Name: Li Ruixue(Rachel)
Group: Girls & Hill
URL of article:http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/OnlineStory/STIStory_489884.html
Name of article: Respect differences to ensure harmony
Singapore is known as a multi-cultural society where different religions coexist. However, differences among different cultural and religious groups may still cause problems sometimes. Is mutual tolerance and restraint the answer to these problems? I think it is obvious that understanding is a much better solution.
We have to admit that differences among different cultural or religious groups exist and will continue to exist in the foreseeable future, and people always like those who are similar to themselves. Even within a family, small differences of habits and characters among family members often cause conflicts, not to mention the big differences between different races and religions. It is impossible to standardize human beings and it is great disrespect to force other groups to adapt to one group. Cultural or religious differences may not be a problem in most parts of the world because generally there will be a dominant cultural or religious group. However in Singapore, though Chinese are the majority, people of other races are also in large numbers. There are also a lot of foreigners from all over the world. Thus the racial and religious problems are quite notable.
Fortunately in Singapore, most people are able to bear the displeasure caused by these differences, and the society seems to be quite harmonious. However, the true harmony lies in people’s hearts. Tolerance is not a long-term solution because people’s tolerance is limited. Moreover, tolerance and restraint without understanding will allow the seed of hatred to grow. A society will not be harmonious forever if hatred accumulates in people’s hearts. The more hatred, the less communication there is. And this will result in more misunderstanding and in the end more hatred. People are always hoping to be understood and are reluctant to understand others. Understanding can only be achieved through communication. When people find the virtues of people from other groups, they will be more willing to understand their different characters. I think it’s OK for people to form groups according to races or religions because it feels more relaxed to stay with similar people, as long as they are not opposed to other groups.
All in all, I agree that understanding is more effective than tolerance and restraint, and to achieve understanding, we need more communication.
I think you have stated the issue clearly and analyzed very well. As you mentioned, Sinapore is a multiracial sociaty. There is a kind of barrier resulted from distinct language, culture and habbits between people from different races. This is reasonable and understandable. However, people from different races live in the same sociaty in Singapore and they should study and work togather. Now that one can not avoid getting along with people from other races, it is better to understand and make friends with others. I agree with you that "to achieve understanding, we need more communication." Communication is the most direct and efficient way to get to know other people. Communications can untie misunderstandings and shorten the distances between people. Hopefully, every one can start getting to know people from people from other races and all the efforts will contribute to the harmony in sociaty.
回复删除I agree with Catherine's idea. YOU really did a good job in elaborating this problem and suggesting a better solution. Tolerance is a common way which people usually think will work when handling conflicts. Actually, it is not the correct means; moreover, people who adopt to tolerate will be even more prone to accumulate the anger or unsatisfaction to others in their minds. Therefore, effective communication is needed to solve this problem because it can urge people from different grous to understand better. hopefully, based on the understanding and necessary communication, people can live a happier life harmoniously! And that is how a harmonous and advanced society come to reality!
回复删除Sonia
I agree with you that to achieve understanding, we need more communication. But besides understanding, I think we need to know more about other cultures first. I think it is the lack of knowledge of other cultures that causes misunderstanding and conflicts. If we lack the basic knowledge of different cultures, how can we keep on communicating? Therefore, learning is the first step of understanding and this needs all people’s efforts and government’ supports.
回复删除Also, I think restraint still plays a very important role. As we know, some cultures are quite different from others, some maybe opposite themselves. In this case, understanding may be not so easy to reach, which can lead to terrible consequences. So restraint is still needed to limit people.
Generally, I think tolerance, restraint and understanding should be combined to solve the problem.
By Yvonne (Shi Yuanyuan)