TR EMERITUS

By Lawrence Pek As I am writing this article on my way from Shen Zhen (where I am based now) to Shanghai, my heart is heavy. Too much has transpired in the last 18 to 24 months. Almost every conversation that I have with my family, my friends is about where this country is going and how things have changed. Besides the usual... 

Dear Editor,   I refer to the letter by Ling Tuck Min dated 3 Feb 2010.   Mr Ling wants Singaporeans to imagine PAP distributing a million dollars each to Singaporeans.  But the PAP wouldn't even distribute more than a few hundred dollars to poor old folks.  How to imagine PAP distributing a thousand dollars let alone a... 

文：吴妮臻 现今的新加坡社会虽然已经逐渐迈向“国际化”的概念，但是新加坡人民视野的国际化程度还是相当狭窄的。“国际化”强调的概念是由一个地方社会能够连接到国际视野，从多元文化 (multiculturalism) 的角度；充分及积极地解决外国人定居新加坡后在文化以及社会参与等各个方面的需求。并且同时能够以开阔的视野，宽宏的接纳态度与新移民建立起互动关系，协助新移民的社会适应。 新移民移居新加坡后，往往会形成自己的聚落，来自共同家乡/或者不同国家的新移民之间不但有所交流，也会彼此互相支援，凝聚力量来解决彼此在社会适应上的困难；然而从新加坡的社会角度来看，原有的国民与这些新移民之间还是存有隔阂。国人因为担心大量涌入的新移民会改变新加坡固有的社会文化面貌与价值观，所以仍然对新移民持有很多负面的看法与偏见。一旦有了偏见，人与人之间就不愿意主动接触；这也是相当自然的现象。 然而，依据“国际化”的精神，身为“接待者”的新加坡国人应当加速自己与新移民彼此间的了解与公平互动，...