Here's a third angle seen from a Malay.. http://wherebearsroamfree.blogspot.sg/2012/10/is-amy-cheongs-ignorance-failure-in-our.html
But our system is a hotbed for ignorance to flourish -
Here are some examples of our system where ignorance can flourish.
1. SAP Schools -
2. SAF's Malayphobia -
3. Stereotyping Malays as lazy - Minorities need to speak up for their rights
Effect of "exemption" from NS for Malays in the 1960s and 70s -
First of all, let's clear up some misconception. The Malays were NEVER exempted. They were just not called up. But legally, they were still liable.
To add insult to injury, when these young Malays in the 1960s and 1970s could not find jobs and loafed around the streets, they were called "lazy".
Social Impact of "exemption" of NS for Malays on the generations after -
The saddest part for Malay Community about this totally unjustified non-calling up of NS by the racist PAPpy govt is that it did not just affect the Malay youth of the 1960s and 1970s. The effect carried down the generations thereafter.
By the time Malay youths were getting called up in the 1980s, the biggest and juiciest part of the economic boom was over. We had the first economic crisis in 1985. We had another in the 1990s - and another more crippling one the last decade, which we are still trying to get out from.
Stock Boom Years -
Alas, again when the Malays thought they have "caught up", the prices rose out of their reach - all because of the discriminatory practice of not calling up Malays for NS in the 1960s and 1970s!
4. Harping on "race riots" of the 1960s - The Sg govt keeps harping the race riots of the 60s, implicitly blaming the Malay community. However, I have discussed this topic before as well. If one were to study the history of our riots, there were more Chinese based riots against the govt of the day instigated by Chinese than race riots. Why then this harping of race riots instigated by Malays? History of Riots in Singapore - LKY's racist version has to be stopped
The above are four examples of how the govt has created an environment which allows ignorance (in this case, against the Malays) to flourish.
Conclusion -
In all probability, Amy's tirade began with her ignorance about another's culture. But that is half the story. The other half is that we are in a society that actually allows such ignorance to flourish.
So is Amy Cheong's ignorance a sign that our system to integrate races and culture has failed?
Perhaps it is time the higher ups did something about the system and not just sacking people from their jobs as a damage control measure.
Singapore version of Dr Mahathir's Malay Dilemma?