand, misconceptions that are not clarified and allowed to fester, turning a blind eye to divisive forces, and an attitude of exclusion, are all obstacles to racial harmony.

　　（The writer is a leader writer with Lianhe Zaobao.Translated by Yap Gee Poh.）

　　在彼此的不同中成长● 蔡深江

　　行动党青年团团员和特选学校学生等非回教徒,在哈芝节集体到回教堂了解回教精神和仪式背后的意义,明确传达了华族子弟主动接触他族风俗礼仪的积极做法。

　　虽然在强调族群融洽的时刻,这么“昭示天下”式的表达方式也许稍嫌刻意,释出的却是明白而且正面的信息：促进彼此的了解,加强社区凝聚力。

　　不同种族的人在一起捞鱼生。

　　正当族群融洽成为课题,不论是特选学校的学生,或是其他社群的成员愿意跨前一步,增进族群的互信和理解,不但有助减少彼此的猜疑情绪,也能体现种族和谐的积极意义。

　　我们应该在孩子小的时候灌输族群意识,进而认识彼此的不同,并在理解的过程中学习互相尊重,共同成长。从彼此的不同中认识到共生共存的精神,是多元种族社会必须经营的模式。

　　在社会人口结构中占大多数的华族社群更必须主动展现互相了解的兴趣、诚意和需要。在彼此接受的环境中自然而然领会生活习惯的不同,甚至是看待生命的各种不同态度,多元社会的基础才会扎实、稳定。

　　反过来说,尽量美化族群之间的差异,不切实际地制造族群和平共处的假象是危险的。

　　如果对其他族群的理解不足,甚至是缺乏互相了解的基础,却害怕面对现实而不愿正视欠缺的理解,对种种芥蒂、误会加以掩饰、模糊,肯定是不健康的心态。

　　对他族的不够了解,正是重新自我审视族群心态的时候。我们应该承认,并坦然面对彼此的不同,才是打破迷思的正确心态。

　　一方面高呼族群融洽,另一方面拒绝敞开心胸让他族走入彼此的世界,将造成更深刻却不一定马上显现的裂缝,最终经不起考验的是国家的命运。

　　族群之间原本就隔着源远悠久的不同文化背景、价值观念和道德形成方式。为了国家社会的融洽和谐,只强调彼此的共同价值体系,并不能消除与生俱来的差异,而不同民族习俗、信仰和种种价值标准,更不可能因为冠上共同而广泛的更高名义,就会消失于无形。

　　因此,从确认彼此的不同出发,并维持这种无法妥协的不同,才是理解的开始。

　　新加坡的多元种族色彩和多元文化风格固然是其他国家和地区的人民所羡慕的,我们仍须承认,在维系族群融洽的道路上,战战兢兢的心理,无时无刻的努力和脚踏实地、开诚布公的沟通,才是确保多元种族社会繁荣成长的基本态度。

　　与此同时,过度强调的立场,积累的误解,视而不见的分化,以及狭隘的排他心理,都是导致族群失和的点滴障碍。