Every time I meet older family friends, the automatic observation is how similar I look like my parents when they were my age. I remember getting quite upset when I was a kid. I’d cut back saying "I look like me, thank you very much!"
I never understood how I could look like so many people – my grandma, aunts, mother, sister, cousins. It was baffling. How could I have inherited the nose of grandma, the smile of my sister, the toes of an aunt, the hair texture of my father’s aunt’s daughter, when they are all alive and using their noses, toes and hair? At that age, I honestly thought I was put together like one of the many Picasso women who had very disjointed funny- looking faces.
Yes, I inherited the many features of my family and in particular my parents. Though as the years went by I realised that I not only inherited the features of various and random family members, I also inherited their work ethics, principles and certain qualities – good and bad – whether I liked it or not.
In the space of five months I have attended nine weddings, and at some point in the wedding ceremony the bride and groom thank their parents for bringing them up and all the wonderful lessons and experience their parents have taught them. One bride said that her parents had taught her to be true to herself. That no matter what she achieved in life, she had to be honest and truthful to herself and those around her. A very important lesson for everyone there that evening and a great inheritance.
I think many times, we go about life not realising our behaviour makes up part of the legacy we leave behind. It matters not how much money we make, the cars we drive or the designer labels we collect. It matters that our business ethic is solid, that we are respectful to everyone even those younger than us and those who clean up after us. It matters that we are bold enough to stand up for injustices even if it means we are punished for it. And it matters that we give back to society. But most of all, it matters that we are honest in everything we do.
As a country I look at our leaders as the parents of the nation. They are the ones that plan, guide and the ones we are to look up to. What they do today is what we will inherit and what our children and children’s children will inherit.
Somehow the good qualities are overshadowed by corruption, bullying, the lack of responsibility, the dilution of oaths, the mockery of the judicial system and an outright arrogance of being right without discourse. It’s sad because I want to inherit a culture of equality, opportunity, transparency and most of all honesty.
But I don’t see it today.
With elected leaders resigning by fax and hopping from one party to another, it is like our leaders are dancing the hokey pokey with our future. By-elections with disgusting behaviour of character assassinations for the sake of winning at all costs and tabloid antics paid for by the people’s money. It worries me because I wonder if this is what I want my children’s children to inherit when they call themselves Malaysians.
William Shakespeare once said "No legacy is so rich as honesty". Not all are privileged to inherit such good qualities, but just because we inherit bad qualities doesn’t give us an excuse not to change and make things right.
We have just inherited a new prime minister who is blessed with a great legacy his father left him. Soon a new cabinet will follow. I hope that they will not flip-flop in oblivion and actually look out for the nation’s interest. I also hope that they will be good sports and learn that it’s healthy having differing views. And perhaps, place equality before the law, social justice and human rights on top of their to-do list.
As a Malaysian, have I inherited an inheritance worth inheriting? And as a nation are we living to leave a legacy worth inheriting?
Natalie is glad that in her "old-age" she appreciates her inheritance and hopes to leave an inheritance worth inheriting.
Comments: letters@thesundaily.com
