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Astarghfirullahalazim! Oh my gawd!


Just the other day, a psychologist was interviewed on air about national integration from a family point of view. I do not know how it started as I only began listening midway through the interview. He pointed out that national integration and unity commences at home with the parents starting the ball rolling. from there the discussion went on to schools (national, national-type and international schools), national syllabus and finally to whether religion is a hindrance to national unity!
To my surprise, for the first time on national (maybe regional as this station only excites a niche population of the Klang Valley and whereabouts) radio, the speaker said "Yes!" He argued that in spite of the good common positive values of love, respect and fear of God in all religions, there is always the grandiosity of 'My religion' and ' My God' is better than yours attitudes which may hamper or create suspicion in our quest for national integration [Not his exact words]... Did not complete the show....I had to do something else!
Index finger! We are one!
Why do I get excited here? As long as I can remember, in Malaysia, everyone seem to have the 'holier-than-thou' attitude and conveniently blame lack of religious education as the root of all social woes - be it rape, incest, extra-marital, premarital affairs, alcoholism, gambling and this list goes on and spending more time in religious activities as the panacea of all of their daily problems.
I beg to differ with the learned doctor here. Being the not-so-theologically equipped person that I am, from my limited exposure to various religions around me, I feel that most monotheistic religions (i.e.of Abraham's descendants) are emphatic about the superiority of their beliefs. Other non monotheistic faiths of the world (i.e. Hinduism, Sikhism and Buddhism), as far as I know do not propagate this. [It is the same mine is better than yours trap!]
I may be generalizing, as history has clearly shown that fanaticism exists in every belief. Year in and year out, we hear of Viśva Hindu Pariṣad and Shiv Sena party being instrumental in creating animosity between Muslimans and Hindus on everything from the Babri Mosque to Hindi movies and Pakistan. And who can forget Bhindrawale and his fight for a free state of Khalistan and the 'desecration' of the Golden Temple during his apprehension.
Happy Vaisakhi, Happy Vishu, Happy Songkhran (Thailand), Happy Thingyan (Myanmar), Happy Chaul Chnam Thmey (Khmer), Happy Pi-Mai Lao (Laos) and புத்தாண்டு வாழ்த்துக்கள் ! (translates as "Happy New Year")!


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