As the world is moving towards the Global Village era, with freer movements of people and instant communications between countries, more of the hitherto homogeneous societies are becoming plural ones.
The consequential adjustments by the natives and newcomers are often traumatic.
Viewed from both the historical and current standpoints, racism is demonstrably still one of the greatest dangers facing mankind today, and will continue to exercise the minds of rational-thinking people for a long time to come.
In our own time racial conflicts, and religious bigotry, have polarised or torn apart countries and communities, and inflicted untold miseries on their people and retarding their national developement.
We in Singapore are most fortunate to have racial harmony and religious freedom, thanks to the farsightedness of our ever vigilant leaders and the strict laws against anyone stirring up racial or religious animosities.
This is augmented by the firm desire of the overwhelming majority of Singaporeans to keep it that way.
While we enjoy an enviable reputation for good racial relations, there is, unfortunately, not much spontaneous social interaction among the races outside of the work environment, despite that more public avenues now exist for them to do so.
It is, of course, human nature everywhere for people to feel more comfortable in the company of their own kind. But for any multi-racial society with multi-culturalism to flourish, it is essential that its ethnic components must strive to understand and appreciate each other's way of life.
This would help to remove any in-built prejudices and misconceptions due to sheer ignorance, unfounded apprehensions or apathy and bring the different races closer.
In view of our colonial past and racial mix, English has been the dominant language of administration, business and education, and the vehicle of communication among the various races here. Without it, Singaporeans of different extractions will cease to communicate.
The pervasive soft power of the English language is such that many Singaporeans, understandably, are more attracted to the Western culture and influences than to their own ethnic roots.
Consequently, they tend to have lesser interest in the cultural heritage of their forebears and those of their fellow citizens.
In light of the factors mentioned earlier, these are formidable obstacles to promoting greater social interaction among Singaporeans.
Unfamiliarity and lack of genuine interest in each other's culture and way of life are, in my view, two major impediments that need to be overcome.
As a positive first step, we should begin to take a more active interest in the arts and culture of the other racial groups. Knowing rudiments of each other's language and traditions would certainly make this a more meaningful and pleasurable experience. But it is a difficult task, especially for the older Singaporeans.
The answer probably lies with the younger people. Parents and our educational institutions have a vital role to play in inculcating the right attitudes in our young during their formative years.
With concerted and sustained efforts by all concerned Singaporeans, racial harmony should attain a new dimension when the next generation of citizens take their rightful place in society.
（The writer is a retired lawyer）
通過藝術(shù)和文化增進(jìn)種族和諧
藍(lán)秉湖
環(huán)球化的趨勢,使到人們能夠在世界各地更自由流動,國與國之間的溝通也更為迅速和直接。越來越多的單一種族社會逐漸變得多元化。
土生土長的人們和外來人口之間,所需要作出的相互調(diào)整和適應(yīng),往往是令人感到非常不愉快的經(jīng)驗。
不論是從歷史或現(xiàn)代的眼光來看,種族主義仍然是人類面對的危險之一。有識之士需要時刻保持警惕。
在我們這個時代,種族沖突和宗教偏見,在很多地方使國家和族群對立或分裂。不僅人民飽受其害,國家發(fā)展也因此停滯不前。
在新加坡,我們很幸運(yùn)的能夠享有種族和諧和宗教自由。這得感謝我們高瞻遠(yuǎn)矚的領(lǐng)袖,以及對付企圖挑起種族或宗教敵意人士的嚴(yán)刑峻法。此外,國人都強(qiáng)烈的希望保持現(xiàn)有的情況。
雖然我們擁有令人羨慕的種族和睦關(guān)系,可惜,除了在工作地點以外,不同族群的人,較少在公共場所自然交往。
當(dāng)然,和來自同一族群的人在一起,總會讓人感到比較輕松自在。但是,如果要我們的多元種族社會,進(jìn)一步發(fā)揚(yáng)光大,個別族群就有必要學(xué)習(xí)了解和欣賞彼此的生活方式。
這可以幫助消除因為無知、毫無根據(jù)的疑懼或者冷漠,所造成的偏見和誤解,進(jìn)一步縮短各族的距離。
因為我們的殖民地背景和多元種族社會,英語長期以來都是官方、經(jīng)商和教育的主要語言,也是各族賴以溝通的語言。如果沒有了英語,來自不同族群的人,將難以交談。
英語和它所帶來的影響,使人們更容易被西方文化吸引,而忽略了自己的根,這是可以理解的。因此,他們一般上對先人的文化遺產(chǎn)不感興趣。
這樣看來,要促使新加坡人多多溝通,須要克服許多困難。我認(rèn)為,對它族文化和生活方式感到陌生和缺乏了解的興趣,是兩大障礙。
我們可以開始做的,是培養(yǎng)對它族藝術(shù)和文化的興趣。如果我們對它族的語言和傳統(tǒng),有一些基本的認(rèn)識,這肯定會是一個很有意義和愉快的經(jīng)驗。但是,知易行難,對老一輩的新加坡人來說,更是如此。
不過,我們可以把希望寄托在年輕一代的新加坡人身上。在年輕人的成長過程中,家長和教育機(jī)構(gòu)在灌輸他們正確的態(tài)度上,扮演著關(guān)鍵性的角色。
只要我們同心協(xié)力和持之以恒,種族和諧的關(guān)系必定能在將來更上一層樓。
The consequential adjustments by the natives and newcomers are often traumatic.
