Inter-racial harmony and inter-faith in Singapore ... My neighbours & others

I thank God for my beloved grandmother, a woman enlightened beyond her educational level (she had only primary education as it was World War II when she was finishing primary school and in any case, the family did not have the finances to continue sending her to school), who taught me many things when I was a child & we were staying together. Despite the lack of formal education, she was wise in certain ways and never parochial.

When I was a child, my grandmother set an example for me by befriending neighbours of different races. I didn't think much about it at that time; it was only when I was much older that I considered the implications and was amazed at the values she had helped to inculcate in me without my knowing.

During Chinese New Year or other major festivities, she would always carefully arrange oranges and other food considered permissible by Muslims on a large tray and ask me to go over, knock on the doors of our Malay neighbours and proffer it to them graciously & with sincerity of heart.

They reciprocated during Hari Raya festivals by coming over to give us delicacies.

The key word is 'sincerity'.

As our nation 'developed', it seems some of this community spirit and the shared sense of humanity is diluted. As people live in crowded cities & people in the world become more suspicious of one another due to fears of terrorist threats and so on, lack of trust builds up and people seek to preserve what little space they think they have left. Doors are shut.

I believe that it might feel a bit strange to start the practice my grandmother had , especially if one is not used to it . However, it is important and such a simple step that one tends not to think about it. We don't need more big and major campaigns or organised functions to build ties. We need more of these little things on the ground. How does it help if we bypass our neighbours with nary a sincere thought every day yet try to build ties overnight by partaking in a one-day obligatory function and returning to our own world of oblivion thereafter?

I have been trying to communicate more with my female Malay neighbours & friends (and sometimes, they can really surprise you; my Muslim friends & neighbours are often fun, funny and much funkier and warmer than some might think, once they begin to trust you)... With my Malay housewife neighbour, it started with a smile and progressed to long chats along the corridor... She's really cool, friendly and intelligent.
.... By God's grace, I hope to continue communicating more with them....