Racism and Too Bad Stupidity Isn't Painful #01

racism
• noun 1 the belief that there are characteristics, abilities, or qualities specific to each race. 2 discrimination against or antagonism towards other races.

The Straits Times (March 25, 2005)
NTU student brings the art of being a moron to new heights when he asks Dr. Vivian Balakrishan, (mixed parentage and married a Chinese to boot) Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports and concurrently Second Minister for Trade and Industry (phew, try saying that in one go) on his take on mixed marriages.

phelan has more on this.

The Straits Times (April 9, 2005)
As a followup to the previous "incident", ST does an article on whether racism was indeed alive and kicking on our little red dot.

The Straits Times (April 23, 2005)
Some reader responses to article of April 9.

"Are Singaporeans racist? Yes.
I once applied for a position in a statutory board. Interviewing me were three Chinese women, including a head of department.
The department head said: 'I am very reluctant to employ you, as you are a Malay. We try not to employ Malays and Indians, as they are trouble-makers.'
That was a very sad day.
It's even more dangerous if educators are not stopped from making racist remarks, corrupting their students.
One day, my eight-year-old son, who studies in a Special Assistance Plan school, told me that his teachers said: 'Malays and Indians have kutu (Malay for lice).'
This is not an isolated case. We must stop this trend."
- Haslinda Shamsudin

"A true racist is one who despises people of another race.
Racist jokes are, to me, harmless. Some stereotyping is factual but retold creatively. Whether one is racist depends on one's intention.
If we cannot even laugh at ourselves, we risk becoming a society without a soul. Singaporeans have built up strong racial ties though the years and do not mind harmless fun.
It's no more than a good pillow fight."
- Joseph Wong

"Singaporeans are racist, but it's not entirely their doing. The Government has continually played on fears - fears of tension, of riots, anything reminiscent of the 1960s.
This makes young Singaporeans more aware of their racial differences and they become more sensitive and defensive."
- Ho Chi Sam

"Racism is inherent in our nature, because of the need for self-preservation.
The danger is only when racism in thought is carried out in a provocative, senseless and insensitive manner.
Such as Hitler's 'Final Solution' and the 1964 racial riots. These should be condemned.
However, I do agree that racial purity should be maintained so that bloodlines, remain untainted and undiluted.
I would not marry someone of another race. Nor would I allow my children to.
If we allow our races' bloodlines to be mixed, we will lose our distinctive features and cultures. Same race marriage should be encouraged to maintain racial purity.
Racism is alive whether we like it or not, and it's harmless as long as it's controlled.
- Loi Chin Wee Desmond

"I complete disagree with the viewpoint of Minster of State for Foreign Affairs Zainal Abidin Rasheed that Singaporeans are now more enlightened.
Racism has become worse, post-9/11. Malays are looked at in a different light. Post-9/11, Chinese and Indians started assuming that their Malay neighbour was a Muslim fundamentalist, hence a terrorist.
Those who think there is no racism here should travel abroad. Only where you are in minority can you understand how it feels."
- Anup Kumar

"Singapore should adopt an equal-opportunity policy like in Britain and impose race and sex discrimination laws. Only then would the ethnic minorities in Singapore be given a fair chance."
- Baljeet Kaur

Erm, Desmond? Sorry to disturb ah but newsflash, you sound a lot like someone I know from around 60 years back and the last time I checked that fella caused a world of hurt and tens of millions to perish, so I'd suggest you take some time to google/wiki the words "Hitler", "Jim Crow", "racism" and "Final Solution" to see how much you sound like a parrot before you make yourself the poster boy for "a little knowledge is a dangerous thing"