UNITY in SANITY

Unity Poem

 What would the world be like if…

Everyone looked much like everyone else?

Same hair, skin colour and appearance?

What would the world be like if only one culture existed, one religion, one language?

Would the world still be as beautiful, as rich, as vibrant and exiting as it is today?

What about Malaysia?

What would Malaysia be like if we all belong to one ethnic group, one religious tradition?

Would there be nasi lemak, char kuey teow, banana leaf rice, chapatti and dhal?

Asam pedas, yong tau foo, vadai and rojak?

How about hinava, dunuwek, paku pakis goreng, sarawak laksa and pansuh?

Would there be roti canai and teh tarik, too?

Would women wear baju kurungs, kain kebat, marudu, cheongsams, and saris?

Would children recognise our Sikh brother with his majestic turban…

…Pakcik wearing his kopiah, Annai with his white vesti and Apek in a Pagoda T-shirt?

…Ayak with his tattoos, Maman with his straw hat?

Would there be kompang, Chinese drums or tablas? How about the joget, sumazau and bhangra?

Will we get to enjoy Dikir Barat, Chinese Opera and the Bharatanatyam? Would we celebrate Gawai and Keamatan?

Will we wake up to the soothing call of the azan and go home at the end of the day to the alluring sounds of Hindu temple bells?

…or the clank of cymbals as we breathe in the quaint smell of incense drifting from a Chinese temple?

Would Sundays be Sundays without church bells ringing?

Would all our weddings be the same old same old?

No adat bersanding or bunga telur, no tea ceremony or yam seng, no nalangu or laddu?

What would Malaysia be like with no Hari Raya? No ketupat, bunga api, pelita and no children collecting duit raya?

What if there was no Chinese New Year, no reunion dinner, no yee sang, no ang pow and no lion dance?

What if we did not celebrate Deepavali, and nobody decorated their houses with kolam and no lamps were lit?

What if we did not experience the spirit of togetherness at Christmas or listen to the harmony of Christmas carols?

Would we still celebrate with each other by holding open houses?

What would Malaysia be like if we all belong to only one ethnic group, one religious tradition?

Can we still call this country Malaysia?

Would we still be Malaysian?

   

Hinduism believes in the oneness of all that lives -  Gandhi

He who experiences the Unity of life sees his own Self in all beings                      

- The Buddha

All within the four seas are brothers

-      Confucius

Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in Unity

-      Psalms 133:1

And among His Signs is the creation of the heavens & the earth, and the variations in your languages and your colours: verily in that are Signs for those who know

-      Quran 30:22

Let’s celebrate our diversity.

Let’s be first and foremost Malaysian.

Found the (above) enlightening Unity Poem in Anas Zubedy's latest book or rather message to Malaysians - The Middle Path.

You got to read it to appreciate Anas' untiring effort to send sense into our minds.

Thank You Anas Zubedy, I'm sure Malaysians appreciate your noble heart but just that the lust for power is so great now that politics have become our staple diet.

Lets pray that such 'daily divisive politics' would be put to rest after the next General Elections.


MERDEKA 2012

p/s >>>>>>  :-)