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I refer to Azly Rahman's article Mickey-Mousing Malaysia .

I have been to DisneyLand, Knotts Berry Farm, seen Mickey Mouse and eaten Knotts Jam on toast, but still came home to pay homage to my ancestors and to eat 'nasi lemak'.

The human being in us should be able to invite ourselves to a higher plane of appreciation instead of revolting in fear. We can learn and absorb all that the world offers and come out stronger. History has shown than insular nations suffered while outward-looking ones prospered. This was easily seen in the case of 19th century China versus Japan. Does Azly wish for a Malaysia that is totally shutout from the rest of the world for then we will be 'safe'?

Are we so mentally 'low' down that one Disneyland will make us all rotten? What in Disney is rotten in the first place? Children with a free and unpolluted mind take to it like ducks to water, showing how fun life can be. I am sure that all Johoreans and Malaysians are lot more matured and realistic, knowing that a trip to Disneyland is an invitation to allow the kid in us to come out for a while and live life free of its extremes and prejudices.

After all, what could be so bad of a family outing to Disneyland with happy kids running wild and a laughing with mum and dad? As it is, all we have in Johor Baru is Danga Bay, with its poor service and it is becoming a bore. A well-serviced Disney outlet (I hope with American service levels) will be a welcome change.

The same 'we will be safe' mentality leads us to try to deny our colonial period through a systematic erasing of anything English, even the language. And woe betide when we realised the folly of that and having to learn English all over again. On the other hand, had we embraced the period of being a colony and focus on its benefits, we could have built on the best that was brought in while discarding the unwanted. After all, can history be changed? History books maybe, but we cannot go beyond that. Our so-called democracy, laws and education are a result of the English landing on our shores.

This time, with we ourselves in control of our own destiny, we should eagerly and warmly embrace Disneyland and visit it when it is ready. There are so many positives aspects of American culture that we can learn to improve our own lives.

Azly should not claim to speak for all Johoreans, lest we all really feel insulted.

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