In his address to parliament on Wednesday Associate Professor Koo Tsai Kee (Tanjong Pagar GRC) commented one of the key issues raised by the AWARE EGM: tolerance of diversity.
26 May 2009:
Video of Speech in Full
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‘Intolerance’ is a threat
The Straights Times, 28 May 2009, By Jeremy Au Yong
INTOLERANCE, not the economic crisis, poses the biggest threat to Singapore, Associate Professor Koo Tsai Kee (Tanjong Pagar GRC) warned in Parliament on Wednesday.
While the economic slump will pass, religious and racial bigotry could bring about Singapore’s downfall, he said during the debate on the President’s Address at the opening of the new session of Parliament.
‘This economic crisis cannot set us back permanently. It is a passing thunderstorm,’ he said.
‘But if we fall prey to religious and racial bigotry, then it will be a growing cancer in society.’
Although he did not state it explicitly, it was apparent that Prof Koo was referring in part to the recent leadership tussle at the Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware). The controversy sparked a divisive debate on issues such as religion and homosexuality.
‘I see an increasing number of Singaporeans identifying themselves with race and religion. That in itself is nothing wrong if seen in the right perspective,’ he said. ‘But I see small groups becoming self-righteous and becoming intolerant of diversity. This intolerance may be our downfall.’
Singapore has succeeded so far as it has a system of tolerance and meritocracy, one which embraces diversity and inclusiveness, he said.
Still, he warned that the country was not in the clear yet: ‘We are still a young country. In the history of nations, we are still a long way from proving that our success in peaceful co-existence can withstand the test of time.’
The Minister of State for Defence used the examples of Sri Lanka and the former Yugoslavia to show how multi-racial, multi-religious societies had fractured. He contrasted this against cities like New York and London which embraced diversity and tolerance ‘in huge doses’.
‘While we focus our energies on solving this economic crisis, we should never lose sight of the long-term challenge of building a tolerant, diverse and inclusive infrastructure where everybody has a private space within the bigger common space,’ he said.
More:
Embrace diversity – ST May 27, 2009 By Bryan Huang
Koo Tsai Kee Speech to Parliament May 26
The Scapegoat
A look at the Bible reveals the origins of the term “scapegoat.” In accordance with religious rites, a goat designated as the scapegoat, was symbolically laden with the burden of the sins.
Leviticus 16:11
“And Aaron shall bring the bull of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make atonement for himself and for his house, and shall kill the bull as the sin offering which is for himself.”
Leviticus 16: 14.
“He shall take some of the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it with his finger on the mercy seat on the east; and before the mercy seat he shall sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times.”
Leviticus 16: 15
“Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering, which is for the people, bring its blood inside the veil, do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it on the mercy seat and before the mercy seat. 16 So he shall make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions, for all their sins.”
The ritual described above is barbaric. It was an expression by people with the barbaric and scapegoat mentality.
John 3: 16
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”
Influenced by the above ritual, the crucifixion of Jesus was given a scapegoat interpretation! Our belief is the reflection of our mentality. The scapegoat interpretation attracts many people who have the scapegoat mentality of always finding a scapegoat for their wrongdoings and sins.
The clause, “whoever believes in Him”, is a condition.
Love is unconditional. If there is a condition, it is not love. It is an exchange, trading and business transaction. It is an insult to the teaching of Jesus Christ by turning love into a trade. Now, you know why some pastors are millionaires.
Did God give His only begotten Son?
Mark 16:19
“So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.”
God did not give His only begotten Son. Jesus went back and “sat down at the right hand of God.”
If something is given and taken back, it is not giving.
If I have a son who can come back and sit at my right hand after he dies, I will happily send him to fight in the wars and die a hundred times.
True sacrifice does not mean sacrificing a scapegoat or getting someone to die for you on the cross. This is the reason why Protestants and Catholics are having religious conflict. They cannot unite if they pray to Satan in the name of God. If they want harmony and peace, they must be guided by universal values because God guides them through the universal values.
Universal values are accepted by people of different religions because they are divine.
Religious values are not accepted by people of different religions because they are not divine.
The Thirty Year War (1618-1648) was a series of wars in central Europe stemmed from conflict between Protestants and Catholics.Four million people were killed and another 20 million were made homeless. Each group claimed it was fighting for God.
The lesson learnt from this war is we should separate religion from politics. Our daily life should be guided by universal values like care and compassion. Love for power should be replaced by power of love to care for our community and country.
Christian Group Encroaching Secular Schools
http://www.bb.org.sg/cos/o.x?c=/wbn/pagetree&func=view&rid=31818
The Boys’ Brigade is a Christian organisation. They should not be allowed in Non-Christian schools. This is another proof that a Christian group is encroaching on
secular space. The Ministry of Education should not allow it to happen. This shows the Ministry is biased in favour of Christianity allowing them to promote Christian values and proselytizing in schools!