Geoffrey Benjamin says “In order to demonstrate the distinctiveness of each of the four cultures their differences have to be heightened, their similarities underplayed, and expressive forms have to be developed to display their separate-but-equal status” (Benjamin, 1976). Even though his article was written in 1976, just 11 years after Singapore’s independence, I think that his view still holds to a large extent in relation to the Singaporean society today.
Firstly, historically being a bustling and major trading port, business opportunities drew many Chinese, Malay, Indian and Arab traders who operated in South-East Asia to Singapore. With settlers coming from all parts of the world, Singapore became a melting pot which is also referred …show more content…
Singapore believes that in order for the four races to co-exist, the Singaporean culture has to be one that integrates the values and practices of the four cultures without merging them. This could be attributed to Singapore’s strive in achieving a democratic society regardless of race, language or religion as recited in the pledge. It is often observed in the annual National Day Parade that there will be four emcees who are representatives of the four races, namely Chinese, Malay, Indian and Others (Eurasian) coming together as one united Singapore. In an effort to demonstrate the distinctiveness of each of the four cultures which coexist harmoniously in Singapore, we have inevitable heightened the differences among the four races through national television (Benjamin, 1976). For example, attention will be brought to the different physical attributes that characterised Singaporean Chinese, Malay, Indian and Eurasian. It is also not uncommon to notice that cultural shows, usually in the form of dance, always have equal representation of the four races to be politically …show more content…
Singapore is a secular state where her citizens are free to practice any religion. Secularism has allowed us to remain neutral in political matters concerning neighbouring Islamic countries like Malaysia and Indonesia. Being a secular state has thus resulted in Singapore’s public and government policies to be pro multi-racial and pro multi-cultural so as to maintain racial and religious harmony in Singapore. The most fundamental is the ideology of meritocracy where merits are given to an individual based on his/her abilities rather than racial or religious background which the government has successfully implemented to preserve harmony amongst the four ‘races’. Nowadays, television commercials such as advocating good employment practices have included equal representation of the four races and steer away from the stereotypes that Eurasians are often the bosses, Chinese are middle working class, Malays are bus drivers and Indians are money changers etc. To protect the interests of the four racial groups in Singapore, a Sedition Act is included in the Statutes of Singapore to act as a provision against racist remarks in platforms such as media, social media, verbally and the
Firstly, historically being a bustling and major trading port, business opportunities drew many Chinese, Malay, Indian and Arab traders who operated in South-East Asia to Singapore. With settlers coming from all parts of the world, Singapore became a melting pot which is also referred …show more content…
Singapore believes that in order for the four races to co-exist, the Singaporean culture has to be one that integrates the values and practices of the four cultures without merging them. This could be attributed to Singapore’s strive in achieving a democratic society regardless of race, language or religion as recited in the pledge. It is often observed in the annual National Day Parade that there will be four emcees who are representatives of the four races, namely Chinese, Malay, Indian and Others (Eurasian) coming together as one united Singapore. In an effort to demonstrate the distinctiveness of each of the four cultures which coexist harmoniously in Singapore, we have inevitable heightened the differences among the four races through national television (Benjamin, 1976). For example, attention will be brought to the different physical attributes that characterised Singaporean Chinese, Malay, Indian and Eurasian. It is also not uncommon to notice that cultural shows, usually in the form of dance, always have equal representation of the four races to be politically …show more content…
Singapore is a secular state where her citizens are free to practice any religion. Secularism has allowed us to remain neutral in political matters concerning neighbouring Islamic countries like Malaysia and Indonesia. Being a secular state has thus resulted in Singapore’s public and government policies to be pro multi-racial and pro multi-cultural so as to maintain racial and religious harmony in Singapore. The most fundamental is the ideology of meritocracy where merits are given to an individual based on his/her abilities rather than racial or religious background which the government has successfully implemented to preserve harmony amongst the four ‘races’. Nowadays, television commercials such as advocating good employment practices have included equal representation of the four races and steer away from the stereotypes that Eurasians are often the bosses, Chinese are middle working class, Malays are bus drivers and Indians are money changers etc. To protect the interests of the four racial groups in Singapore, a Sedition Act is included in the Statutes of Singapore to act as a provision against racist remarks in platforms such as media, social media, verbally and the