Our initial views about Racial Harmony...

1.Racial harmony is a different race to help each other. Do not discriminate against each other. We should do more community activities to promote racial harmony, understanding each other's culture. Experience the life of all races and a little bit of Greetings.


2.Because of racial discrimination and prejudice resulted. Discrimination against each other's skin color, culture and language. As a result a number of ethnic conflict.

3.We can race through the Government to coordinate the conflict.
 
By: Weng Kai Yu
 
Besides Singapore, do other countries also celebrate Racial Harmony Day?


Besides Singapore, one example of a country that celebrates Racial Harmony Day is the Philippines. In their country, there are races such as Filipinos, Indian, Chinese and Malays. The races in their country are almost similar like in Singapore. In Philippines too, they celebrate by wearing their traditional costumes and in schools, they would have a cultural exchange which is a form of showing respect to each and every races. Just like Singapore, they learnt from the past violent riots and by celebrating Racial Harmony Day, they unite.
 
By: Nurul Diyanah

CDSS Social Studies Project

In our group, we will be focusing on Racial Harmony in Singapore. We have learnt that many countries had conflicts between nations, races, religions or even countries. For the young generations, they may think that Singapore has always been a perfect country, but do they know about the past? There were frequent riots amongst two different races (mainly) and why is this so?


Countries are affected when people of different races and religions in a country are hostile towards one another. This hostility destroys lives, homes and properties. Racial or religious conflict is one main cause of hostility amongst ethnic groups in many countries. Where such differences exist, the people need to be united so that there can be peace and harmony. A nation is made up of the people living together. When bonds amongst the people are strong and stable, there will be happiness, prosperity and progress.

Thus, we would like the younger generations to know more about Singapore. Our aim is to show them, especially students, how united Singaporeans are as well as why and how unity is important in this small little dot recognized by the world.

Introduction

Singapore is a multi-ethnic country with people from many different racial, cultural and religious backgrounds. Despite these differences, it is possible for people to live in peace and harmony.

We recite the Singapore pledge every morning during the flag raising ceremony. However, have we ever wondered what it means?

“We, the citizens of Singapore,

pledge ourselves as one united people,
regardless of race, language or religion,
to build a democratic society
based on justice and equality
so as to achieve happiness, prosperity
and progress for our nation.”

Focus on the words in italics and bold, what does it mean? In Singapore, we do not regard ourselves as Chinese, Malays, Indians or different religions, but as a nation. So, what is a nation you may ask? A nation is formed when a group of people accept one another and see themselves as having something in common.3 Like many government talks, or other speeches, we seldom say Chinese, Malays or Indians. Instead, we call ourselves Singaporeans. Benefits given do not go to respective races or religions, but as a nation, a nationality, and that is Singaporeans.

Even though English is the most dominant language in Singapore, the government does not forget about other languages! For instance, all schools in Singapore are written in four languages, which is the language of four main races. This shows how fair our government is.

                              

Languages

The Singapore government recognises four official languages: English, Malay, Chinese and Tamil.


English is the most dominant language in Singapore, unlike neighbouring countries like Indonesia and Malaysia, where Malay is the dominant. The form of English spoken in Singapore ranges from Standard English to an English-based creole known as Singlish. Amongst Singaporeans, English has the largest number of speakers. This is followed by Mandarin Chinese, Malay and Tamil. The English is primarily based in British English. However, certain naming conventions in Singapore are a mixture of American and British spellings. The use of English became widespread in Singapore after 1965 when it was implemented as a first language medium in the educational system. At school, children are required to learn English and one of the three other official languages as a mother tongue.

Mandarin (Chinese) is also spoken widely in Singapore. Mandarin has spread largely as a result of government-sponsored public campaigns and efforts to support its adoption and use over other Chinese languages.

Tamil is spoken by about 60% of Singapore Indian community or 5% of all Singaporean. Indian languages such as Malayalam and Hindi are also spoken by small group of Singaporean Indians in Singapore

Races and Festivals

Chinese

The Chinese New Year or Hua Ren Xin Nian (华人新年) falls in the months of January and February. Also known as Lunar New Year, it lasts 15 days and ends with the Lantern Festival or Yuan Xiao Jie (元宵节). Every New Year is named after one of the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac.


Weeks before the New Year, old things are discarded and the house is spring cleaned. Hair is cut and all debts are repaid before New Year’s Day. Red and gold are auspicious colours for the Chinese and so paper decorations in these two colours are hung around the house.

The family reunion dinner is the most important custom observed and is held on New Year’s Eve. Foods served have special significance and ensure family harmony and peace throughout the year. Special food served includes yu sheng (鱼生) or raw fish salad and nian gao (年糕) or sticky sweet rice pudding.

On New Year’s Day, one can hear loud beating of gongs and cymbals accompanied by lion dances. Children and singles are the happiest on this day for they receive hong baos (红包) or red packets of money from parents and married relatives. Mandarin oranges are presented to hosts in twos to signify double happiness or prosperity. The Chinese wish each other Gong Xi Fa Cai (恭喜发财) or “Happy and Prosperous New Year” on this special day.


