Ignorance, suspicion, arrogance – our obstacles to overcome


Emmanuel Joseph

This August 31, let's try to listen more than talk, empathise more than insist, and educate instead of argue. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Irwan Majid, August 29, 2019.

AS we approach our 62nd Merdeka, the country is still grappling with racial flare-ups. Of late, they have become frequent, while real and significant efforts to mend ties have become less enthusiastic, and few and far between.

Though most of these fires were sparked by provocative quarters, a blaze cannot spread without oxygen. When spreading malcontent, the most powerful weapon is, perhaps, ignorance. To knowingly or unknowingly tap into the unfounded fear of the unknown and manipulate it into a critical-mass bogeyman, and to position oneself as the godsent solution to an unholy problem, is to achieve indefeasible political control.


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Comments


  • 'Tracing the problem is always helpful' but not being able to solve it is frustrating and is becoming more damaging. Take ZN issue for example. During BN rule we did not have any space even to point fingers to say those things we are saying and hearing now with PH in control. The same goes for 1MDB. It took 60+ years of BN rule to put us into this state of 'division and hate', but our votes in GE14 have shown the power to change is in our hands and we can do it again. The future is in our hands.

    Posted 4 years ago by Citizen Pencen