AskOxford.com defines Racism as the belief that there are characteristics, abilities, or qualities specific to each race or discrimination against or antagonism towards other races.
(http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/racism?view=uk)
Racism in Asia.
In Cambodia, there has been a strong anti-Vietnamese sentiment. Where else, in Indonesia there has been a lot of violence against the affluent Chinese population who have been blamed for economic problems that have plagued the country in recent years and as noted by Wikipedia in an article on racism, “until 2003, Malaysia enforced discriminatory laws limiting access to university education for Chinese students who are citizens by birth of Malaysia, and many other laws explicitly favoring bumiputras (Malays) remain in force.”
(http://www.globalissues.org/article/165/racism#RacisminAsia)
Look at what is going on in today's society. Even educated people are being racist. Why is there a need of being racist when we all share the same mother earth and sky? More over when we live in the same country and society. Think about what is going to happen to our next generation if the act of racism still goes on. The world will never be a better place to stay in.
Think about this issue of racism. Would people like you and me agree or disagree with it?
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16 comments:
Yes,Im totally agree with you that racism is an issue which we need to consider and i think beside racism religion is also an important matter to watch out.As you mention in malaysia Bumiputras can get more benefit than the other races.In my country i saw the same thing.Muslims can get more benefited more than other religions people.Muslims are holding all the main positions in every stage of work.Im not blaming their religion for that but im blaming how the treat to others in the same country.
I am agree with Mr. Amit.Now a days it is a big problem in every where.we have to think that we are not different may be our religion is different but we are human our main identity is that we are human.
For making this discrimination i also want to blam the country goverment.
yes, i agree. there are just racism everywhere. here in Malaysia, its between the races. the Muslims getting all the attentions, but not the other races here. this is suppose to be democratic country, but why we don't feel that way.
People in general just love to discriminate; that why every now and then we have people pulling the racist card. Until a system is laid down where everything and everyone is synchronized and conformed to a single thought and action then perhaps all that is good are possible. It has taken a long process to get where we are today; else we wouldn’t be discussing this issue…thing would be better as humanity matures, the matters lies in when and who?
As for our beloved country.. sad to say that we legally deemed ourselves racist when we sign the constitution declarations. The question I always posed are “if a continuum of time defines ‘son of the soil’, a thousand years from now doesn’t it makes us equals?”
~okay wa sula post comment ^.^ V
Even though we are agree with racism, we have to abide by the defined rules and laws. 4 days a go we saw the guide line. Now we got the clue: black or white, red or yellow, there is no difference on who we are, what religion and country is our context, our blood is the same as the rests. So, forget about the racism as I have to since I came from the old school of thought!!!
hey lyn. first of all, good job with the blog :)
I think its universally agreed upon that racism is detrimental to society. What we need to look at is how racism is brought about. I feel it is instilled in people from a young age when they are encouraged to play with other children of the same race. This makes them ignorant of other cultures. Humans are by nature scared of what they are unsure of and in my opinion, this is what causes them to lash out on people from other races.
I agree with what you write in your article, "why there a need of being racist when we all share the same mother earth and sky?” I think every people who still defend about racism need to cogitate that question and look at their surrounding environment, how beautiful every place without racism.
Racism is everywhere and it is a serious issues in Malaysia. It could not be blamed because it is nature of human that support own races or own groups of people. Think about it, is is impossible that racism can be eliminate. This world is unfair.
Honestly, Muslims especially the Bumiputras are getting more benefit and bonus when they are doing purchasing of an assets such as houses. Same thing happen in education, it is easier for them to borrow loan for studies and go into universities.
I am sorry to say that, just my opinion. Hope i would not offences anyone here.