To welcome the New Year and to expect prosperity and good fortune throughout the year, there are many taboos to be avoided during the New Year period. For example, one must not sweep the house; otherwise, prosperity and good luck will be swept away.

Malay

Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting and giving alms, falls on the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. This is also the month when Prophet Muhammad received the first words of the Holy Quran. During this period, Muslims practise self-discipline, show gratitude for blessings received and reflect on all their past deeds.

Two of the Five Pillars of Islam, fasting and Zakat or gift of money to charity, are practised during Ramadan. Muslims, except the very young and sick, abstain from food and drink from daybreak till sunset. Zakat-ul-Fitr or the payment for breaking fast is collected from every family and given to charity.

At the end of the fasting month, when the new moon is sighted, Muslims celebrate the festival of Hari Raya Puasa or Aidilfitri. Prayers are held in the mosque in the morning, after which families gather at their homes for a grand feast. Youngsters seek forgiveness and blessings from their parents on this day too.

Indian

On Thaipusam day, hundreds of devotees offer prayers, either by piercing their chest with spikes and lemon, pulling a chariot from Srinivasa Perumal Temple, or carrying Kavadis. Some of them even walk on stones that are burning with fire underneath (the first picture from the right –Fire Walking). The devotees offer their prayers and fulfill their vows. The Vel (holy spear) in the sanctum is showered with milk continuously for hours. Several Chinese devotees and people of other religion and races also come to fulfill their vows on this day.

Challenges: Managing perceptions of different racial and religious group

When we learn History in Secondary Two, we will be learning a lot of riots happened in Singapore during the 1960s. Why is this so? Basically, it was due to the lack of racial harmony.


The lack of understanding amongst the racial groups can create suspicion and unhappiness amongst the people. This may lead to outbreaks of violence amongst racial groups. This is a challenge for Singapore. As seen from the 1964 racial riots. Here, we’ll be showing you two examples of riots based on racial and religion in Singapore.

July riots

In July 1964, during the celebration of Prophet Muhammad’s birthday, a clash between a Chinese policeman and a group of Malay participants of the procession, turned into full-blown race riots over the next few days. These race riots caused damage to property as well as loss of lives.

Efforts were made to call for calm. Goodwill Committees were also formed to help foster stronger bonds amongst the people from the different races and religions. Committee members went from house to house to spread the message of living peaceful with one another.

Maria Hertogh riots

The Maria Hertogh riots or Nadrah riots began on 11 December 1950 in Singapore after a court decided that a child who had been raised by Muslims should be returned to her biological Christian parents. A protest by outraged Muslims escalated into a riot when images were published showing 13-year-old Maria Hertogh (or Bertha Hertogh) kneeling before a statue of the Virgin Mary. Rioting in Singapore lasted till noon on 13 December, 1950. In total 18 people were killed and 173 injured. Many properties were also damaged.

There are actually more than two riots that happened. However, those two above are the ones that most people know and remember. Some of them have witnessed the riots too! Can you imagine yourself when you actually were a witness in one of these riots? How would you feel? Actually, all these should not happen. However, hatred arose amongst Muslims and Christian and Chinese and Malays. Because of hatred, do you think it is nice and fair to fight with other races? You’ll end up with nothing death and injuries, are all you can see along the streets. A multi-racial country should not be like this.

The riots showed that if religious issues are not handled carefully, hostility and distrust could occur amongst the people, thus affecting the relationships amongst the different religious groups.12 And this is also why unity is important in Singapore.

Racial Harmony

We have seen the riots that once happened in Singapore just now. We know numerous people (including innocuous ones) died or injured due to the riots, we know some streets were covered with blood, we know this is horrible, terrifying, but do we know how or when to stop them? In order to create Racial Harmony, we have to agree with one another, like we said earlier in the Introduction. If we agree with one another, there would be no quarrels and unhappiness. Most importantly, we do not wish to replay the history of 1960s in Singapore. To achieve Racial Harmony, the government does a great job in helping us!

The left picture is the logo of The MOE Racial Harmony. The heart shape represents both brotherhood of Singaporeans and the deep emotional, visceral bond that we share. Red is the colour of passion and energy; representing how we as a country are moving forward and boldly embracing our challenges and future. The heart is made up of four people, representing four different races, all joined together in a joyous embrace in a collective dance as they live in harmony. Where they have joined hands, there is a wonderful coming together of energy and efforts, and the yellow represents a bright light shining forth that illuminates our way and progress forward into the future.

In Singapore especially schools, we celebrate Racial Harmony Day on 21st July annually. This important event is to commemorate the 1964 Race Riots which fell on that day. Students in schools are asked to wear traditional costumes of other races. Not only traditional costumes will be worn, traditional games and food will be played and shared amongst all races.


We believe that Racial Harmony Day is important as it is also to celebrate the success of being together as a nation, a nationality. Singaporeans should be proud of because we get to live with four different races and cultures where most countries do not do. Moreover, we even have a date for all us to gather together as Singaporeans which is the National Day – when we all recite our pledge together – and the Racial Harmony Day!

“One people, one nation, one Singapore.”