Viewed from both the historical and current standpoints, racism is demonstrably still one of the greatest dangers facing mankind today, and will continue to exercise the minds of rational-thinking people for a long time to come.
In our own time racial conflicts, and religious bigotry, have polarised or torn apart countries and communities, and inflicted untold miseries on their people and retarding their national developement.
We in Singapore are most fortunate to have racial harmony and religious freedom, thanks to the farsightedness of our ever vigilant leaders and the strict laws against anyone stirring up racial or religious animosities.
This is augmented by the firm desire of the overwhelming majority of Singaporeans to keep it that way.
While we enjoy an enviable reputation for good racial relations, there is, unfortunately, not much spontaneous social interaction among the races outside of the work environment, despite that more public avenues now exist for them to do so.
It is, of course, human nature everywhere for people to feel more comfortable in the company of their own kind. But for any multi-racial society with multi-culturalism to flourish, it is essential that its ethnic components must strive to understand and appreciate each other's way of life.
This would help to remove any in-built prejudices and misconceptions due to sheer ignorance, unfounded apprehensions or apathy and bring the different races closer.
In view of our colonial past and racial mix, English has been the dominant language of administration, business and education, and the vehicle of communication among the various races here. Without it, Singaporeans of different extractions will cease to communicate.
The pervasive soft power of the English language is such that many Singaporeans, understandably, are more attracted to the Western culture and influences than to their own ethnic roots.
Consequently, they tend to have lesser interest in the cultural heritage of their forebears and those of their fellow citizens.
In light of the factors mentioned earlier, these are formidable obstacles to promoting greater social interaction among Singaporeans.
Unfamiliarity and lack of genuine interest in each other's culture and way of life are, in my view, two major impediments that need to be overcome.
As a positive first step, we should begin to take a more active interest in the arts and culture of the other racial groups. Knowing rudiments of each other's language and traditions would certainly make this a more meaningful and pleasurable experience. But it is a difficult task, especially for the older Singaporeans.
The answer probably lies with the younger people. Parents and our educational institutions have a vital role to play in inculcating the right attitudes in our young during their formative years.
With concerted and sustained efforts by all concerned Singaporeans, racial harmony should attain a new dimension when the next generation of citizens take their rightful place in society.
（The writer is a retired lawyer）
通過藝術(shù)和文化增進(jìn)種族和諧
藍(lán)秉湖
環(huán)球化的趨勢,使到人們能夠在世界各地更自由流動,國與國之間的溝通也更為迅速和直接。越來越多的單一種族社會逐漸變得多元化。
土生土長的人們和外來人口之間,所需要作出的相互調(diào)整和適應(yīng),往往是令人感到非常不愉快的經(jīng)驗。
不論是從歷史或現(xiàn)代的眼光來看,種族主義仍然是人類面對的危險之一。有識之士需要時刻保持警惕。
在我們這個時代,種族沖突和宗教偏見,在很多地方使國家和族群對立或分裂。不僅人民飽受其害,國家發(fā)展也因此停滯不前。
在新加坡,我們很幸運(yùn)的能夠享有種族和諧和宗教自由。這得感謝我們高瞻遠(yuǎn)矚的領(lǐng)袖,以及對付企圖挑起種族或宗教敵意人士的嚴(yán)刑峻法。此外,國人都強(qiáng)烈的希望保持現(xiàn)有的情況。
雖然我們擁有令人羨慕的種族和睦關(guān)系,可惜,除了在工作地點以外,不同族群的人,較少在公共場所自然交往。
當(dāng)然,和來自同一族群的人在一起,總會讓人感到比較輕松自在。但是,如果要我們的多元種族社會,進(jìn)一步發(fā)揚(yáng)光大,個別族群就有必要學(xué)習(xí)了解和欣賞彼此的生活方式。
這可以幫助消除因為無知、毫無根據(jù)的疑懼或者冷漠,所造成的偏見和誤解,進(jìn)一步縮短各族的距離。
因為我們的殖民地背景和多元種族社會,英語長期以來都是官方、經(jīng)商和教育的主要語言,也是各族賴以溝通的語言。如果沒有了英語,來自不同族群的人,將難以交談。
英語和它所帶來的影響,使人們更容易被西方文化吸引,而忽略了自己的根,這是可以理解的。因此,他們一般上對先人的文化遺產(chǎn)不感興趣。
這樣看來,要促使新加坡人多多溝通,須要克服許多困難。我認(rèn)為,對它族文化和生活方式感到陌生和缺乏了解的興趣,是兩大障礙。
我們可以開始做的,是培養(yǎng)對它族藝術(shù)和文化的興趣。如果我們對它族的語言和傳統(tǒng),有一些基本的認(rèn)識,這肯定會是一個很有意義和愉快的經(jīng)驗。但是,知易行難,對老一輩的新加坡人來說,更是如此。
不過,我們可以把希望寄托在年輕一代的新加坡人身上。在年輕人的成長過程中,家長和教育機(jī)構(gòu)在灌輸他們正確的態(tài)度上,扮演著關(guān)鍵性的角色。
只要我們同心協(xié)力和持之以恒,種族和諧的關(guān)系必定能在將來更上一層樓。