If I have had the privilege of hearing Joe Fernandez say his dispassionate masterpiece Time to end the bumi/non-bumi divide in person, I am quite sure I would have cried.

The tears would surely come simply from hearing such a true patriot speak with such eloquence and clarity. I would have teared up from the fact so precious few Malaysians would have been as uniquely qualified as he to speak thus and not run the risk, as he so accurately hit the nail on the head, of having it turned into another racial issue — you know, of being accused of selling out either the Malays or the Chinese as I assume he is neither.

I would have teared up from the rather pessimistic tone in which he ended, offering neither the simplistic deliverance that far too many of us bandy about nor the negative blanket condemnation which is unfortunately also far too commonplace.

If we are all true-blue Malaysians resolved that this is but our only one true home, we would be waking up each day thanking the Almighty for another day of peace to go about our normal activities but never ever taking for granted that the road ahead is necessarily long and arduous, to be taken only a day at a time.