Hi Ee Lynn... I really admire the issue you have brought up, but some people like Amit and Mich started talking about religion instead of racism issues!! You can not blame the religion but the people!! In my country for instance people live in harmony, you can be whoever you are, follow whatever religion you want to follow but you have to make sure that you won't become an extremist of course... And also you do not see the hatred towards Muslims as it's seen in Bangladesh, Malaysia, India, etc....Not that I am just saying it but I also have been researching it in particular…
In my opinion, Ee Lynn, Malaysia should create equal opportunities and equal rights for everyone and I believe that eventually it will turn out to be true!!! As Sri commented: look at United States, they have chosen an African American president...I can finish up my comment by saying the followings”GOOD JOB AMERICANS, GOOD JOB”!!!
It's interesting for a malaysian to talk about rascism. I'd tell ya something, everywhere i go to in this country, from the shopping mall to the washroom, i experience rascism.For those who remember, i was almost killed by a rascists attack last year.
Do you need to care about rascists? No, not at all. Only stupid, nonchalant, ignorant and dumb people would be rascist, do you need to bother about such people? I don't need you to love me if you are not my brother,sister, or girlfriend; hate me or love me, all i need from anaybody is RESPECT, yes respect, not as a senior man, or a Datuk, but as a human being. If you don't give that, the next hard option would come into play. We are all responsible for stopping rascism.
I think one way is stopping rascism is to stop having pre- prepared ideas about people from a specific region. Treat everybody as an individual.
oh oh my god,big problem to discuss.In my opinion the whole world people is same and dont have the racism,but in malysia is diffenent. first malysia government racism with the chinese people,examle if local malysiaes and chinese do the same business the local malysia people can get the more benefited than the chinses people and the chiese cant work in the government deparment.
Well,I don't agree with all of you people about racism between bumiputra(Malays) not it is because I am a bumiputra but it is because I can see that Chinese and Indians also being racism especially in organizations!!As Praveen said that "racism instilled in people from a young age when they are encouraged to play with other children of the SAME race."Who do you think does this?After I do my research,there are some reasons that the bumiputra have more percentage of benefits than the other races in Malaysia.But doesn't mean it stop us Malay,Indian and Chinese to work,study and live together!!!!I experienced this where by my mother is a Cindian and my father is a Malay.In my opinion,racism is when we ourselves can't mix and help each other in one society.
What a wonderful world it would be if there is no prejudice ar all , however the differences between the sexes , races and religion have existed from time immemorial and will continue to exist till the end of the world. Racism , religious differences and unfairness exist in every corner of the world. Some countries proclaim that they do not have prejudice but look closely and you can see the prejudice in the way one group of people treat another group. Let us look at some examples: during the second world war the Nazis killed millions of jews , during the nineteen nineties in Europe there was an ethnic cleansing in Serbia, Bosnia and Cosovo , more recently large groups of African tribes are killing each other.
In some countries prejudice is very subtle. Let us look at UK and Australia there are large groups of immigrants from India , The carribean , China , Vietnam , mediterranean countries and middle eastern countries, they contribute to the workforce and economy of their new home country, yet how many 'foreigners'(eventhough they have beconme citizens) hold positions of power either in the public or the private sector.Even in USA there is prejudice. When the typhoon Katrina hit New Orleans , the people complained that the government was slow in their rescue work as the majority of the population was black.In Ireland the catholics and Protestants are killing each other.
In Malaysia the different races are given equal oppurtinity to work hard and achieve success. As a result there are numerous Chienese and Indian millionaires, many become senior high ranking government officials and ministers and a large chunk of the private enterprise is owned by Chinese.There are many Chienese and Indians who receive scholarships and other benefits.Some of those who are receiving scholarship to study overseas keep quite about their scholarship while saying terible things about the country and some do not come back to repay the country with their services. There are also thousands of Malays who are poor and do not receive those benefits and when they try to get jobs in the private sector, it is very difficult as most companies are owned by Chinese.
Instead of complaining , all of us Malaysians who are educated should try to help each other , we should not focus on the differences of race or religion and we should count our blessings. We have a beutiful country , rich in natural recources , good weather and relatively peaceful. How many of us would like to emigrate to Africa , Vietnam , Burma , India , China or Russia ? some may want to emigrate to USA , UK or Australia. Good luck to them , after 10 to 20 years some will want to come back to Malaysia. This is still a beautiful country to live in.
