Open discussion of politics, religion part of becoming developed country

I refer to the letter “Diversity should be embraced, not ignored” (July 23), which I agree with and support.

Singapore’s experience consists of two stages. The initial phase after the country’s independence was based on the idea of creating a strong identity for the new nation, with policies for press control, social engineering and so on. This is like how start-ups should be run by a few people connected by one vision, without too many cooks in the kitchen to potentially spoil the broth.

The Singapore today is different. The nation has made its way from the Third World to the First in less than 50 years. With an increasingly educated population, the open discussion of political, religious and cultural issues is part of becoming a developed country.

Social media has pulled public discussion into a different direction. It has allowed people to feel empowered, with avenues to express themselves and make their voices heard on the national as well as the global stage. This is a positive change in the hands of those who are responsible, but it is problematic in the hands of those who create disunity. There are many trolls, bigots and haters who make themselves heard on the Internet. But at the same time, there is order within the chaos. A person who says something atrocious would be “disciplined” by other Internet users. For example, British expat Anton Casey was publicly shamed online for his insensitive remarks.

Singaporeans have to accept diversity within society. With the falling birth rate, the influx of foreigners will continue, and understanding those who come from different parts of the world — bringing with them different perspectives and talents — may bring more good to the nation than some may assume. And while many Singaporeans have complained about the presence of migrant workers, they have played a part in building the country’s infrastructure. Without them, would Singaporeans be willing to take on their jobs?

Moving forward, we can look to the American dream for inspiration. Americans, regardless of their race, language or religion, consider themselves American, and it has become a large part of their identity. It would be interesting to see Singapore create an identity that goes beyond nationalism, race or religion.