What do this images suggest to you? Respect? At whose expense? Think rationally for a moment without being overly critical or damning. OK , now take away the other factors, like being asked to eat in a dressing room,or washroom or thoughts on hygiene, or that it seems to be a cramped space for," i wonder how many non fasting children have their meals there sharing the table" , or even if the environment is clean.
Place those considerations aside a moment.
Still, there is something not right with this picture. It shows an arbitrary attitude and warped rationale in hiding away non fasting school children in a cramped room ,out of sight of the fasting children. Demanding respect on the premise that one group's interests and needs to be respected overrides all considerations. Showing emphasis for one segment at the expense of the dignity of the other.
Consult our common sense for a moment. Then ponder upon the images again and try to decipher what you see.Not so much concern/emphasis as to the physical location but focus more on the thinking behind this rationale of the necessity to keep the children hidden away from sight out of consideration or need to respect the religious symbolism of the holy month of ramadan and fasting. .
Is this ethno/religo chauvinism being displayed? Many rational minded citizens are neither outraged or resentful - but are very alarmed.
Imagine the the schoolchildren there and what they perceive of the situation.
What subtle message is being ingrained into their psyche? That the ones who fast are different and their needs outweigh the others. That they are in a higher status because of their ethnic and religious backgrounds and because they observe fasting? Pre empting other considerations of the "lesser" communities.Having a sense of being protected and priviledged , feeling special and being reminded of it solely due to their ethnic and by default religious background.
What about the impressions of the children who do not need to fast ?
How do they see themselves ? Will they feel as if they are commiting an offensive act just having their meals and need to hide away like thieves who have done a dishonest act?
Just because they do not fast, it is like a guilty conscience is insinuated into them.
It just feels like the "Us and Them" or " Your people - My people" complex but the worrying part is that it is practiced in this national school. Is this an exception , an isolated incident or is it the norm ? Pertinent questions on the minds of worried parents from both the marjority community that are of reason and have a clear sense of justice and also the minority communities who have children in national schools.
Slogans like "strength in diversity - integration - mutual respect - reconciliation" are merely just that , platitudical slogans.
And another alarming factor is of the adults who have encouraged or implemented this exercise of quarantine of the non fasting children. The question that begs asking is if they realise the implications of this act on the impressionable young minds and the potential influence upon their perceptions of their very SELVES.
And what lead the administrators to conceive the notion to be overly protective. Or is it simply an imposition of the supremacy beliefs that needs no explanation, a conviction of being right and therefore justified in their beliefs to do as they see fit. A reflection of the mindsets and thinking of the school administrators trained by our very own system of education. Products of indoctrination or social engineering that began years ago.Manifesting in the approach on handling religious issues like these that places more priority on the needs of the marjority but brushing aside respect for other communities in a cavalier manner.
From the general understanding of the spiritual ideals for fasting. It is to learn the values of discipline , compassion for the destitute , spiritual purification.
Isn't it reasonable to assume that teaching children the core spiritual values of fasting will be to allow them to practice self restraint and discipline when amongst those who do not fast.There is no need to group them together when non fasting kids have their meals, still - is there really a need to be so protective of the fasting children that others who have meals need to be hidden out of sight away from them.
When the common sense solution is so simplistic , just designate areas for fasting children to rest at or spend time during recess away from the school canteen. A classroom or a hall , library or a nice comfortable cool area within the school compound , where all the children can still mingle but of course no consuming of food in the place out of respect for the fasting month and fasting children ,respect out of genuine courtesy for the religious significance of fasting during ramadan - which needs to be explained patiently to the children to foster a better understanding and hence sincerity in the sentiment - respect not demanded from them and imposed arbitrarily. And surely not corralled into a cramp shower room or changing area to have meals out of sight. That is not mutual respect , it is demeaning to the non fasting children.
The adults/school administrators should have known better.Perhaps they may have meant well , still , have they gone overboard in trying to protect the sensitivities of the fasting kids ?
It doesn't seem like it has been thought all the way through , considering both sides.
They have now inadvertently offended the sensitivities of the parents and a large proportion of Malaysians by this unthinking deed ! Non- muslims and muslims alike feel unsettled by the crass manner in which the children were treated.!
As a minority , we do not demand respect , we just wish it to be extended naturally as a sign of good faith and mutual courtesy. Especially for our children. Is that too much to ask for?
- To teach respect to our kids , it is imperative to ensure that it is mutual respect. On all aspects relating to race , religion ,cultures and traditions of the diversity in our society.
- Respect is more meaningful when it is sincere and heartfelt . It is not a one way street.
Shows us here just how silly racism is with the illusory concepts of superiority and inferiority
“As far as I’m concern, he is an enemy of the state. We are demanding his departure but not the embassy’s closure. We want the Vatican to appoint a new one (envoy),” he said.
" Be like water , my friends
be formless shapeless
put water into a cup it becomes the cup
put it into a teapot it becomes the teapot
Now water can flow or drip or creep
or SPLASH !
In other words be flexible and learn to adapt.
"A quick temper will make the fool out of you soon enough" -- Bruce Lee .