The mask we all wear

Let's face it.

In this country, a thick black line has been drawn between "them" and "us".

It has gotten worse, no thanks to those who have contributed to the gradual erosion of trust and insistence of a greater divide between "them" and "us".

Look at the present generation. Most are a cynical lot. Perhaps they have cynical parents who have seen how the system can destroy their dreams and that of their loved ones and how they can be victimised at the whims and fancies of a bigoted few.

(Prime Minister) Abdullah said history was a good teacher and Malaysians should learn from what had happened in the past in order to move forward. (NST frontpage, 7/12/06)

Really? Does the version of history being taught to our school children these days teaches us anything constructive to national unity & diversity? I beg to differ. Maybe the teaching of constitutional law to our kids would serve a better purpose.

Admitting that race relations were still fragile and brittle, Abdullah urged all Malaysians to mend fences and unite, or the country would face a bleak future.

... "What we want to achieve can only be realised through the efforts of all Malaysians, not just a select race. I do not want only one race to celebrate (Merdeka) because they are the only ones who feel the spirit. All races must celebrate. We must eliminate all negative feelings towards each other. We must unite as Malaysians to take on the world."

Again, look at the real issues which have caused the disunity that is so apparent these days.

Perhaps, "they" who feel that they are the rightful owners of this country and thus bear the true spirit of patriotism as against all the other "pendatangs" should be magnanimous and try to reach out and eliminate all the negativity that has seeped into the hearts & minds of all "the others" who have been repeatedly reminded to pay the price for the right of abode.

The "adopted" child syndrome has pushed many things into the dark recesses of the unspeakable and undebatable. The only channel of expression left is the rejection of things that could further erode their sense of dignity and survival in the harsh face of reality. And the rejection will continue so long as their patriotism to this country is dismissed as irrelevant to the cause of someone else's agenda.

It is now up to the "Tuan" who carries the key to any real meaningful integration efforts to reunite us all as one in this blessed country.

All it takes is the political will to do so. The political will of the true master who rules this country.

Emotional speeches contribute nothing at all to the solving of this problem.