Stop turning everything into race game

Sairana Mohd Saad | July 25, 2013

The case of Vivian and Alvin – ladies and gentlemen, if I may comment – is nothing but bad upbringing.

COMMENT

Don’t lump everything into the basket of racism, please.

Muslims believe that in the holy month of Ramadan, the devils are chained. Coincidentally, so are Vivian Lee and Alvin Tan.

I can’t help to notice how this issue has snowballed from a banal insult to now, a racism issue. I am not sure if people are just trying to lump everything to racism for the sake of lumping, or if they are really clueless about what racism is.

Or maybe they simply get one hell of a kick, out of employing the term racism. I don’t know which is which.

For those non-Muslims who are rather ignorant – let me enlighten you a little. Islam does not acknowledge the difference in “races” or skin colours.

All you have to do is switch on your TV channel to TV Al Hijrah just before our prayer times and you’ll see how Muslims of all shapes and colours perform the Tawaf – and you’ll understand what I mean.

And in our country itself, there are many Muslim reverts, who are Chinese or Indians of origin, who put us, Malay Muslims to shame by their beautiful recitation of the Holy Quran and by their excellent knowledge of the Deen. Did you know that?

I am beginning to think that we live in a sick society. Sick, in the sense of morally sick. It’s either that or we are just troublemakers who love to see our nation in complete disarray and chaos.

Where there is no trouble, let’s create one. Where there is no chaos, let’s organise one. Or maybe we are jealous of Egypt and Syria?

Do we hate peace so much? Or are we just ungrateful human beings who don’t know how to reflect and use our brains like we should?

The case of Vivian and Alvin – ladies and gentlemen, if I may comment – is nothing but BAD upbringing.

It’s precisely just bad upbringing from their parents who have failed to educate their children on how to behave and conduct themselves in a society they live in.

If our children are behaving like apes, then the onus is upon us, parents who have failed to educate and instil good moral practices in our children – either by pure negligence or by lack or time or both. That’s a no brainer!

I’d be ashamed and I’d be the first to punish my own children for not respecting any other religion – whatever it may be.

We all know for a fact that all religions teach us good things. Therefore, their act of insulting Islam in public and mocking Muslims is nothing more than an act of foolishness beyond belief.

Let’s get real

I wasn’t too disturbed by their stupidity or ignorance (for a better word ), until the headlines started to rattle off in all sorts of political debates.

Let’s get real.

In life, there are things we are responsible for, there are things we are accountable for, and there things which are beyond our control. We cannot and should not just shift all our responsibilities to others, although that is the simplest thing to do on earth.

Yes, by all means, blame the government all you want for the indelible ink, for TPPA, for Sedition Act, for GST etc. etc. because as policymakers, that falls under their responsibility.

But to put the blame on them for the stupidity of these kids, are nothing else than illogical fallacy.

There is nothing more apt that the saying “ Ask not what your country can do for you!”. The incessant blame game and incessant rantings are just tiring and wearing us down.

If you want to live in a developed nation, and be part of a First World country, start rearing your children like First Class human beings, man. Why don’t you take part in building the nation from your own homes?

And for once, take responsibility for your own actions. Stop bickering and start doing. And stop lumping everything into the basket of racism.

If you don’t know, ask – don’t just rant and rave for the sake of appeasing your hunger to be in the spotlight. If you want fame, go to Hollywood!

For there is nothing more embarrassing than putting one’s foot in one’s mouth. If you have nothing nice to say, it is then better for you to remain silent.

Taking this opportunity to wish all Muslims Ramadan Kareem and May Allah SWT bestow us with his Blessings, Patience and Strength to endure the constant challenges that are put before us. Amen.

Sairana Mohd Saad is a regular contributor to FMT.