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Welcome to this week's issue of The Birthday Workbook!

This week, we read Mohamed Imran Mohamed Taib's essay in the 2021 edition of The Birthday Book. Imran is the founder of the Centre for Interfaith understanding Singapore, an inclusive interfaith organisation.

In this piece, Imran discusses the importance of brave spaces in fostering open and productive public dialogue in Singapore.
 
Before you read the article, watch the following video and answer these questions:
  • Have you ever had difficulty discussing a particular topic with others of different beliefs?
  • What did you think of the questions asked by the producers of the video?
  • What do you think the video is trying to say? Do you agree?
Source: Channel News Asia
Now, read the article:
Read on TODAY
Consider the following questions:
  1. Why does Imran say difficult conversations do not exist? Is this an effective way to begin the essay?
  2. According to Imran, what are conversations supposed to be?
  3. Why does Imran use the word "organically" to describe conversations pushed by civil society groups, in contrast to those coordinated by government bodies?
  4. What, in Imran's view, is a "toxic" public conversation?
  5. Imran writes that disagreements are inevitable, but mature societies can share disagreements civilly. Do you think this is always true? What disagreements might you be unwilling to accept?
  6. How do safe spaces and brave spaces differ?
  7. Imran urges us to emphasise the non-attacking nature of a challenge to a view. Think of a view you hold deeply, and a time when somebody challenged it. How might they have reframed their challenge to make it less threatening? How might you have done the same, in reverse?
Further Resources:
We hope you enjoyed this week's issue of the Birthday Workbook

That's all for this week! Stay safe, take care, and feel free to write to us with your thoughts or feedback! 


 
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