How can you ignore "ethinicity"? The Malays are proud of being
Malays, with their own culture, especially religion. You accept
them as they are, but not ignoring them, thinking they are like
you.
There are Chinese who speak only their own dialects, and not a
word of english, can you embrace them as one of your own?
There are also Indians who came from the small villages in
India, can you accept their different body odour?
When sharing table with muslim in a crowded hawker center, do
you think you should be sensitive enough not to order bak kut teh
or you think they should respect your choice of food?
There is more to racial harmony that can be ignored.
And please DO NOT ACCEPT this as a politically
issue!
There are Chinese, Malays, Indians, .....among those who are for
and against the government. We need all races to accept one another
to maintain racial harmony, regardless who is in power. and the
most despicable politicians are the ones who would use racial
conflict for their own agenda.
But I think you are smarter that.
This thread is becoming interesting. Sgdiehard, you are
confusing ethnicity with culture and religion. "The Malays are
proud of being Malays, with their own culture, especially
religion." As for religion and culture, which is independant of
race, I agree that we should 'embrace and accept' as these vary
from different groups. (GROUPS, not races) I know of one mediacorp
actress (elderly one), who acts in the Tamil channel, who is
Chinese by race.
She was born in a Chinese family, but was adopted by an Indian
family subsequently. She grew up as a Hindu, and followed
Tamil culture.
What I mean is, by race, I mean what is biological, in
your genes. We should ignore that. Culture, religion, and language
should not be confused with race. I remember how my teachers would
always talk about Indians celebrating Deepavali, and Malays
celebrating Hari Raya. Obviously, they mean Hindus and Muslims,
instead of Indians and Malays.
This reminds me of something different (probably irrelevant).
During my sec 3 camp at the begining of this year, we were on a
sort of scavenger hunt, and we passed a mosque. That was when my
class in-charge, who was the person conducting these activites
wanted to ask me about my religion. He asked me whether I am
a Hindu or a
Tamil. He did not
know the difference between language and religion. However, I
understood what he meant and I told him that I am not
religious.