Natalie Shobana Ambrose (17th December, 2009 –theSun)
More than ever our skin colour and prejudices seem to get the better of us. The media slips up in many ways portraying wrong images or rather allowing for racist comments to be published inciting hate, discrimination and fuelling prejudice.
It makes me sad to see this happen because for me and the Malaysians I know, our friendships go past colour lines and lean towards what we share in common.
I’d like you to meet some of my friends and decide for yourself if it’s wise to allow race to separate us from the values of humanity and what living in harmony means to you.
Fida and I have been friends for years. We met at our first job and we’ve been friends ever since. At first we thought we had nothing in common, she wore a baju kurung to work everyday and I spoke English with a twang. Last year, I spent Christmas day admiring her bridal outfit and watching her future husband recite the ‘lafaz akad nikah’ in one breath as I sat with my head covered at their local mosque.
Isabelle and I spent quite a few afternoons writing on the blackboard in Standard Two because we were slow. We have shared bosses and music teachers. On occasion I’ve received an ang pow from her parents. We’ve spent hours talking about our dogs, work, teachers we hated and wedding dress shopping.
Helina and I go way back. In fact out parents go way back. We have shared many laughs, cries, dances, travels and I’ve had many curry meals at her house with her family. We find it hard to stop talking and our goodbyes last a long time.
Then there’s the school bunch. We buka puasa at times and are in one another’s houses for the many festivals we celebrate between us.
I also have Yen Ning who has walked with me since I was 9. These days we spend time getting her little girl to smile at Aunty Nat.
Loo and I studied French in college. He’s had more banana leaf meals than I have and I more double boiled soups than he. We talk about culture, film, life and our never ending university lives.
Michelle and I met when we were 13. I love her Mum’s Portuguese cooking at Christmas time and our online chats since we’re time-zones apart.
EveKun gives me advice from Deepak Chopra and when she visits we have a blast at the kopitiam. While Sanjeev and I enjoy Dim Sum when he’s in town.
And then the two best friends who welcome me with great advice and a kick when I need it over a roti canai- Yoga and Shumita.
Ash is always up for Japanese anytime and when she calls my phone screams “Konichiwa”. The only thing Japanese about Ash is she knows where the good sushi is.
I stand out like a sore thumb Sunday mornings with another group I consider family. We laugh, sing and play with water balloons not minding our differences.
Who can forget the UN-bunch. One mixed pot of people, Anu, G, Bri, Rah, Sheila, Shree, all curry babies except for Daniel the German who very soon was christened Deepak. We had and still have so much fun when we meet.
Are we loud?
Yes we are. Just as Fida, Isabelle, Lina, the school bunch, Yen Ning, Loo, Michelle, EveKun, Sanjeev, Yoga, Shumita, Ash and I are when we meet. That’s who we are. Good friends having fun.
Malaysia is what we have in common. I couldn’t separate my friends by race because our socialisation and upbringing is want connects us rather than the colour of our skin. We have more in common because we relate to each other on a human level and share similar values and not similar skin tones.
My muhibah story is not unique though it seems to be something that we soon will only see in television advertisements if those in authority, institutions and the media are allowed to continue intravenously feeding prejudices to those who blindly follow.
There is no place in the world for blatant racism in the name of unity. Or the constant talk about race, forums and lectures about intruders and separation by ethnicity.
If anything, we need to realise that living peacefully together is an investment for the future.
The heart of the matter is that we are all Malaysians, and the more we allow for a lack of understanding to breed, the further away we move from unity and harmony.
Natalie’s friends come in different shapes, age and sizes and she loves them all to bits because they know too many of her secrets!
Comments: letters@thesundaily.com
More than ever our skin colour and prejudices seem to get the better of us. The media slips up in many ways portraying wrong images or rather allowing for racist comments to be published inciting hate, discrimination and fuelling prejudice.
It makes me sad to see this happen because for me and the Malaysians I know, our friendships go past colour lines and lean towards what we share in common.
I’d like you to meet some of my friends and decide for yourself if it’s wise to allow race to separate us from the values of humanity and what living in harmony means to you.
Fida and I have been friends for years. We met at our first job and we’ve been friends ever since. At first we thought we had nothing in common, she wore a baju kurung to work everyday and I spoke English with a twang. Last year, I spent Christmas day admiring her bridal outfit and watching her future husband recite the ‘lafaz akad nikah’ in one breath as I sat with my head covered at their local mosque.
Isabelle and I spent quite a few afternoons writing on the blackboard in Standard Two because we were slow. We have shared bosses and music teachers. On occasion I’ve received an ang pow from her parents. We’ve spent hours talking about our dogs, work, teachers we hated and wedding dress shopping.
Helina and I go way back. In fact out parents go way back. We have shared many laughs, cries, dances, travels and I’ve had many curry meals at her house with her family. We find it hard to stop talking and our goodbyes last a long time.
Then there’s the school bunch. We buka puasa at times and are in one another’s houses for the many festivals we celebrate between us.
I also have Yen Ning who has walked with me since I was 9. These days we spend time getting her little girl to smile at Aunty Nat.
Loo and I studied French in college. He’s had more banana leaf meals than I have and I more double boiled soups than he. We talk about culture, film, life and our never ending university lives.
Michelle and I met when we were 13. I love her Mum’s Portuguese cooking at Christmas time and our online chats since we’re time-zones apart.
EveKun gives me advice from Deepak Chopra and when she visits we have a blast at the kopitiam. While Sanjeev and I enjoy Dim Sum when he’s in town.
And then the two best friends who welcome me with great advice and a kick when I need it over a roti canai- Yoga and Shumita.
Ash is always up for Japanese anytime and when she calls my phone screams “Konichiwa”. The only thing Japanese about Ash is she knows where the good sushi is.
I stand out like a sore thumb Sunday mornings with another group I consider family. We laugh, sing and play with water balloons not minding our differences.
Who can forget the UN-bunch. One mixed pot of people, Anu, G, Bri, Rah, Sheila, Shree, all curry babies except for Daniel the German who very soon was christened Deepak. We had and still have so much fun when we meet.
Are we loud?
Yes we are. Just as Fida, Isabelle, Lina, the school bunch, Yen Ning, Loo, Michelle, EveKun, Sanjeev, Yoga, Shumita, Ash and I are when we meet. That’s who we are. Good friends having fun.
Malaysia is what we have in common. I couldn’t separate my friends by race because our socialisation and upbringing is want connects us rather than the colour of our skin. We have more in common because we relate to each other on a human level and share similar values and not similar skin tones.
My muhibah story is not unique though it seems to be something that we soon will only see in television advertisements if those in authority, institutions and the media are allowed to continue intravenously feeding prejudices to those who blindly follow.
There is no place in the world for blatant racism in the name of unity. Or the constant talk about race, forums and lectures about intruders and separation by ethnicity.
If anything, we need to realise that living peacefully together is an investment for the future.
The heart of the matter is that we are all Malaysians, and the more we allow for a lack of understanding to breed, the further away we move from unity and harmony.
Natalie’s friends come in different shapes, age and sizes and she loves them all to bits because they know too many of her secrets!
Comments: letters@thesundaily.com
