It is heartening to see that there are young people in Singapore who appreciate the need to bring the state of civic discussion a step higher ("Create safe spaces to discuss race, religion" by Ashley Tan Yu Yi; Voices of Youth, Feb 15).

All Singaporeans would have gone through some form of institutionalised National Education, where they learn that "Singapore is a multiracial and multicultural society".

If we really wish for it to be so, however, citizens have to constantly engage and understand one another's opinions and reactions to changing circumstances in the world.

It is not down to only the Government or a civic group to promote such understanding.

Singaporeans have to open their hearts and minds and create a space where nobody is afraid to ask difficult questions, with the intention to understand one another better, and not to impose our views on others.

Lewis Liu Zhongkang