Singapore is unique because it is multi-racial society.
This is one of those things people say or write without really thinking. It is of course not true that we are unique because we are multi-racial. MANY countries in the world are multi-racial, with MANY of these countries home to MANY more than just ‘four races’. In fact, the exact same ‘four races’ can be found in our nearest neighbours, Malaysia and Indonesia.
In Singapore, we have four races.
This is another statement that is often taken to be a fact. But is it really a fact?
The four races live in harmony.
Another famous statement, but how far is this true? Tough question.
So... what’s unique about Singapore’s multi-racial-ness?
One, the proportions (obviously), i.e. the percentage of the population each ‘race’ represents vis-à-vis the rest. Two, how an erstwhile migrant group (read: the outsiders) became dominant (and not just in numbers), thus making for very complicated pathways to achieving ‘racial harmony’.
Do we really have ‘four races’?
Are ‘Eurasians’, with their many different backgrounds, really the same ‘race’?
What about Javanese, Boyanese, Bugis, etc? Many Singaporeans tend to just label them all as ‘Malay’. Actually, some Singaporeans tend to just label all of them and all Muslims as ‘Malay’. Without naming names and places and times, I was flabbergasted to learn that some university graduates I know of thought an Indian Muslim was Malay just because he is Muslim, when he has an Indian name and he looks Indian! Duh!
How much do we understand about other races anyway?
I once overheard a conversation between two neighbours that went something like that:
[Parent A (Chinese) asks Parent B (Indian) about his ‘race’ because her child needs the info for some school project]
Parent A: What kind of food do you all eat? Is it every day you eat roti prata?
Parent B (patiently): No lah, we have rice and other things.
[Next question]
Parent A: Do you have any other festivals? Only Deepavali ah?
Duh! Can’t remember what Parent B said but I thought he should just send her along to school with her child. I mean, do people walk around with their eyes closed? Do they not observe anything about other people in all their years living in a 'multi-racial' country?
So much for ‘harmony’.
BUT... I do acknowledge that we have come far in our efforts to ‘live harmoniously’ with each other. I think we do on many fronts and levels. However, there remain many other fronts and levels we must arrive at. Therefore, we must avoid that trap of complacency, where we pat ourselves on the back by constantly (and condescendingly) comparing our ‘harmony’ to ‘racial problems’ in other countries. Even if it seems technically impossible to ever achieve true and complete harmony, it must remain a goal lest we have to suffer the dire consequences of racial strife. In other words, the more fronts and levels that are harmonious the better.
Dressing up in 'traditional costume' on Racial Harmony Day is just the ‘beginners’ level. But it is a good starting point for children. Hopefully, they move up from there.
Like my baju kurung? Made from saree material…
(By the way, I actually prefer the term ‘ethnic group’ to ‘race’ but since it’s Racial Harmony Day, I’ll just leave the ‘race’ word here.)
This is one of those things people say or write without really thinking. It is of course not true that we are unique because we are multi-racial. MANY countries in the world are multi-racial, with MANY of these countries home to MANY more than just ‘four races’. In fact, the exact same ‘four races’ can be found in our nearest neighbours, Malaysia and Indonesia.
In Singapore, we have four races.
This is another statement that is often taken to be a fact. But is it really a fact?
The four races live in harmony.
Another famous statement, but how far is this true? Tough question.
So... what’s unique about Singapore’s multi-racial-ness?
One, the proportions (obviously), i.e. the percentage of the population each ‘race’ represents vis-à-vis the rest. Two, how an erstwhile migrant group (read: the outsiders) became dominant (and not just in numbers), thus making for very complicated pathways to achieving ‘racial harmony’.
Do we really have ‘four races’?
Are ‘Eurasians’, with their many different backgrounds, really the same ‘race’?
What about Javanese, Boyanese, Bugis, etc? Many Singaporeans tend to just label them all as ‘Malay’. Actually, some Singaporeans tend to just label all of them and all Muslims as ‘Malay’. Without naming names and places and times, I was flabbergasted to learn that some university graduates I know of thought an Indian Muslim was Malay just because he is Muslim, when he has an Indian name and he looks Indian! Duh!
How much do we understand about other races anyway?
I once overheard a conversation between two neighbours that went something like that:
[Parent A (Chinese) asks Parent B (Indian) about his ‘race’ because her child needs the info for some school project]
Parent A: What kind of food do you all eat? Is it every day you eat roti prata?
Parent B (patiently): No lah, we have rice and other things.
[Next question]
Parent A: Do you have any other festivals? Only Deepavali ah?
Duh! Can’t remember what Parent B said but I thought he should just send her along to school with her child. I mean, do people walk around with their eyes closed? Do they not observe anything about other people in all their years living in a 'multi-racial' country?
So much for ‘harmony’.
BUT... I do acknowledge that we have come far in our efforts to ‘live harmoniously’ with each other. I think we do on many fronts and levels. However, there remain many other fronts and levels we must arrive at. Therefore, we must avoid that trap of complacency, where we pat ourselves on the back by constantly (and condescendingly) comparing our ‘harmony’ to ‘racial problems’ in other countries. Even if it seems technically impossible to ever achieve true and complete harmony, it must remain a goal lest we have to suffer the dire consequences of racial strife. In other words, the more fronts and levels that are harmonious the better.
Dressing up in 'traditional costume' on Racial Harmony Day is just the ‘beginners’ level. But it is a good starting point for children. Hopefully, they move up from there.Like my baju kurung? Made from saree material…
(By the way, I actually prefer the term ‘ethnic group’ to ‘race’ but since it’s Racial Harmony Day, I’ll just leave the ‘race’ word here.)
Comments
I think we are just too race conscious what with children being taught about races from an early age and the self-help groups organised along ethnic lines, racial harmony day, indicating your race on every form and on the IC, etc. In the first place, if we weren't so conscious of race, it wouldn't be an issue; we'd all think of ourselves as Singaporeans more than anything else. I don't consider Eurasians a race as there are too many different types, too many different backgrounds and cultures for them to really be a community. As my university sociology lecturer said - "what does the offspring of a british sailor and a chinese prostitute have in common with the offspring of a portugese trader and an indian waitress?" But naturally the Eurasians want to form a community because all the rest have their own communities. We are not content just being a community of Singaporeans.
'Race' is a double-edged sword, then? If you don't talk about it, you have problems; if you harp so much on it, you also have problems.
I think ethnicity is important because it's part of one's identity. But 'nation' has to be more important than 'ethnic group'. So I quite like the suggestion in an ST article today that we call ourselves 'Chinese Singaporeans', 'Malay Singaporeans' and Indian Singaporeans'instead of 'Chinese', 'Malay', 'Indian'.
Err... but I'm not sure what the appropriate term would be for the Eurasian community.