The firewalls that divide us

Reported violence: The Federal Reserve Unit helping to quell the May 13 riots in 1969. — Photo: Royal Malaysia Police Museum

WHETHER pre or after Merdeka, it is a lie to say that the residents in Malaysia are ALL racists, who will not mingle or be kind to someone from another ethnic group. This simply cannot be true if you understand human nature and take a sociological and historical peek into our history. Even today, on the ground and in real life, the majority of Malaysians generally get along well as human beings. It is normal that once you remove your fears and ignorance about another, you will be more comfortable with mixing with others who may seem to be different from you.

The increasing knowledge that we as human beings share almost identical fears and hopes makes us realise that we have more similarities than artificially constructed differences. For example, when you require a kidney or a heart transplant, you do not look for the same ethnic donor but a compatible donor. Likewise when you require blood, you look for someone who primarily matches your blood group and not necessarily someone of your own religion.