“Let anyone amongst us who is without sin, stand up and cast the first stone”

This was a well-known quote which was paraphrased by Tunku Abdul Rahman while debating with opposition leader Tan Chee Khoon, formerly recognised as the Mr Opposition, in a parliament session (Ideas Report, 2011). The statement by Tunku obviously shows us his intellectual humility concerning the existence of another religion. His journey on the path of moderation towards our earlier development of the nation was extremely magnificent.

Diversity made our nation. Every one of us has our unique way of understanding and perception towards a notion around us. I am writing this letter to decant a drop of intellectual awareness towards gaining liberal from the chain of dogmatism and racial prejudice during this historic celebration of our nation’s Independence Day.

Intellectual humility defined

Intellectual humility is described as a person’s ability to genuinely understand the existence of another without thinking he/she is better than the other. Intellectual humility is the opposite of confident egoism, the approach that our own views are so undoubtedly important and right that they can, and must be particularly important to others.

This notion of intellectual humility has great significance in the presence of various people with a different religion. If we never initiate the intellectual journey of educating ourselves on the philosophy of every religion, the dogmatic views about others would definitely lead to the rise of racism and discrimination.

The unity of the rich diversity of people with various cultures, races and religious will only prevail from the steps towards acknowledging the existence of other religions and their religious philosophies.

No more herd mentality

Our inherent ignorance was a major hindrance towards realising that questioning is our fundamental human right which expresses our dignity. We should cognise that there will be an individual or great bunch of people who don’t always likes questioning. Don’t be afraid if they christened you as a threat to the humanity. Be enlightened that all the mind-blowing, life giving ideology emerges from the art of inquiry.

As told by classical Greek philosopher Socrates, inquiry is a way of being in the world that makes life worthy and its profound potentiality to expel ignorance.

We are in deep constant fear of asking questions and successfully transferred the cult of victimhood into our future generation as well. We just stand and watch (sometimes we may not even do that too) while awaiting the rise of super-man to deal with our fellow feeling. We are in an urgent need intended to break free this herd mentality. If you see anyone subjected to a burning sense of injustice then don’t turn back; move forward and have a voice for them.

Once you began to practice this, certainly you will discover the courage which hidden beneath yourself. Establishing and sustaining Plato’s just state philosophy should be the immense consideration among the leader of governance and also amongst us as well. Mere understanding of these without practicing in order to triumph the social justice is prime ignorance towards the society.

Monstrous storm of racial prejudice

Pluralistic society are at their very vulnerable position for racial prejudice. There are numerous cases added fuel to the sharp rise of racial prejudice. There is one particular episode that sticks in my mind. The incident took place on somewhere around November 2015, when an injured toddler faces long delays in getting treatment solely the reason that his mother wore short pants. Do they not hear the cry of innocence?

Obviously, it’s heart-breaking in figuring out that the innocent child was a victim of the attitude of individual with a narrow mind. Human evolutionary tendency to assume that individuals from other group pose a major threat becomes a prime factor towards the origin of racial prejudice. The emergence of racial prejudice disables interactivity, rapidly shrinks the human intelligence and ultimately reduces the chance for success in the modern world.

We all need to get along well with each other and avoid conflicts which can cause and lead to violence. The rise of sanctimonious voices always has its horrible consequence and often come to an end with human blood, destroying civilisations and sending whole nations into despair.

We should unite together with collective goals and mission regardless of any differences. Educating ourselves with the essence of others customs and beliefs auspiciously revokes the ugly outbreaks of racism and promotes peaceful coexistence by living in a harmonious combination of differences.

There is a story flashed my mind that I would like to share at this moment.

“A farmer whose corn always took the first prize at the state fair had a habit of sharing his best corn seed with all the farmers in the neighbourhood. When asked why, he said, ‘It is really a matter of self-interest. The wind picks up the pollen and carries it from field to field. So if my neighbours grow inferior corn, the cross-pollination brings down the quality of my own corn. That is why I am concerned that they plant only the very best’.”

Therefore, sow the very best seed of enlightenment in future generation in order to prevent the presence of extremism-driven inferior cross-pollinated generation. Let the deadliest offender of extremism, racial prejudice and herd mentality be sentenced to death by the judge of intellectual reasoning in order to liberate humanity from the crime of inequality.

Come to the salient need
to instil the virtue of every deed
Acknowledge people from different creed
to be glee in every minute
Let the blazing equality ultimately lead
with the thought of prejudice buried in deep.

MERDEKA! MERDEKA! MERDEKA!