Is it racist to discuss "races"?

CX SG

some users felt that it was "sensitive" and "dangerous" to discuss issues concerning other ethnic groups in an open public forum.

i disagree. i think that refusing to address an issue in no way resolves it and just cos we do not talk about it, it doesn't mean that S'poreans are "colour-blind" and all embracing in their approach to members of different eithnic groups.

what's there to be afraid of as long as your views are reasonable and moderate and above all, mature.

so here's the rule: no racial supremacy crap, no racist slurs and if u'ld prefer to keep your views concerning the topic to yourself, so be it. don't post.

are we as open, or in fact, as neutral towards members of other ethnic groups as we'ld like to believe?

CX SG

oh, and Mech^O^GATor,

i see you've actively participated in the other discussions concerning war with m'sia and indo'sia...

and how are you able to reconcile yourself to the contradiction that u so ardently and passionately feel that military victory against our malay-muslim neighbours is a sure thing while maintaining that it is "racist" to talk about ethnic relations in peacetime? Shocked

yes, sure, military balance speaks for itself. objectively speaking, Sg is stronger in many ways. but while the SAF has NEVER publicly acknowledged who this military is targeted against, u have taken it upon yourself to declare that our neighbours would be burnt to a cinder should they mess with us... Twisted Evil

hmmm... how bizarre... Mr. Green

silkmagic SG

I have no problem discussing about race as I believe that our society is matured enough to do it. However all discussion will have to objective and without any biasness, if possible to be back up with facts.

reallieRAW SG

Well.....can i say tt u R NOT RACIST enuff to discuss openly...for example, in this Forum? However, juz like how a Forum is supposed to be - Open to the Public (not only restricted to S'pore, it's Globally) for Discussions, we have to Bear In Mind tt attempting to discuss 'RACISM' (rite now which is to me a Taboo, or rather a Sensitive Issue), we take the risk (if we r AWARE of the Situation now...i dun have to emphasize) of inviting Individuals who may not be the 'Friendly Ones' to discuss the Issue OBJECTIVELY but SUBJECTIVELY. Morever, there isnt anyone to 'Control Situation' if it gets outta hand. (starting to use abusively words or vulagr language & etc...) If this shld ever happen which is nobody's intention or Maybe there r.....We wldnt know (terrorists may juz be Anyone...), who's gonna be Responsible!?!

If u'd like to express ur Views on RACISM.....why not u try somewhere like STRAITS TIMES INTERACTIVE ONLINE or juz the FORUMS.....at least, there r Regulators or Moderators Wink

CX SG

please... the straits times is too obsessed with censoring itself to wanna print anything marginally intelligent.

yes, i do not like the spineless local press. i don't like my letters to be edited and i frankly don't think that they would print it even after editing anyway.

but thats exactly what i'm trying to get at here! if the people here are confident in the belief that they are not racist, and intelligent enough to judge what is appropriate response to issues, then why do people freak out and tell people to stop posting because ISD will shut us down if they only knew!!!

that's ridiculous. is ethnic relation so fragile now that we might go back to the bad old days of the race riots if some of us came together to exchange moderate and responsible views?

are we so afraid that our lack of understanding for other races will be immediately intepreted as racism and they'll come charging down your house with a parang?

i agree that there are things which are better left alone if we're not in a good position to comment: such as religion. unless u belonged in the religion, or know exactly what it is about, it is not very convenient for u to comment because u won't know enuff to talk about it intelligently anyway!

but on issues like social interaction, why not?

asdfg2 SG

Whats is there to comment on issues about race that is not dead and done?

Come on CX, we await your supercillcious comments.

Silenthunter SG

As much as I agree on wat you said. Please dun call the local press "spinless" They've gone through hardship and pain to fight for "freedom of speech" and freedom to report anything. Many were rebuked and "threaten" for their actions. They've tried and work very hard.....so give them some respect.

nothing personal fren.....

CX SG

no problem... wouldn't be here if i didn't want to hear other views.

the press is an institution and as such, it is not directly responsible for the sad state of its work.

institutions do not screw up people, people screw up institutions.

some have tried, but most have come to the conclusion that it is pointless to fight cos they can't win. so they play along and tout the official position and report what would least get them into trouble.

ISD doesn't censor them; they censor themselves now.

there are things to be said about things which are not reported. its whether we choose to admit it or not.

the journalists who've tried hard and taken attacks for their beliefs have my deepest and most heartfelt respect. the ones who've lost heart after such attacks have my outmost sympathy. the spineless ones who've always played along and trashed the spirit of the free press have my undisguised disgust.

and its not just journalists. its everyone. do we believe everything the press reports that all is fine and singaporeans love each other? do we believe their toned down official position that there is tension, but it is manageable?

or are both pure nonsense and people actually feel something else?

asdfg2 SG

In short, all is not well in Singapore thats what you say. Well that is equivalent to saying nothing of importance because all you did is ask an imaginary censor whether you could post issues on race in Singapore - without bringing up what specific issues in the first place.

CX SG

does it make a difference? your mind is so narrow that u couldn't push a pin through it.

you wouldn't have anything constructive to contribute anyway.

whack SG

I think it’s perfectly alright to discuss race issues in open forums. The faster we talk about it and get it off our chest, in a mature fashion (lets ignore how we interpret ‘mature’ for the moment and use a general meaning), the better we can understand differing views. For those who can’t discuss race issues in a mature fashion, then they just have to take some serious flaming from the rest for a while as a result.

CX SG

that is exactly what i feel too Smile

i mean, we're not a bunch of neo-nazi skinheads suggesting different ways to subjugate and massacre other ethnic groups so why are we so afraid that ISD will shut us down or lock us up?

but this ridiculous concept of the OB marker inhibits constructive discussion on a lot of topics!

it started of saying that it was for the greater good as ethnic relations were not very stable in those days but now, people are more educated and more sensible. its absurd to suggest that they can't think for themselves and ought to be prevented from participating in ANY discussion of certain topics altogether.

thats using a sledgehammer to kill a fly Shocked

but many people still insist on being bound by these conventions cos they don't want trouble and they're afraid that what they say will be wrong or intepreted as that... is there a valid reason to feel that way in this time and age???