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Why Singapore needs brave conversations on race and religion
When we go beyond tolerance to a deeper understanding of one another’s faiths and fears, we may find we are more alike than different.
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In a world increasingly fractured by extremism, cultural misunderstandings and political polarisation, Singapore has long prided itself on being a model of cohesion.
ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN
Shahrany Hassan
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In the quiet of a school library, a Secondary 4 student lowered her voice and said, “Until today, I never knew a joke I’ve always made could hurt someone.” She was part of a facilitated dialogue session exploring race, religion, and integration in Singapore. Her comment, though simple, was profound – it captured what so many in Singapore still need to realise: our multicultural harmony cannot thrive on silence, superficial celebrations, or slogans alone. It must be nourished by honest, and often uncomfortable, conversations.
In a world increasingly fractured by extremism, cultural misunderstandings, and political polarisation, Singapore has long prided itself on being a model of cohesion. But in truth, even here, quiet prejudices, casual racism, and deeply ingrained stereotypes persist. And we rarely talk about them – at least not meaningfully.
