Monday, January 7, 2008

Pre-school racist

This is another experience I had when I was in University…

Once I was sitting in the library. A man and his daughter came and sat not too far from me. The daughter was very young, still in her pre-school. The man was using the computer on the table, probably finding the location of a book. I kept reading the book I was holding. The girl was quite chirpy, she kept on signing some tunes, I guess she learned it in her kindergarten. So this was going on for some time, I was reading…her dad was surfing…and she was singing. Then she said something that TRULY shocked me…
All of a sudden I heard her say “Orang India Orang Cina tak boleh masuk syurga” (The Indians and Chinese will not go to Heaven).

This was quite upsetting. How could a child say, or even think of something like that? I do know of elders who say that, we elders have a lot of ego, a lot anger and hatred for one another. It’s understandable if a man or woman says that, the older we get, the more we’re caught up in the web of confusion, and the more we’re farther from the universal truth.
But what made this simple child say that?
My first guess is her parents or pre-school teacher. I’m surprised that elders could instill hatred and discrimination on such an innocent girl.
I doubt if we’d ever reach zero racial tolerance.

Who shall we hold accountable for her words ??

No comments: