22 July 2020
- RSIS
- Media Highlights
- Racial Harmony Day Underscores Need for Better Understanding of Diversity
Differences in cultures and backgrounds will always exist in an urbanised society like Singapore, and there is a need to continue having discussions about race and diversity beyond Racial Harmony Day, Ambassador-at-Large Ong Keng Yong said at a virtual book launch on Tuesday. The book, Faith, Identity, Cohesion, seeks to continue conversations from the International Conference on Cohesive Societies that Singapore hosted in June last year. The launch was organised by the RSIS and World Scientific Publishing. Pointing to a recent case where the National Library Board removed a Chinese-language children’s book for review after it was flagged for racist content, as well as other instances where Singaporeans have “preconceived notions” about others from different ethnic or religious backgrounds, Mr Ong, who is Executive Deputy Chairman of RSIS said, “It’s necessary for us to start this kind of awareness building right from an early age… and as we go up the educational ladder, we become more sophisticated in expressing ourselves.”
RSIS / Online / Print
Last updated on 22/07/2020