From IN: Should race be a factor in friendship?
Hi Alison!
Definetly not. I believe race should not be important when friends are chosen. Here in Singapore, we are a multi-racial and religious society, so we should adopt this friendly attitude towards others whether they be black or white, light or dark. Though it's a human instinct to stick around people of your own race and not feel exactly comfortable with others, we should try our best to be friends with people of different races, cultures and religions. Race is not something to identify or to seperate a certian person from the rest. It's not race that matters the most- other factors are more important, such as character. To choose a person as a friend over race is not a wise thing to do. By doing that one is just creating a tiny rift between the races. I think that in this rising age of communication and information, cultures and races will come together, and i don't think that all of them will accept each other as friends. Although this may be a simple thing- it can lead to something much more conflicting if this attitude spreads throughout the community. In summary- If we choose friends over race and if the community has this attitude, we are just creating a problem for ourselves- a rift between the races and a potential racial hotspot.
I am a Christian in this place called Heart of God church. When i look around, i see friends of different races- Chinese, Malay, Indian - a mix of races. All of us, i feel, really are together as one church not only because of one God and two Pastors, but our descision to be friends with each other, setting race aside. Let's say we take away the racial factor here. What will happen is that Heart of God church would be nothing more than a place youths go- and nothing less. There may be some togetherness or community, but there will always be a rift between the races. This is why we have to be racially tolerant in terms of friendship!
If we take away this factor of race in friendship, we will not only see the end to subtle racial rifts- We will see great things happening as people from different races come together as one. The bible says that if people of different generations, (Mary and Elizabeth) come together, great things will happen. I believe if people of different generations AND races come together, we will see not only amazing things- we will see incredible breakthroughs in not only racial barriers- but cultural, religious and other walls in our world!
Billy Zheng Xiangpeng
16, Sec 4A2, Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road)
Have to sort out priorities. Aiyah. Just realised my life is so messed, i need a timetable man.
To put God first in my life and to change the things that i need to change for the better. I've done alot lah. ):