"For religion, race and country!"
I think that phrase is wrong. Let's break it down:-
Definitely without a doubt, hands down Allah s.w.t (and for some Jesus, Buddha etc.) comes first. He comes before all, be it before friends, family and even self. Agree? Great!
Race, to me should not not come second and country should come before. See, my rational is that when you put race before country, every different race will fight for their own rights and superiority. There will be all the "bangsaku ditindas!!!", "kerajaan tidak adil!!!" and then we'll have to struggle to fend for whatever it is that we think is fair. But in all of these arguing, political debates, race wars, prejudice and fights for a better place in the country, we forget. We forget about the country, about Malaysia. And at the end of the day, after all the media wars, political feuds, street fights, demonstrations (be it peaceful or not) and all other kinds of headbutts between MALAYSIANS, one race may be in a better place in the country but in a country that is in a worse position than before. Point is, putting race before country would drive the country in many different directions.
Help me understand this. You fight for what you may deem right. Even if the consequence may be that other parties may end up with bitter feelings or even vengeance. And when you "win", you attempt to correct the damage you've done to make what you have won a more favorable win. Isn't that just plain redundant?
Say we put country before race, in my opinion, Malaysians will fight for Malaysia and not for "the Malays", "the Chinese", "the Indians or whatever "the-elses"(I'd just like to point out that even the tribals of Malaysia prefer to be addressed according to their own individual tribes! Kadazan, Iban etc.) that share this country with the rest of us. If we have the mentality of country before race then we'd be going the same way, just one way, right? And we'd be heading there together as Malaysia!
Yes, we are a multiracial country. Undeniable! Are we a melting pot for all the different races here? NO! (well, I don't think so). We have successfully created a beautiful carved and arranged mosaic of different cultures. We do live together with certain extent of peace and harmony (consideration taken for recent uncalled for events such as the protest that brought a cow's head into the picture) but we cannot deny the fact that we are very very very far apart.
I applaud the government's effort to instill the spirit of "1Malaysia "in every Malaysian. With all the competitions and meaningful advertisements. Also worth mentioning would be the late Yasmin Ahmad's work that does not recognize racial boundaries and ever promoting all races as equal which ultimately makes the racial divide smaller. It may not reach many and it may also be a small/minute/minuscule/microscopic difference BUT it is still a difference nonetheless.
Race, to me should not not come second and country should come before. See, my rational is that when you put race before country, every different race will fight for their own rights and superiority. There will be all the "bangsaku ditindas!!!", "kerajaan tidak adil!!!" and then we'll have to struggle to fend for whatever it is that we think is fair. But in all of these arguing, political debates, race wars, prejudice and fights for a better place in the country, we forget. We forget about the country, about Malaysia. And at the end of the day, after all the media wars, political feuds, street fights, demonstrations (be it peaceful or not) and all other kinds of headbutts between MALAYSIANS, one race may be in a better place in the country but in a country that is in a worse position than before. Point is, putting race before country would drive the country in many different directions.
Help me understand this. You fight for what you may deem right. Even if the consequence may be that other parties may end up with bitter feelings or even vengeance. And when you "win", you attempt to correct the damage you've done to make what you have won a more favorable win. Isn't that just plain redundant?
Say we put country before race, in my opinion, Malaysians will fight for Malaysia and not for "the Malays", "the Chinese", "the Indians or whatever "the-elses"(I'd just like to point out that even the tribals of Malaysia prefer to be addressed according to their own individual tribes! Kadazan, Iban etc.) that share this country with the rest of us. If we have the mentality of country before race then we'd be going the same way, just one way, right? And we'd be heading there together as Malaysia!
Yes, we are a multiracial country. Undeniable! Are we a melting pot for all the different races here? NO! (well, I don't think so). We have successfully created a beautiful carved and arranged mosaic of different cultures. We do live together with certain extent of peace and harmony (consideration taken for recent uncalled for events such as the protest that brought a cow's head into the picture) but we cannot deny the fact that we are very very very far apart.
I applaud the government's effort to instill the spirit of "1Malaysia "in every Malaysian. With all the competitions and meaningful advertisements. Also worth mentioning would be the late Yasmin Ahmad's work that does not recognize racial boundaries and ever promoting all races as equal which ultimately makes the racial divide smaller. It may not reach many and it may also be a small/minute/minuscule/microscopic difference BUT it is still a difference nonetheless.
So, I'll try to start changing by shouting:
"Demi agama, negara dan bangsa!!"
I am just trying to admit
that it pains me to see the
widespread racial polarization.
I love you, Malaysia
p.s. I don't remember where or when i got the
picture from but all credits are to the photographer :)
picture from but all credits are to the photographer :)
2 comments:
aku ada tgk pic yg dia pijak kepala lembu tu. haih, apa lah diorang ni. otak lembu btol.
tu laa pasal~
menghampakan :(
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