Walking along Synagogue Road
By Paul Raftery
Recently we were walking down Synagogue Road when it occurred to me, we live in a wonderful
world. As we approach the celebration of Christmas quickly followed by Chinese New Year (6 th
February) I reflected we had just celebrated Diwali (the Hindu Festival of Lights) and it felt as if we
had just broken bread to celebrate Eid-e-Zahra (the end of Ramadan)
Singapore is clearly much more than a cross roads where East meets West but a centre where
multiculturism is working.
Whilst we regularly talk of Singapore as an excellent place to do business because it is an
international centre of arbitration and where contracts are viewed as under English Law with an
independent judiciary there is much more to the story.
At the suggestion of one of the Tabatinga directors we visited the Peranakan Museum to learn much
of the basis of the basis of success and tolerance of Singapore. In the 1700’s across the Malay Straits
India and Chinese merchants married with locals and made their lives in the area. Whilst they
brought with them different ways and religions they needed to understand and accept, if not
embrace, the ways and values of their new land. Each successive generation became more
integrated with the local community. Many found a home in Singapore. With the coming of
Europeans, predominantly British, the process continued. The Europeans brought school-based
education and it was accepted by many the Peranakans. The Peranakans via education learned to
accept European people and understand their values, some married Europeans and others
embraced their religions.
Singapore has an all incorporating spirit, a heritage from its Peranakan people. Tabatinga’s home is
not blessed with natural resources ins the commonly accepted sense. What is has is hardworking
and entrepreneurial people. The spirit and values
As I do my morning walks around town, I am conscious that the founding fathers of Singapore
dividend it into areas. Their popular names, Little India, China Town and more recently Marina Bay
Financial, speak of their intent today areas such as Joo Chiat / Katong is said to be the home of the
Peranakans and Holland Village and Orchard are boroughs of European culture.
Wherever I walk from our base in Clarke Quay to our office in Shenton Way I am comfortable that
the people speak English and I feel safe. Singapore really is a small place.
Why does Singapore work?
1. Respect for the rule of law and for its democracy – a political system with distinctly
Singaporean characteristics.
2. Understanding we live in a multicultural society with respect and acceptance.
3. Appreciation that the success of new people into the Singapore community is essential for
ongoing prosperity.
4. A realisation we take the best of each culture and enjoy – yes, we have a great of foods but
we have clear links to the culture of many nations and can work with them too.
5. A knowledge of what happens here is special and all of us have a duty to keep it that way.
Must go, need to be at my meditation class at the Kadampa Buddhist Meditation Centre in Neil Road
is about to start.
By Paul Raftery
Recently we were walking down Synagogue Road when it occurred to me, we live in a wonderful
world. As we approach the celebration of Christmas quickly followed by Chinese New Year (6 th
February) I reflected we had just celebrated Diwali (the Hindu Festival of Lights) and it felt as if we
had just broken bread to celebrate Eid-e-Zahra (the end of Ramadan)
Singapore is clearly much more than a cross roads where East meets West but a centre where
multiculturism is working.
Whilst we regularly talk of Singapore as an excellent place to do business because it is an
international centre of arbitration and where contracts are viewed as under English Law with an
independent judiciary there is much more to the story.
At the suggestion of one of the Tabatinga directors we visited the Peranakan Museum to learn much
of the basis of the basis of success and tolerance of Singapore. In the 1700’s across the Malay Straits
India and Chinese merchants married with locals and made their lives in the area. Whilst they
brought with them different ways and religions they needed to understand and accept, if not
embrace, the ways and values of their new land. Each successive generation became more
integrated with the local community. Many found a home in Singapore. With the coming of
Europeans, predominantly British, the process continued. The Europeans brought school-based
education and it was accepted by many the Peranakans. The Peranakans via education learned to
accept European people and understand their values, some married Europeans and others
embraced their religions.
Singapore has an all incorporating spirit, a heritage from its Peranakan people. Tabatinga’s home is
not blessed with natural resources ins the commonly accepted sense. What is has is hardworking
and entrepreneurial people. The spirit and values
As I do my morning walks around town, I am conscious that the founding fathers of Singapore
dividend it into areas. Their popular names, Little India, China Town and more recently Marina Bay
Financial, speak of their intent today areas such as Joo Chiat / Katong is said to be the home of the
Peranakans and Holland Village and Orchard are boroughs of European culture.
Wherever I walk from our base in Clarke Quay to our office in Shenton Way I am comfortable that
the people speak English and I feel safe. Singapore really is a small place.
Why does Singapore work?
1. Respect for the rule of law and for its democracy – a political system with distinctly
Singaporean characteristics.
2. Understanding we live in a multicultural society with respect and acceptance.
3. Appreciation that the success of new people into the Singapore community is essential for
ongoing prosperity.
4. A realisation we take the best of each culture and enjoy – yes, we have a great of foods but
we have clear links to the culture of many nations and can work with them too.
5. A knowledge of what happens here is special and all of us have a duty to keep it that way.
Must go, need to be at my meditation class at the Kadampa Buddhist Meditation Centre in Neil Road
is about to start.
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