LAST Friday's report ('JC students branded 'dogs' on Wikipedia')
serves as a stiff reminder that we should never take our race
relations for granted.
Recent incidents have shown the damage one can cause by using
new media irresponsibly. Over the past few months, we have
witnessed errant young people going on new media and hurling
insensitive remarks against another from a different culture. Under
the cloak of anonymity, these comments were made with total
disregard for the feelings of others.
Nanyang Technological University Associate Professor Cherian
George's view on using new media to make a public stand against
offensive speech, we believe, is the way forward in combating such
deplorable acts.
While irresponsible use of new media poses hazards to communal
harmony, this same tool, when used positively, can act as an
effective form of community policing.
We are heartened by the school's actions in shutting the site
down and taking steps to address the incident. We should take
lessons from such instances to continue to cultivate values in our
young, not just as educators, but as parents and well-meaning
citizens.
Respect for another fellow human being is basic human courtesy.
Our young people need to have this fundamental value of humanity
ingrained in them. They must come to understand that we treasure
the harmony we have between our diverse communities and racism will
never be condoned.
OnePeople.sg, as the national body for racial harmony, works
closely with self-help groups, community development councils, the
People's Association, government agencies, as well as community and
religious organisations to promote the spirit of racial and
religious harmony. It is where we passionately celebrate our
diversity and core values of our multi-ethnic and multi-religious
nation. We urge fellow citizens to join our movement in building
these values of respect, understanding and trust in our
community.
Wee Siew Kim
Gerald Singham
Vice-Chairmen, OnePeople.sg