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HALKY in 1990 on how one's ethnic identity was an integral part of the self and could not be simply overridden by a national one.
He took a clear and practical view of race, often arguing that it was a key part of how people saw themselves, and it could not be ignored in favor of a vague national identity.
In his speeches and writings, he warned that pretending race didn't matter was unrealistic and could lead to instability, especially in a multi-ethnic society with a history of communal tension.
Instead he argued that any national identity should be based in reality, with careful, thoughtful policies that balanced the interests of different racial groups so could be integrated into a cohesive high-trust society without having to give up their identities.
This approach stands in contrast to many Western models, which often swing between overly emphasising race in every issue until it overshadows everything, or promoting color-blindness while overlooking real differences and grievances, lead to confusion and polarisation instead of unity.
Do you think it is possible to just be a national of country, or will one's ethnic roots always matter?
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