Personal mindsets and habitual interactions must not revolve around race but must draw on the larger and shared legacies of heritage, history and culture. That is the only way Singapore as a whole can remain strong. If parents believe that this is the future they want for their children, they must inculcate the values of an inclusive society at home, not least by example. Civic nationalism will come naturally to the young when parents think of Singapore as a nation for all its people, regardless of race and religion. Schools will succeed in reinforcing the message only if it is there in the first place. Multiracialism weathers elements best when its roots are planted early on in life.