The Great Divide (part 2)

Wasn't intending a part 2, but a friend of mine has presented a different perspective on things after reading my previous post.

Let me start by reiterating that I’m not so deeply upset with our government’s policies that I do nothing but rant and wail. Well, at least not at all of them. There are policies which I feel are deeply flawed and others which good results speak for themselves. In the matter of defining the races in Singapore, I’m torn. While I feel what I noted in my previous post is exemplary of racism in one of its myriad forms, Eran pointed out it has done well in countering racial segregation in Singapore where other countries are still very recently trying to curb racial riots (see France, 2004). Although the very notion of displaying a person’s race on his or her ID is taboo and frowned upon in many first world countries, he said matter-of-factly that Singapore has seemingly achieved the harmony while other countries are still plagued with the problem.

Let me elaborate my thoughts on this.

Ever tried balloting for a new HDB flat? Were you ever turned down on the basis that the quota for your ethnic group is filled? Have you ever felt ostracized, singled-out and mistreated based on the color of your skin and your heritage on your father’s side?

This has racism written all over it but I also hear that its purpose is to counter racial segregation by ensuring the “right” mix in every estate. I have problems with this way of micromanagement but I’ll come back to this later. My friend also pointed out that if left to their own devices, people belonging to the same ethnic group will invariably congregate. True that. It’s human nature. And when you have whole estates with a predominant race, fragmentation is inevitable.

But here are my concerns about this methodology.

What exactly is the “right” mix? Who’s to say that having a certain ratio works or not? Sure, it prevents too large a group from a certain ethnicity from congregating but by forcefully separating them doesn’t instill a desire towards racial harmony. This policy is essentially forbidding the autonomy of human instincts to kick in and in this case it is to be with the “perceived” brother and sisters of your heritage. People only have the desire to stick together when they are having trouble assimilating to the society, or if they feel distinct differences between themselves and everyone else. I think the key to long-term racial harmony is not prevention of segregation but rather fostering a sense of being a Singaporean, and not disparate groups of people who happen to live in Singapore.

Other solutions like fighting poverty on Singapore soil and ensuring people from every background have equal opportunities to succeed will work to dismantle our perceived differences. Having an ever-widening rift in social classes is an instant catalyst for racial division. If everyone has the same rights and chances they will choose to live in an address of their preference, if they so desire. If success isn’t limited to just the rich and more of the poor are elevated from living in squalor, you will soon find that estates will by teeming with a mix that we are trying so hard to contrive now. No disgruntlement from the disadvantaged also means everyone has discarded the inherent insecurities tagged to their heritage.

It’s important to point out that I’m absolutely not advocating that we erase our ethnic identities. An individual should have full liberties to observe his or her traditions and customs that relate to their heritage (never mind that I’m exasperated that it is all but a social construct and an illusion. That’s me ranting and it won’t change in a hundred years). But it shouldn’t interfere with the person's interactions with other Singaporeans and nobody should be set apart based on their beliefs, ancestry and appearance.

These are lofty goals not just for Singapore, but for the world at large. In our headlong charge into globalization, we mustn’t overlook the importance of eradicating poverty and racial inequality. Think of it as nothing, and at the height of our glory we will buckle and fail.