A strong, compassionate nation

Petra Gimbad

"Freedom is first of all a responsibility before the God from whom we come." – Alan Keyes
Two things have haunted me during the last month or so. First, the bloody tribal wars in Kenya after their most recent elections; the second, the book Infidel, by Ayaan Hirsi Ali.
A dear Kenyan friend was dazed when I called to ask whether he and his loved ones were alright. Thankfully, they were. He gave his take on what happened back home.
"There were the elections. The victory was close, and those who lost, were suspicious that the elections were rigged. Frankly, I am too. Now they’re fighting and killing each other based on ethnic lines. My neighbours are fighting and killing each other."
His words chilled: "The elections before this recent one was good. People felt such a wave of optimism, there was hope for the country. Had you asked me how I felt in 2002, I could not have foreseen what’s happening now. I did not."
It is Kenya, once a model for African nations, which makes me realise what a fragile thing peace is – considering such a thing happened in a place once full of hope, in just a few years. How easily we swing back to our cultural roots to justify evil.
Ayaan Hirsi Ali, formerly a Dutch politician of Somalian origin, has received death threats for her views on Islamic fundamentalism.
Some attribute the historical origins of fundamentalism to Protestant extremism, for its black-and-white explanations of what the world should be and how we should behave through the Bible.
Holy books rely on the interpretation of human beings. It is some of these interpretations that many fear.
The view in Infidel that Islam justifies terrorism and cruelty to women is too simplistic to my mind; still, it is a powerful book, compelling and asks difficult questions requiring urgent answers.
A friend noted that this fundamentalism, this desire to understand the world too simplistically, is a force which is sweeping through the world. "It’s happening in New Zealand too," he said, "and we’re quite an atheistic country."
I suspect that people are overwhelmed by what’s happening locally and globally; they are confused and struggling because they cannot understand what is going on through the lens they have been given to view society.
We have inherited and cultured outdated education systems that do not equip us with the skills to cope with a complex world. I may be wrong.
Since the results of the Malaysian elections emerged, I have been dazed. A taxi driver commented a couple of months ago, that he supports Barisan Nasional but wants a stronger opposition so that better laws will be passed.
His perspective, which moves beyond naming some parties as good and others as bad, was heartening. I still maintain in principle that both capable and incapable politicians exist in all parties alike.
What matters more is that our identity as a democracy gives voice for our complex society to voice its needs and wants, and to voice them in a way that is heard. Heard in such a way that it is implemented by the system in a compassionate manner and which allows solidarity to flourish.
When I read exuberant emails from euphoric Malaysians who cannot stop smiling, I am glad, for I am invigorated too. Not because the opposition has won, but that a stronger system of checks-and-balances is now in place. This is just the start.
The running of a country is a complex thing and too important to be left in the hands of politicians from any party. I hope for and feel that we are capable of great changes within the next few years, but I fervently pray that we are conscious as a nation that change has to occur at all levels.
The issues which existed for the last few decades have not disappeared. Apathy still abounds – there is a tone of victory which rings "We hope and know that the opposition will achieve what we want" without thought to what our responsibilities are as citizens and voters from now until the next election. Ironically, many who cheer and jeer consist of those who did not bother to register to vote and were planning to migrate.
If we really care for this country, we will realise that the fight to build a nation that is strong yet compassionate is not a sprint effort in the form of one election. The marathon is not over; the battle must be fought for the long haul.
Petra is a media officer at the All Women’s Action Society. Comments: feedback@thesundaily.com