The word "different or difference" causes us a lot of trouble.Try wearing a tee-shirt and a pair of jeans to the mosque for prayer or attend a wedding and you will notice quite a number of people will stare at you.One of my neighbours never wear a songkok or kopiah.When he goes to the mosque,I observe the congregation's disapproval of his refusal to confirm to "accepted" dress code.He is just different.Just like Apple new logo with the caption-Think Different. Everyone expects you to confirm to his/her accepted code of "proper" dress / behaviour and way of life.The UN is one good example where we can witness multi-lateral conflicts.In one company board meeting I felt so awkward when a few people stared at me because I was the only man who was not wearing a tie!The society/group wants everyone to be like them.
The word "difference" has many contradictory meanings.To make a difference means to give positive contribution.Just add one 's',it automatically gives negative connotations.Just put two leaders having "differences",we may have political instability.It is a sad tragedy if all our leaders are the same.It took Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim's courage and oratory skills to explain the meaning of so-called "differences" between Dato' Seri Dr Mahathir and himself by telling the recent UMNO Annual General Meeting that our PM prefers to ride horse and he rides jet-ski;-.Personally,I don't believe that any two persons will agree with each other on EVERYTHING.The difference of opinions and styles will reinforce one another.Malaysia needs both of them. Similarly,it applies for any company or organisation.
Do you remember the story of the naked King with a brand new cloth?Everyone was made to believe that His Majesty the King was wearing a beautiful cloth.But it only took a child to say the King was naked,then only everyone started to realise, in fact ,the King was actually naked.Sometimes,we do need 'different' eyes to see the truth.Too familar with the situation make our tired eyes go blind.
We are all the same and yet we are different.We are different and yet we are the same.That is the paradox that we have to live with.We are born into various races,live in various parts of the world and believe in different religions and speak different languages.I don't remember that I was given a choice to be born from a Malay mother or any specific race or family.At the same time,we are all the same-a man and a woman,father and mother.We may differ in appearance, but inside we are all human. And yet,we are more concerned about our differences than our similarities.In fact,we are more interested in looking for troubles than looking for peace.
I think it is time we Malaysians must accept that we are different.We must accept diffences of views and opinions.Our multi racial society should be an asset and not a liability in the present gobal economy.In fact, we should harness our differences to participate in the new world economy-the networked economy.Malaysians will have cultural advantages relative to other trading nations in doing business with more than 2 billion potential customers in China,India and the Malay Archipelago.
Our life will be damned boring if all of us think alike,and worse if we all look alike.Only fools think alike(?),but some wise men do think alike.There is strength in similarity and as well as in diversity. This is confimed by biodiversity in our ecology.
LET'S CELEBRATE OUR DIFFERENCES..&..
work together..&..
achieve greater success
in the coming years.