Race, Culture and Genes
An interesting read brought to my attention by Nish.
The paper expresses the views of the author alone.
Lee Kuan Yew: Race, Culture and Genes
by Michael D. Barr
Department of History,University of Queensland
Journal of Contemporary Asia v29, n2 (1999)
Department of History,
Journal of Contemporary Asia v29, n2 (1999)
Racism is rarely far from the surface of Asian societies, and this is especially true of those multiracial societies that feel the need to promote racial tolerance as part of official ideology. Yet even in these cases, promoting racial tolerance does not necessarily imply the promotion of racial indifference.
6 comments:
Interesting. This is going to take sometime as I am reading it in bits and pieces. Very interesting :) I shall be back ;)
It's rather beyond my political interest to read the whole full article and to analyse in depth for those issues mentioned. However, just want to point out one interesting part about the different 'discrimination' felt for 2 close neighbours -- M'sia and S'pore.
While it's considered as Pro-Chinese bias in Spore, it's rather Pro-Malay bias in Msia. I guess it's more of the effect felt whereby the majority have stronger voice and power; and thus the minority (Malay&Indian in Spore; Chinese&Indian in Msia) felt they are less appreciated.
Reading the full article, and even simply through the first part at the top about education and economy situations, interchange the words of "Chinese" and "Malay", you could basically get a brief understanding of the situation in Msia. At least what some might feel / agree with.
It is also stated that the pro-chinese approach in Singaporean education system is a disadvantage to the Malay communities. Rather to say that the National Curriculum in Msia (whereby Malay language is in priority) has been less helpful for the minorities (especially if they don't do well in Malay Language), I think at least our education system (national primary schools with different mother tongues as medium of instruction; as well as private schools) has also provided us some foundations to pursue our studies in either Chinese or English speaking countries, even if one doesn't do well in Msian government schools.
It's very sensitive to talk about these issues. Some find ways to internationalise the logical of government's approach whether it's pro-chinese or pro-malay, some just don't bother about it after awhile; while to many, there's no point of arguments simply because we can't do much anyway.
No matter what. I believe there isn't a fair land in anywhere around the world. Shame...after so such a long time or fighting against discrimination / promoting equality of humanity, we still have a long way to go before being close to the ideal.
However, as much as I belive that many policies were made based on some practical approach of reaching a more ideal state to bring different races at least on par in socioeconomic status, there is a strong need for constant reviews, accessments and adjustments from time to time. One works 10 years ago might not work now.
No matter what...we need people of different backgrounds, cultural or expertise to help build stronger nation. No one man can survive without collaborations of others.
Wen
What if we stop all the social engineering around the world and let the market forces decide?
each is born with the same handicap, no quotas, no special status...survival of the fittest...
What say u?
iyer
Iyer - survival of the fittest as ideal as it may seem will not work at all because of the nature of humans, because of the additional baggage called intellect and a much more complex psyche, because of emotions called "empathy" felt by us all... But I am all for getting rid of social engineering, programming and all that; but we as humans operate from various different levels. Mere complexity should not stop us though...
The lack of social engineering will only speed up the entire evolution process... some people are more evolved than others (irrespective of races) and they will simply have to move ahead, but we are not islands. What the lesser evolved people do affects the more evolved ones and vice-versa. So it is a sort of ecosystem that requires a holistic approach. The world is slowly getting towards the survival of the fittest mode, but I don't think we are well prepared for it!! Because then "anything" can be justified for the sake of survival - would u want that? THis mode of operation will only lead to speedy destruction in my opinion.
ranj,
good point...
but take ur case and mine...we are minorities everywhere...
there is no place were we get any special status...or is there?
lemme know
iyer
Iyer: we are no minorities in India. We form the majority, though India is a difference case - there the majorities are reverse discrminated against the minorities :) That has led to some frustration among some people, but the security (good or bad I dont know) that comes with being part of a majority is different. The minorities usually (the african americans, the different races here or M'sia etc) have a battle to fight. It is best to be a minority in India ;) Hehe
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