BRAVO to Ms Radha Basu for her stand against bigotry and
xenophobia on Tuesday ('Counter anti-foreigner talk').
I am proud to live, work and pay my taxes in Singapore.
I have met many expatriates who tell me they prefer Hong Kong. I
always invite them to come down to Singapore for a while. Sure, we
have cleaner streets, lower crime and high living standards, but
what sets Singapore apart is its status as the most multicultural,
diverse and tolerant city in all of Asia.
This is not to say the number of foreign workers should not be
carefully monitored, or if necessary, restricted.
Having said that, the presence of foreign workers here should
not be used to justify the uglier parts of human nature.
In most parts of the world, bigotry, small-mindedness, ethnic
violence and dull monoculturalism are sadly the norm. In many
European countries, second generation immigrant children refuse to
identify with the land they are born in.
Even in the United States, a history of slavery had created deep
racial scars, which are slowly healing.
Former German chancellor Helmut Schmidt once acknowledged
Europe's failure to create multicultural societies.
He also mentioned Singapore as the one country where
multiculturalism flourishes. Social pluralism is a proud, defining
feature of this young, promising country.
We need more of Ms Basu's ideas and experiences in the hearts
and minds of every Singaporean - and anyone who wishes to live
here.
Eric J. Brooks
____________________________________________________
Then again...
'What a country needs is not just talent, but also commitment
and loyalty.'
MR REMY TAN: 'The Wharton and Harvard couple mentioned
in Ms Radha Basu's commentary on Tuesday ('Counter anti-foreigner
talk') want to move to Singapore because Singapore benefits them.
It boils down to self-interest. The question is whether they will
flee or stay behind to help rebuild Singapore when the going gets
desperate. What a country needs is not just talent, but also
commitment and loyalty.'
