President of the United States have said it. He have acknowledged the fact that discrimination exists in Malaysia. Not because he is God or that he can solve any of the oppression that we have endured or have had to live with, he can't. Nor is he in the position to make the change himself.
Only WE can do that.
It doesn't mean that he heard you whining. It doesn't mean he has read your blog. It also does not mean that he have personally seen your desperate tweet, exasperated Facebook update or us lamenting about injustice and unfairness. So, why does it mean so much to us, anyway? He has all but said a couple of words and then had his really lavish meal and went back into his equally lavish hotel room only to board his luxurious Air Force One back home to the United States.
It is all back to square one, isn't it? We are back to being oppressed, aren't we? Nothing's changed. Bah, humbug.
And I know of some Americans who will say 'Yeah right, listen to Obama talking about something that continues to exist in your own backyard. People rotting away everywhere, nothing's been done and everything sucks....' but you know what?
Try living here for a year. Try as a local. Try as a non-Muslim. I want to see what you have to say when you have to pay extra for everything, you can't get into certain institution because you're not a certain race, you can't get start a business without XXX, you basically have to tolerate stuff that you usually have a say about back in America.'
I know Americans are very vocal about stuff. Try being unfair to one and you'll have your ass shot up to a black hole somewhere in the galaxy. Or another galaxy. Really. Try being unfair to an American, I wanna watch. Try saying something like 'You're white, so, I won't be serving you with your burger' or 'You're black, you ain't having none of my home-made cookies.' or 'Sorry, we don't do business with Hispanics, American or not'.
Try seeing it in bold, written words. Try seeing it everyday. Try seeing this in a large banner in a public space.
'Apples for sale. $5 for white people. $75 for black, everyone else $50'
It's legal, by the way. And also, to make the picture even clearer, it is in our CONSTITUTION.
Well....this is Malaysia, thank you very much. Now do you still feel like complaining?
Malaysia's been this way since 'independence' too and we basically don't say anything. Yeah. That's right. We don't say ANYTHING. We tolerate it, can you Americans believe this? LOL! Is it ludicrous enough for you yet?
At the end of the day, there is one short sentence in the speech that I hope will stay.
I am very very happy that he did not just leave us with a COMPLETE blank.
Oh sure, I know President Barrack Obama is not God and that whatever he says doesn't have to stick but coming from the President of a country that fought one of biggest racial confrontations known to mankind, I think it means something. To me, at least. It is an encouragement to trying. Keep trying to bring about a positive change.
So, thank you for going that far for us,
With much gratefulness,
Marsha
Only WE can do that.
It doesn't mean that he heard you whining. It doesn't mean he has read your blog. It also does not mean that he have personally seen your desperate tweet, exasperated Facebook update or us lamenting about injustice and unfairness. So, why does it mean so much to us, anyway? He has all but said a couple of words and then had his really lavish meal and went back into his equally lavish hotel room only to board his luxurious Air Force One back home to the United States.
It is all back to square one, isn't it? We are back to being oppressed, aren't we? Nothing's changed. Bah, humbug.
And I know of some Americans who will say 'Yeah right, listen to Obama talking about something that continues to exist in your own backyard. People rotting away everywhere, nothing's been done and everything sucks....' but you know what?
Try living here for a year. Try as a local. Try as a non-Muslim. I want to see what you have to say when you have to pay extra for everything, you can't get into certain institution because you're not a certain race, you can't get start a business without XXX, you basically have to tolerate stuff that you usually have a say about back in America.'
I know Americans are very vocal about stuff. Try being unfair to one and you'll have your ass shot up to a black hole somewhere in the galaxy. Or another galaxy. Really. Try being unfair to an American, I wanna watch. Try saying something like 'You're white, so, I won't be serving you with your burger' or 'You're black, you ain't having none of my home-made cookies.' or 'Sorry, we don't do business with Hispanics, American or not'.
Try seeing it in bold, written words. Try seeing it everyday. Try seeing this in a large banner in a public space.
'Apples for sale. $5 for white people. $75 for black, everyone else $50'
It's legal, by the way. And also, to make the picture even clearer, it is in our CONSTITUTION.
Well....this is Malaysia, thank you very much. Now do you still feel like complaining?
Malaysia's been this way since 'independence' too and we basically don't say anything. Yeah. That's right. We don't say ANYTHING. We tolerate it, can you Americans believe this? LOL! Is it ludicrous enough for you yet?
At the end of the day, there is one short sentence in the speech that I hope will stay.
""There shouldn't be reason to discriminate, and you have to make sure that you are speaking out against this in daily life."He may not have personally changed the Malaysian constitution or the way Malaysia is, he is essentially saying that he is very aware of our plight. He has heard about our collective fight. He is aware of it.
I am very very happy that he did not just leave us with a COMPLETE blank.
Oh sure, I know President Barrack Obama is not God and that whatever he says doesn't have to stick but coming from the President of a country that fought one of biggest racial confrontations known to mankind, I think it means something. To me, at least. It is an encouragement to trying. Keep trying to bring about a positive change.
So, thank you for going that far for us,
With much gratefulness,
Marsha
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