I was born a few decades after the May 13 incident, hence I can never understand either the kind of racial riots or hardship faced by grandparents during the crisis.
Nevertheless, when blogger Uncle Zorro shared his experience on the May 13 itself, I feel compelled to share with every Malaysian the importance of racial unity which seems to be taken for granted.
During May 13 we hear of many stories of how Malays and Chinese protected each other.
In this current situation and in such a polarised environment I wonder if the same protection will ever take place.
I pray it will but I have become very pessimistic of late.
Thirty-eight years may have passed since the infamous riots, but the ghost of this bloody episode in Malaysian history remain alive, forever entrenched in national psyche.
Learn from the history, not to take peace and racial unity for granted and this new sense of confidence that Malaysians feel and which outsiders now regard us is not only about us, it’s about one nation.
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the only thing my parents learnt… or now my dad since my mom is no longer around… is that we should all live a fearful life during election times…. how sad…
To not take peace and racial unity for granted, it starts at the individual level.
In the rukunegara has the essentials for it. The last one being "kesopanan and kesusilaan" is what all individuals can began with.
It doesn’t cost to be polite and not provoke others. It doesn’t cost to be sensitive of others. And, it doesn’t cost to engage and even disagree with polity and rationality.
Lets not assume the others will keep shut when we dish out as we please ….
Perhasp this is good advise for our parliamentarians.