I watched the program in its entirety just. A thought provoking production for sure!
** I would RECOMMEND EVERYONE to watch this **
Before I comment further, I totally am grateful that the MP from PAP is spearheading this documentary as ANYNE else doing this on such a sensitive topic WILL NOT be condoned, and possible dangerous as it will create all kinds of responses that may have 'unintended consequences'!
So, it is BETTER that this is done under a 'safe and controlled' environment as it is a VERY IMPORTANT topic to explore.
What I found MOST STRIKING is the segment where Muslims and Non-Muslims DIFFERED significantly in what is deemed: 'Acceptable' and 'Offensive'!
e.g. Linking terrorism to Islam even when ISIS claimed responsibilities is deemed offensive. So, is the statement: "The Arab Spring is over. Welcome to Jihadi spring."
This is revealing and DEFINITELY deserving of MORE RESEARCH into WHY they think that way!! e.g. are the Muslims over protective? do they feel that they have been misunderstood and if so, what can they do to dispel any misunderstanding others may have of their faith? etc.
There was a section where the Presenter asked what type of measures the different religious persons invited to the program would say: "Yes" to promote inter-religious faith harmony and there were 2 mentioned:
1. inter-religious studies in school; and
2. an inter-religious harmony week observation.
Besides these, I suggest:
1. emphasises the SECULAR nature of our political system. Race and Religion SHOULD BE kept out of it. EP being an exception as that is to create racial representation accordingly to the current government;
2. emphasises the criticality of RESPECTING Other Religion. That you can say ALL the GOOD THINGS about your own religion. At the same time, you MUST NEVER say anything BAD ABOUT other people's RELIGION! It is as SIMPLE as that!!;
3. understand that there are a lot inter-religious, inter-faith circle events going on in the grass root organizations and community spaces, we must DO MORE OF them AND, importantly, get this particular PAP MP and/or his team to CRAFT OUT a National Program on HOW TO MAKE THEM more effective!
Judging from the segment when 4 young university undergraduate with religious beliefs were pulled together, the inter-religious/inter-faith meeting don't happen often enough if at all. And that even when they did happen, the QUALITY of sharing may not be present since little were exchanged about each other's religion!!
This program is a GOOD START to alert us to a potential issue ALL Singaporeans must tackle.
If we have NOTHING good to say about other people's religion, it is BEST to SHUT UP! Just do YOUR OWN religion WELL and be happy with it.
Having said that, SHOULD there ever be a terrorist attack where 'religion' was used, ALL Singaporeans of ALL religious persuasions MUST GO to the Padang and sit together to DEMONSTRATE that we are 'regardless of race, language and religion' One People One Singapore!
Majulah Singapura!
** I would RECOMMEND EVERYONE to watch this **
Before I comment further, I totally am grateful that the MP from PAP is spearheading this documentary as ANYNE else doing this on such a sensitive topic WILL NOT be condoned, and possible dangerous as it will create all kinds of responses that may have 'unintended consequences'!
So, it is BETTER that this is done under a 'safe and controlled' environment as it is a VERY IMPORTANT topic to explore.
What I found MOST STRIKING is the segment where Muslims and Non-Muslims DIFFERED significantly in what is deemed: 'Acceptable' and 'Offensive'!
e.g. Linking terrorism to Islam even when ISIS claimed responsibilities is deemed offensive. So, is the statement: "The Arab Spring is over. Welcome to Jihadi spring."
This is revealing and DEFINITELY deserving of MORE RESEARCH into WHY they think that way!! e.g. are the Muslims over protective? do they feel that they have been misunderstood and if so, what can they do to dispel any misunderstanding others may have of their faith? etc.
There was a section where the Presenter asked what type of measures the different religious persons invited to the program would say: "Yes" to promote inter-religious faith harmony and there were 2 mentioned:
1. inter-religious studies in school; and
2. an inter-religious harmony week observation.
Besides these, I suggest:
1. emphasises the SECULAR nature of our political system. Race and Religion SHOULD BE kept out of it. EP being an exception as that is to create racial representation accordingly to the current government;
2. emphasises the criticality of RESPECTING Other Religion. That you can say ALL the GOOD THINGS about your own religion. At the same time, you MUST NEVER say anything BAD ABOUT other people's RELIGION! It is as SIMPLE as that!!;
3. understand that there are a lot inter-religious, inter-faith circle events going on in the grass root organizations and community spaces, we must DO MORE OF them AND, importantly, get this particular PAP MP and/or his team to CRAFT OUT a National Program on HOW TO MAKE THEM more effective!
Judging from the segment when 4 young university undergraduate with religious beliefs were pulled together, the inter-religious/inter-faith meeting don't happen often enough if at all. And that even when they did happen, the QUALITY of sharing may not be present since little were exchanged about each other's religion!!
This program is a GOOD START to alert us to a potential issue ALL Singaporeans must tackle.
If we have NOTHING good to say about other people's religion, it is BEST to SHUT UP! Just do YOUR OWN religion WELL and be happy with it.
Having said that, SHOULD there ever be a terrorist attack where 'religion' was used, ALL Singaporeans of ALL religious persuasions MUST GO to the Padang and sit together to DEMONSTRATE that we are 'regardless of race, language and religion' One People One Singapore!
Majulah Singapura!
No comments:
Post a Comment