are we ready to be colour-blind?
Saturday, November 22, 2008 (10:17 PM)
the above was the title of an article in the straits times some days ago regarding the US presidential elections. it asked if singaporeans are ready to accept a non-chinese PM. many atimes, we are reminded of our different races by the mass media. each year, after the psle and gce 'o' levels, the mass media tells us who the top chinese, malay and indian students are. why the need to segregate the ranking of the races?
some years ago, i wrote an anti-racism song and i used the term colour-blindness to refer to non-racism. it was not until this particular article which printed a black-and-white image that i realised colour-blindness is not exactly a good representation of non-racism. after all, the black and white are still stark in contrast.
so is it futile to speak of anti-racism?
no.
analogies are ultimately what they are - analogies. nothing more. colour-blindness is definitely not a good analogy though it is a good play on the language.
the beauty of the kaleidoscope is the coming together of a spectra of colours.
we should acknowledge that we are different because it is our difference that makes this world so beautiful.
the thing to note is, there should not be any stratification even in the mind.
someone responded in the papers saying that we are not ready for a non-chinese PM because aside from race, there is still cultural and religious issue. i don't really get it.
who the fuck chooses a PM based on his religion here?
and if the guy is knowledgeable enough, he should realise that the political system doesn't allow us to choose our PM.