Annuar, you said, "How many of us would like to emigrate to Africa , Vietnam , Burma , India , China or Russia," It's not hard to notice you got a particular judgement about people from these countries, and i have to say that's the mindset of a racists.And if people go to a country, its not forcefully because its beautiful, some are victims of marketing agendas, and various other reasons.
Elynn, racism is not only problem of Asian countries, but I would like to mention that it’s a global issue, below are some article which I came across while browsing on the Internet:-
Racism in Europe
Europe is often one of the first places people think of when racism is discussed. From the institutionalized racism, especially in colonial times, when racial beliefs — even eugenics — were not considered something wrong, to recent times where the effects of neo-Nazism is still felt. Europe is a complex area with many cultures in a relatively small area of land that has seen many conflicts throughout history. (Note that most of these conflicts have had trade and resource access at their core, but national identities have often added fuel to some of these conflicts.)
Racism in Australia
In June 1998, One Nation, an Australian nationalist party in Queensland won 25 percent of the votes with their main lines at fighting immigration by non-whites. This was made possible where unemployment was been high and where it was easy to convince the people that immigrants were taking their jobs, as it would serve to be a convenient excuse and avenue to vent frustration. In a speech the party leader said that Australia was “in danger of being swamped” by Asians and she also questioned the special welfare benefits for Australia’s Aborigines. The reaction to that meant the same party won only 6 percent of the votes two months later, in the State elections.
The Sydney 2000 Olympics also brought some of Australia’s racist past and present to the fore.
Racism in North America
In the US, racism is a well known issue. From racial profiling to other issues such as affirmative action, police brutality against minorities and the history of slavery and the rising resentment against immigrants. Since the horrific terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001, Security concerns have understandably increased, but so too has racial profiling, discrimination etc. In the early aftermath of the attacks some Americans that were understandably outraged and horrified, even attacked some members of the Sikh community where at least one was even killed, because they resembled certain types of Muslims, with beards and turbans. Various people of Middle East or South Asian origin have faced controversial detentions or questionings by officials at American airports. This web site’s section on the war against terror has more details on these aspects.
Article source:-http://www.globalissues.org/article/165/racism#RacisminNorthAmerica
Well it’s true that Asian countries are more racist. But, Is there a solution to racism? I believe: there is. Knowledge is power and should be used to educate people about the harm racism does and the factors that contribute it. Cultural personality has to grow or be revived. The agents and forces of racism, wherever they come from, need to be exposed, and their untenable positions confronted and defeated." Racism is a crime against humanity that needs to be confronted and defeated by all means necessary.
At the end I would like to say to Anuar, that he thinks people may want to immigrate to Australia, U.S. or U.K., instead of Africa, Vietnam, Burma, India, China or Russia, well my friend if you read the above article you will know that there is no country where they don’t have racism problem and its not good to point fingers on others when blame comes to you, I mean it is unfair to call other Asian countries racist compared to Malaysia, My friend we are here talking about how to reduce problem of racism not how to increase it?
RACISM!!!!!!! MM INTERESTING TOPIC.
What a wonderful world we live with different cultures, races, religions, colours etc.
If we dint have these differences in our world there wont be anything interesting to talk about.
People can be racist in many ways either your race, culture, religion, colour etc. For me i think being a racist goes back to the way you were educated and brought up in your family. How well you were introduced to all of these differences in our world. I lived in Kenya for around 6 years and came across all these differences whcih now am reflecting back to. You could actually know who is racist and trust me there was no difference in the their family also. I dont really mean everyone in the family will be like that, who knows with time pass he may change.
I came across many racist but i dont give a damn, you know what i actually laugh at them in the inside and say your just making your life miserable. Our opposite neighbour, no need to say his race when i always meet him on the stairs i say hi with no reply back from him. So do you think i stopped saying Hi NO I DINT when i always find him i still say Hi to him. My friends told me dont great him again, i say to them whenever i meet i will say Hi and it will never affect me if he doesnt reply i just walk by.
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