No one expected 2020 to be a bad year. Undoubtedly, the pandemic is the main factor that has affected every one of us. Lockdowns and movement restrictions are still in place in many parts of the world, including Malaysia, forcing people to stay and work within their homes. It has taken a toll on the mental health of many due to a severe lack of interaction with the outside world.
I could go on and on about the negatives of the pandemic, but the one thing that has captured my attention the most is the discrimination towards people of different backgrounds, not to mention other forms of intolerance that have occurred throughout the year. It broke my heart to see videos of racist incidents in Australia and the United States, for instance. Getting spitted, sprayed, and verbally harassed for being part of the race that is allegedly bringing the COVID-19 virus; I couldn’t believe such atrocities could still take place. Then came the death of George Floyd, which triggered massive waves of protests across the United States and other parts of the world. Plus, the recent news of the LGBTQ+ crackdown in Hungary is not something to take lightly.
Let’s not deny that prejudice also occurs here, in Malaysia. Sure, policies that favor a particular ethnic group are an open secret; after all, such news often surface on our papers and television, right? Well, think again.
While certain groups may not be feeling at home because of the constant lashing out by the upper echelons in the media, let’s not forget that other communities are much more discriminated against, but can’t even publicly and freely express themselves due to legal repercussions. Take the conversion out of Islam, for example, which is classified as a criminal offense in many countries.
To make things worse, a majority of the population endorses such hatred, which only adds fuel to the fire. In other words, they don’t see anything wrong with punishing select groups for different beliefs and opinions. Even if the oppressed do not meddle in anybody’s business, the oppressors still want to blow things out of proportion. While these mentalities and extreme actions serve to silence minorities and marginalized groups, the oppressors do not understand the concept that Martin Luther King Jr. put forth: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to injustice everywhere”.
Then, when the oppressed try to speak out against discriminatory practices, they find themselves on the receiving end of backlash and unnecessary investigations from the authorities, purely for expressing their discontent—an inalienable right we have been granted. Many can’t even discuss their indirect persecutions openly with their family members for fear of being disowned. Therefore, it’s not surprising that they will go underground and anonymously voice out their discontent on social media platforms such as Reddit.
Even in schools, particularly public ones, motivational events and programs are commonplace to supposedly develop and inculcate better character and values among students—if only they deliver what they claim. Rather than instilling motivational and substantive messages, these programs preach hatred and prejudice towards other races and religions instead. I have encountered this in my secondary school, sadly. Surrounded by classmates who were not so tolerant toward other races affected my own views on tolerance; luckily, I have overcome that since. But remember, we live in a multiracial environment; thus, it becomes our responsibility to form camaraderie and work together instead of blindly hating.
The greatest lesson 2020 has brought me is to be open-minded with things around me. For the very least, I no longer blindly believe all news conveyed to me. I have begun to question everything that I read and look through. This impacts my relationship with others too; tolerance and acceptance have kicked in and new relationships have become colorful ever since. I could talk freely about stereotypes among different races and eventually diffuse them. My new friends have come to acknowledge my way of life, and I return the favor.
My new relationships come at a cost, however; it means I have to live a different life on the outside while being another person when in the presence of others. Not everyone likes this kind of setup, but for many, including myself, it is the only way to live safely and sanely. Some might suggest migrating to another country, but realistically, not everyone has the financial means to leave or have a family member or friend to back on. So, their only option is to stay where they are and be mindful of their words lest it provokes the sentiment of another.
Any form of favoritism and prejudice is unacceptable; it does harm more than good. I am still in disbelief that as we step into a new decade, many of us still have to deal with buck loads of intolerance that has only been exacerbated by the pandemic.
Am I expecting anything better for the next year and beyond? I wish, but change has to come from within us if we want to make this a better place for everyone. I am not saying it’s going to be easy, but change can and will come if we permit it. 2020 has helped me understand that while all of us have our differences, we should not be separated by them. Instead, we should embrace each other’s differences all the more.
Until then, I’m closing this chapter and opening up the next chapter of 2021. Let’s see if we can bring ourselves closer and together without much judgment throughout the new year.