From: 10792759@eng2.eng.monash.edu.au (YEW YAP)
Subject: Re: racial harmony, not a dream...
Organization: Faculty of Engineering, Monash University 
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1992 03:50:10 GMT

In article <1992Oct15.072359.14652@newsroom.utas.edu.au> you write:
>From: u907736@postoffice.utas.edu.au (Edmund Chia)
>Subject: Re: racial harmony, not a dream...
>Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1992 07:23:59 GMT
>In article <3345@peking.gdwb.oz.au>, mlt@gdwb.oz.au (Mee Teng) writes:
>> 
>> siong@fraser.sfu.ca (Siong Heng Chan) writes:
>> >Stadium Negara hugging their neighbours, regardless of race, hugging
>> >strangers, congratulating each other etc...  That one brief moment,
>> >everyone was one race, MALAYSIANS.  I'm not really good at describing
>> >a situation, but I think you get the idea...  The real situation
>> >is a hundred times better than how I can describe here...
>> 
>> 
>> What can I say ? except that you are TOO naive, ignrant & simple
>> minded !! Obviously you have not stepped out of your shell yet. This
>> is fact and not meant to be an insult. 
>
>stuff deleted
>
>>  Of course, who dosen't ?? But does that mean anything ?? That is your
>>  side of the story. 
>> 
>> 
>> >So, there you have it, who says that racial harmony in Malaysia is a 
>> >dream????
>> 
>> It is a nightmare.
>
>Stuff deleted
>
>> You sure have. Secure & safe under the shell !
>
>
>I believe Siong Heng Chan was not being naive, ignorant or simple-minded.
>I believe racial harmony in Malaysia is not simply a dream and certainly
>not a nightmare.
>I believe people who hope for and are working towards secure and harmonious
>race relations are not hiding under a shell.
>Good on you Siong Heng Chan for seeing the side of race relations which is
>not clouded by prejudice and well-worn cynicism, for looking towards the
>a better future in spite of a bloody past.
>
>Edmund

I think that Meng Teng's comments are more justified. From history, there is 
no such thing as racial harmony. Human history had been a struggle between 
different races to achieve domination over others. We have now come to a 
stage where various races are forced by circumstances to co-exist together, 
as the situation is in Malaysia. That does not mean that they can live 
truly in harmony. The just tolerate each other because they know the 
consequences if they don't (riots). This division is further aggravated by 
the multitudes of cultures and religions. As long as these factors exists, 
different races will never live in true harmony with each other. Note that 
even in USA, where the blacks have adopted the culture and religion of 
the white man, racial harmony is certainly NOT a reality. I don't see how 
racial harmony can be achieved in Malaysia.
Maybe if they abolish all religions and eliminate all cultural differences, 
Malaysia MAY have a slim chance towards the creation of a truly harmonious 
nation.
As I observe the situation now, most Chinese in Malaysia still separate 
themselves culturally from the Malays. Most find the very thought of mixed 
marriages with Malays repugnant, especially if they must convert to Islam.
There is no basis to claim racial harmony is an achievable goal in the near 
future in Malaysia.

A realistic guy,
Alexander the First.
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