Its been a long time since I wrote. Life kinda took over.
I've been busy, good kind of busy. While there were thoughts floating around in my head, none of it was urgent enough to put them down.
But today, I just felt the need to. I'm sad, disheartened at all that's happening in my homeland. As Malaysia becomes more exposed to the world, and we seemingly have become more global citizens, the 'Me' syndrome seems to be more prevalent. Its is becoming more about who I am & what I want; what I think is right is becoming more & more obvious.
Not that such thoughts are wrong in itself but when it happens at the exclusion of everything else, then, to me at least, it is wrong.
Everyone is entitled to an opinion and a belief in what they think is right. But that cannot mean that the other person is wrong.
Over the years, we have been bombarded with pictures and stories about the so-called 'unity' of the Malaysian races. It is a wonderful trait of Malaysian life but then, most anywhere else in the world today also shares this multiculturalism. I think that today, we need to celebrate our differences.
Acknowledge we are different, race, culture, language, religion & sometimes even our values. Understanding these differences doesn't in any way dilute who I am as a person.
I am a Malaysian Indian, 2nd generation Catholic. Technically, my father is Tamil & my mother Singhalese. While in Sri Lanka, they are killing each other, my parents' marriage continues to inspire me today.
I was raised in rural Perak, close to the Thai border. My secondary education was in a government boarding school, where I was the only non-bumiputera in my form of 75 students - my entire school had less than 10 non-bumis. While I have only recently reconnected with my friends, via Facebook :-), I remember the times when these were my family. We saw each other through thick & thin, shared happy & sad moments together.
I opted to study Islamic Religious Knowledge in school, scoring in distinction in my SPM. I learnt about Islam, what they believe in, why they believe and how they live their lives. I have the utmost respect for Islam - I think its a peaceful belief that leads people to surrender their lives to the Almighty.
But I am still a Catholic. If anything, while understanding and appreciating Islam, I developed a deeper interest and faith in Catholiscism.
My husband is a Malaysian Chinese and we have 3 children. We remind our children to always celebrate their 'mixed' race - that they are not one or the other but the combination of what's best. I hope that one day my children will realise that while they should always be mindful of their heritage, whether due to their race, religion, citizenship, what they make of their lives is what ultimately counts.
I feel blessed that in my life I have been exposed to various races, religions, cultures etc. I am aware of what's good and what's not so good in them. But I am still me!
I think all Malaysians should spent time reflecting on who we are as a person. If we constantly try to become better a person individually, nothing and no one can stop us, regardless of race, religion, culture, whatever. And because of our confidence in ourselves, we will stop acting defensively against others, instead embracing their differences and learning from them, enriching our selves, and in now way, becoming more (not less) than who we already are.
Let's put an end to this culture of fear and become confident that as Malaysians, of all races, religions & cultures, we are good people living in a blessed country.
I've been busy, good kind of busy. While there were thoughts floating around in my head, none of it was urgent enough to put them down.
But today, I just felt the need to. I'm sad, disheartened at all that's happening in my homeland. As Malaysia becomes more exposed to the world, and we seemingly have become more global citizens, the 'Me' syndrome seems to be more prevalent. Its is becoming more about who I am & what I want; what I think is right is becoming more & more obvious.
Not that such thoughts are wrong in itself but when it happens at the exclusion of everything else, then, to me at least, it is wrong.
Everyone is entitled to an opinion and a belief in what they think is right. But that cannot mean that the other person is wrong.
Over the years, we have been bombarded with pictures and stories about the so-called 'unity' of the Malaysian races. It is a wonderful trait of Malaysian life but then, most anywhere else in the world today also shares this multiculturalism. I think that today, we need to celebrate our differences.
Acknowledge we are different, race, culture, language, religion & sometimes even our values. Understanding these differences doesn't in any way dilute who I am as a person.
I am a Malaysian Indian, 2nd generation Catholic. Technically, my father is Tamil & my mother Singhalese. While in Sri Lanka, they are killing each other, my parents' marriage continues to inspire me today.
I was raised in rural Perak, close to the Thai border. My secondary education was in a government boarding school, where I was the only non-bumiputera in my form of 75 students - my entire school had less than 10 non-bumis. While I have only recently reconnected with my friends, via Facebook :-), I remember the times when these were my family. We saw each other through thick & thin, shared happy & sad moments together.
I opted to study Islamic Religious Knowledge in school, scoring in distinction in my SPM. I learnt about Islam, what they believe in, why they believe and how they live their lives. I have the utmost respect for Islam - I think its a peaceful belief that leads people to surrender their lives to the Almighty.
But I am still a Catholic. If anything, while understanding and appreciating Islam, I developed a deeper interest and faith in Catholiscism.
My husband is a Malaysian Chinese and we have 3 children. We remind our children to always celebrate their 'mixed' race - that they are not one or the other but the combination of what's best. I hope that one day my children will realise that while they should always be mindful of their heritage, whether due to their race, religion, citizenship, what they make of their lives is what ultimately counts.
I feel blessed that in my life I have been exposed to various races, religions, cultures etc. I am aware of what's good and what's not so good in them. But I am still me!
I think all Malaysians should spent time reflecting on who we are as a person. If we constantly try to become better a person individually, nothing and no one can stop us, regardless of race, religion, culture, whatever. And because of our confidence in ourselves, we will stop acting defensively against others, instead embracing their differences and learning from them, enriching our selves, and in now way, becoming more (not less) than who we already are.
Let's put an end to this culture of fear and become confident that as Malaysians, of all races, religions & cultures, we are good people living in a blessed country.
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