We don’t need the world to applaud our every move if we want to make a difference.
I PREFER to watch movies from the comfort of my living room. I can pause, rewind and even watch the movie over a few sittings.
Cinema-goers tend to be impatient and will be off their seats the moment the movie ends, much like those people who go to a stadium to watch a football match and start to leave even before the final whistle is blown.
I like to watch the end credits because it is a reminder that behind every great piece of work, there are many unknown people involved in its making.
The unsung heroes include a gaffer, a key grip, a property master, a digital compositor, a boom operator, a make-up artist – the list goes on.
They will never get to go up on stage to receive an Oscar but their roles are critical.
When Iron Man hit the screen, I must have been the only one left in the cinema hall as the credits rolled because I wanted to see one name appear.
It took a while, but when the name Jerome Moo appeared as part of the visual effects team, I felt really proud.
Jerome was in his 20s when, as a talented digital artist, he began his career at a games studio in Kuala Lumpur.
Despite being born with a hearing disability, he has ventured far to further his career in an industry that appreciates talent, no matter where you come from.
The world remembers Robert Downey as Iron Man or Tony Stark, but I will always equate the movie to my good friend, Jerome.
He has done very well indeed. There are a number of other movies in which his name appears, and the latest is the final instalment of The Hobbit that is currently showing in our cinemas.
And Jerome is still very much a Malaysian despite his international exposure.
Life is pretty much like that, don’t you think? The world zooms in on the entertainment and sports stars, political leaders and CEOs, but it never trains its lens on the supporting crew.
While some truly deserve the accolades they receive, there are also others who seek publicity and take credit for things they never did, or could not have done without the help of others.
In reality, there are more unsung heroes than the visible ones. In fact, all of us are heroes in our own right when we choose to do things the right way, lend a hand to someone in need or make contributions for the common good.
I salute those known personalities who stand up and speak up for moderation.
But I am even more thankful for the many unknown and unseen citizens who live and practise moderation on a daily basis.
They reach out to one another, in good times and in bad times. They bring out the best in their faiths by being peacemakers and bridge-builders.
If we want to make a difference, we do not need the world to applaud our every move. If we sow good seeds, the fruits of our labour will bloom one day and be harvested by those who come after us.
> Executive editor Soo Ewe Jin is touched by the aid being provided to flood victims by ordinary people, true heroes who need no credit and find reward in the deed itself.