SS Notes

Unit 2: Diversity

Contents
 Tolerance
 Casual Racism
 Religion and terrorism
 Issues of liberal immigration policy
 Income Inequality
Tolerance

 Racial harmony for a high pressure, heterogenous society such as Singapore is an

existential consideration. Thus, an emphasis for tolerance between races is placed.
However, this is too low a standard for the needs of racial harmony and social
cohesion in today's society.

 Tolerance is a condition where different ethnicities or religions may have a weak

understanding of each other or actively dislike each other, yet they mutually agree to
put up with one another.

 However, this tolerance is often superficial and is limited to public areas. Tolerance
today may mask simmering issues and when tensions erupt, conflict can emerge
even amid a climate of tolerance. So, Singapore must perennially push for a higher
threshold of harmony.

 Singapore needs to recourse to some form of intolerance. While tolerance is too low
of a standard, intolerance can be helpful.

 For example, in our public deliberations and policies, we can be intolerant of

views and personalities which try to divide Singapore and those which strive
to make places exclusive to certain beliefs and practices.

 Singaporeans should be intolerant of those who harbour hate and prejudice,

intolerant of the casual slights, the majority privilege, the easy stereotyping of
races.

 Singaporeans must never be accepting that some are better than others by
measure of their ethnicity, language or religion.

 Empathy can also allow for social stability and cohesion. It is a higher standard than
tolerance and allows us to see the world through another's perspective.

 A precondition for empathy must be that different races interact routinely and
that one's social circle include representatives from the broad mix of
communities.

 We can consider how many of our relationships involve people from different
ethnicities and races, and how often we interact with such people. These are
tests to see if we meet this precondition of empathy.
 Beyond empathy, Singapore has to uphold political and shared values that bind us as
a nation. There must be a political and value space which goes beyond the
differences of ethnicity or religion.

 This set of national, political values that stresses empathy for one another,
and that is intolerant of racism or values that are detrimental to social
cohesion, can also help Singaporeans forge a sense of belonging to the
country. (Link to national identity)

 Singapore needs to make sure that diversity is a social strength and not a cause of
division, as diversity binds us together and this bond cannot be separated by external
forces that try to separate Singapore.

 To achieve such a goal, Singaporeans must play their part in ensuring that
they overcome their own prejudices and be open-minded to other ethnic
communities.

 This requires the acceptance of the fact that an intrinsic part of our identity is
our diversity.
Income inequality

 Some degree of income inequality is natural in any economy. It gives people the
motivation to strive to do their best and improve their lives.

 However, in a fair and just society like Singapore, this inequality must be
tempered with and complemented by social mobility.

 Every citizen, no matter what his social background is, must have the opportunity to
do better and move up in society, based on his efforts and talent.

 Nobody should feel that his social position is fixed based on his parent's
income level or position in life.

 If the income inequality gap is widened, this will result in a rigid and stratified
social system, with each social class ignoring the others or pursing their own
interests at the expense of others.

 This would also lead to the fragmentation and division of society, and this
divide in society would eventually lead to the fall of the nation.

 Social integration is key to maintaining Singapore's harmony. We need Singaporeans

to feel together as one society, sharing common values, experiences, outlooks.

 Singaporeans should also care and identify for one another, be united and
fight together in the face of adversity. Moderating income equality and
ensuring social mobility helps to strengthen this social integration.

 Singapore has been actively making efforts to create opportunities for

integration and interaction both across different social classes, races and
religions.

 For example, hawker centres are a good