We all know (or at least I know) the plague that is shrouding the horn of Africa. More than twelve million people are malnourished, including half of the Somalia's population. 640,000 Somali children are starving and in southern Somalia, 29,000 children starved to death in the last 3 months. The numbers are pretty gruesome, right?
Consider this: Aisya, a Somali child, was suffering kwashiorkor disease because of the famine. Her mother could only sit by her bed, lamenting the condition that they have to endure. Even the mother couldn't shed her tears since she too was malnourished.
Which situation above will touch you deeper emotionally ? The previous or the latter? Multiple researches show that if given one personal situation like the Aisya's case, people were much more inclined to listen and care more. If you notice, one single event could induce lots and lots of attention from the global society compared to a repetitively and on-going disaster as in the 9/11 disaster to the Palestinian suffering (or the famine in northeast Africa).
Some current opinions say that this is the dark-side of human consciousness, where we are just that; we care only for a single, individual suffering and cannot withstand the thought of millions of people suffering as much for a long period of time. For me, I don't think that is the fact. For a couple of hundred years, our mind and culture were largely incorporated or partly incorporated, directly or indirectly, with the Western culture of individualism. We were taught, since school, to care for ourselves and think and act what is best for our personal needs. We were introduced to a thinking system that was proposed by the so-called modern society and also, by the governing body that was controlling the politics of our society.
During these few days, the world (not just our country) were struck by the news of one, single Malaysian student who were injured and robbed during the riot in London. It was in the CNN and BBC and, well, practically everywhere. Funds were raised, issues were made. Even UMNO is willing to help the student's family by sponsoring the trip to London (this is, not without prejudices of course). The trip alone costs RM20,000. That is a hell lot of money for a single family, yeah? Why not UMNO send a team of physicians to Somalia instead, and help those poor fellow children out? I bet this will send out a better and more positive look to the Malaysian society, don't you think so?
My stand here is this: God created the world undivided. Only we, humans, adapted the crippling culture of dividing ourselves according to races and countries. For Muslim brothers and sisters, look abroad. Spread your view. Look at the atrocities and cruelties that are held upon our sisters and brothers at Southern Thailand, Indonesia, Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan and so many others. They are not strangers; they are our flesh and blood. The lines that border countries do not border our faith and ties. If we continue to only care for our kin, our local people alone, we are no different than the ignorant Arabic people during pre-Islam times. Do not dwell in assobiah, where it will cripple you. My prayers and well wishes are for each and every one of us; to live in this God given world without the feeling of distress and discomfort.
Consider this: Aisya, a Somali child, was suffering kwashiorkor disease because of the famine. Her mother could only sit by her bed, lamenting the condition that they have to endure. Even the mother couldn't shed her tears since she too was malnourished.
Which situation above will touch you deeper emotionally ? The previous or the latter? Multiple researches show that if given one personal situation like the Aisya's case, people were much more inclined to listen and care more. If you notice, one single event could induce lots and lots of attention from the global society compared to a repetitively and on-going disaster as in the 9/11 disaster to the Palestinian suffering (or the famine in northeast Africa).
During these few days, the world (not just our country) were struck by the news of one, single Malaysian student who were injured and robbed during the riot in London. It was in the CNN and BBC and, well, practically everywhere. Funds were raised, issues were made. Even UMNO is willing to help the student's family by sponsoring the trip to London (this is, not without prejudices of course). The trip alone costs RM20,000. That is a hell lot of money for a single family, yeah? Why not UMNO send a team of physicians to Somalia instead, and help those poor fellow children out? I bet this will send out a better and more positive look to the Malaysian society, don't you think so?
My stand here is this: God created the world undivided. Only we, humans, adapted the crippling culture of dividing ourselves according to races and countries. For Muslim brothers and sisters, look abroad. Spread your view. Look at the atrocities and cruelties that are held upon our sisters and brothers at Southern Thailand, Indonesia, Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan and so many others. They are not strangers; they are our flesh and blood. The lines that border countries do not border our faith and ties. If we continue to only care for our kin, our local people alone, we are no different than the ignorant Arabic people during pre-Islam times. Do not dwell in assobiah, where it will cripple you. My prayers and well wishes are for each and every one of us; to live in this God given world without the feeling of distress and discomfort.
