THE recent debate over the Biro Tata Negara courses has cast a spotlight over a much bigger issue – racism. The words "racist" and "racism" that were shunned all these years have become the issue of public focus. More and more people are beginning to realise that open discussion of such issues in a civil manner is the only way to desensitise the people to accept the hard facts facing the nation and its people of diverse ethnicity. Forbidding such debate and pushing controversial issues under the carpet will only postpone its disastrous effects to a later date.
The Cambridge dictionary defines racism as the belief that people’s qualities are influenced by their race and that the members of other races are not as good as the members of your own. A racist is therefore someone who believes that other races are not as good as his own and therefore justifies their unfair treatment. Going by this definition we are all racists to a certain degree as we all harbour to a certain extent that inherent feeling of the superiority of our own community over others.
Despite being condemned by all major religions of the world and abhorred by man throughout his history, racism was one of the greatest problems that plagued mankind throughout the ages and unfortunately it continues to do so till today. Wars, riots and violence due to racial strife might have killed more people than natural disasters and diseases. Race of an individual is believed to be a God-given and is beyond our control but it continues to be the cause of misery for millions around the globe.
Malaysia is no different from nations and we have our share of racism which rears its ugly head from time to time. The ongoing debate on racism is an indication that we may be getting out of our state of denial and beginning to accept that it does indeed exist in the minds of our people to some extent regardless of their ethnicity. This awareness may be the beginning of our people’s war against this evil that is threatening the peace, harmony and progress of the nation. Basically all of us are racists to some extent as this feeling of ethnic superiority exists in the hearts all of us. Instead of accusing one another as being racist, we should accept that we are all guilty of that evil and make amends to overcome it in whatever way we can. The great men on whom the major religions were founded rose above racial divide to advocate a common brotherhood of man. Unfortunately, although we claim to be ardent followers of these great men, we are far away from the ideals of their teachings in our words and deeds when it comes to our attitude towards those of a different race or creed.
Being a nation of religiously inclined people who firmly uphold the belief in God we must subscribe to the concept of the universal brotherhood of the human race. Aren’t we are all His children regardless of race and creed? If so we must strive to rid ourselves of the inherent racist trait from our hearts to regard all men as equal. The 1Malaysia concept has created the awareness among the people of all races for the need for greater racial integration. We must develop a new mindset that transcends race and religion in dealing with one another. It is in this multiracial mindset that lies our hopes for a brighter harmonious and progressive nation.
