Monday, January 30, 2012

Colour Blind

One of the best things that happened to me during this Chinese New Year was to receive sms greetings from a few of my Malay friends and an Indian neighbor. In fact, this year I received the most sms from friends of other races as compared to the past...and some I even forgot to send them greetings during their new year!

I always encourage my kids to make friends with other races and to respect others cultures. For example, during Puasa month, I told them not to eat in front of their Muslim friends.

I feel that it is every parent's responsibility to teach our kids about racial harmony and to respect others customs even though kids can be "color blind".

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The late Yasmin Ahmad' did a few non-commercial advertisement that talked about children being "color blind".

In the "Tan Hong Ming in love" ad:

The interviewer asked a Chinese boy: “Who do you like the most?”

Tan replied: “Umi, Umi Qazrina.”

“Why do you like her?”

“She wears earrings, she ties a ponytail, she is pretty.”

“Does she know you like her?”

“No, I keep it a secret.”

“Why?”

“She doesn’t like me,” he said after some hesitation.

Then, the interviewer asked Umi Qazrina, a lovely Malay girl: “Who is your best friend?”

“Tan Hong Ming.”

“Do you like him?”

Umi did not answer...

“Do you have a boyfriend?”

She nodded shyly.

“Who is your boyfriend?”

“Tan Hong Ming.”

Upon hearing that, Tan Hong Ming's mouth was wide open. He then held Umi’s hand with an innocent smile on his face and both of them walked away from the camera.

The footage ended with a statement: Our children are colour blind. Shouldn’t we keep them that way?”

In another ad:

An interviewer asked a young Malay boy:” Who is your best friend?”

He pointed at a Chinese boy next to him.

“What is his race?”

“What is race? Race, that means race car?”

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I love the above commercials and do agree that Children are color blind and we should keep them that way.

However, when I read about an insensitive & ignorant politician who held a Chinese New Year celebration for the senior citizens but can't differentiate between a RED festive angpao (joyous occasion) and a taboo WHITE envelope (funeral), I am not sure whether is he suffering from another type of color blindness??

What I'm sure is that we should chase him away! (including those who knew the custom but failed to advise him!)


5 comments:

Unknown said...

I've always liked that Yasmin Ahmad's ad,, yes children are color blind but sadly some are too blind that can't even distinguish "white from red"

薰衣草夫人 said...

我倒觉得他是刻意的,以向全国的人展示他的个人力量,同时也向巫统示威,证明他干了巫统不敢干的事!

YuinTing said...

Hi Eugene, I love Yasmin Ahmad tv commercial and movies too! I have watched Sepet, Telentime, Mushkin and Gubra. I love her positive message. Too bad there are some people who find every way to destroy racial harmony. Some are Blind and not merely Colour blind!!

夫人,很多人和你有着一样的想法。那家伙如今是猪八戒照镜子,里外不是人!!!真令人讨厌!!!!

Sunny-Cookie said...

I agree with you but sad to say, even in schools nowadays my children have encountered narrow minded teachers who try to divide instead of promote racial unity, while as a parent I am trying my best to teach my kids that being 'colour-blind' is a good thing. In school I had friends of all races and till today we are still good friends :)

YuinTing said...

Hi Sunny-Cookie, I've heard of this kind of narrow-minded teacher. Fortunately so far my kids have not encountered any yet. A friend of mine once told me that sending kids to private school will have less racial problem. Even so, I still believe there are more peace loving people out there.