The origin of racial harmony in Singapore as stated by the government's website, is to "...[serve] to remind our pupils that social division costs us dearly and that race and religion are potential fault-lines in Singapore society. It is a day for schools to reflect on, and celebrate our success as a harmonious nation and society built on a rich diversity of cultures and heritages." Indeed racial differences can cause conflict as we view others who we feel are different from us as not part of our group and we do not trust them nor even feel safe around them. Racial harmony tries to remove that and also remind us that what we have today is not granted but made.
Racial Harmony is something which we live with in Singapore. Although it is unseen, it is still an integral and important part of our lives. Racial harmony allows our race in Singapore to be colour blind to each other and allows us to see each and everyone as human. As Singapore is a multiracial country with many races and is increasing in variety and amount of different races due to its policy encouraging immigration in, we have to work together to have freedom to move everyone and work together to help make people prosper. Furthermore, the people of Singapore are Singapore's only resource. Singapore is able to reach at its current state mostly due to its educated and highly efficient workforce with good governance. These two reasons are the most important reasons for racial harmony.
If Singapore did not celebrate racial harmony, the harmony we have in Singapore which we take for granted would soon corrode away with time. People would start mixing around in their own groups of their own race. This slowly creates distrust and subsequently disgust. A spark, like a radical or some misunderstanding or a purposeful effort, would be all that need to cause a raging racial riot and cause deaths and instability in Singapore's political and economic fields.
Yong Chun Hon, 07S21
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