I knew I would get into trouble for posting this. But I went on with it anyway, because I have my opinion.. and I have this problem of not letting my opinion be silent... and yes, now I got into trouble.
But still - I stand by my claim.. and I agree with Pak Abu for saying that it is not culture; It IS indeed not culture, it's a habit (and a bad one at it).
pkboo: to wat i know there no culture that allowed swearing of any kind..
That is indeed true... so basically then, why was the issue on culture raised to begin with? I might add, that when one is not allowed, it doesn't mean that it doesn't exist... although that's not the issue here.. the question is just that; why was culture raised in this context? THAT's the problem.. saying that "it is not our culture" basically means that you're saying it is part of another and it doesn't exist at all in our community...
Yes, I have a dreadful habit of cursing - but that's my flaw... not everyone is perfect, a lot of people curse; I just happen to curse in English, using the F word - a lot. I admit, that is my bad habit, BUT should it be related to any specific culture? no.. it shouldn't.. because that is when it becomes ignorant.
A lot of people, when they start to see something they don't like... or something that is negative, they started blaming it on culture.. they start to blame on how badly the western culture has affected us all. Might be true to a certain extent, but for something that is as universal as cursing to be labelled of any particular culture - that is just incorrect.
And does my cursing make me any less of a Malay - No, I don't think so. I just happen to curse in English - not a good habit to promote - that's 100% true, but that's just how I am, and I'm gonna say it again...
Culture should not be touched on this topic because that's just insignificant.
The only problem with this case is that I'm just not that Malay boy who filters his language (again, NOT a good thing to promote, especially on a public blog, but it's just there to get my point across) - and I am sure that I'm not the only one in that circle, I bet people might be mad at me for saying that, but heck, I'm brave enough to tell the truth.
Everyone has their own flaws... and in this case, that flaw of mine is individualistic, not cultural.
I'm not trying to be pro-western here, but I'm trying to be neutral - to find equality, I'm not fond of discrimating races or condemning any other cultures for what is wrong with an individual.
It really reminds me of this time back in college. The majority of discipline breakers at the time were the Malay students. I found out years later that apparently the school decided to have a special assembly for non-Malay/non-Muslim students, "advising" these students to stop influencing the Malay students in breaking the rules.
I knew what was going on in college then; it was true that the vast majority of the troublesome students were Malays (I know most of them personally), I was completely at shocked that the non-Malays got the blame instead! Racism? obviously.
It just ties up, that a lot of people find it easier to blame another person for anything that went wrong with themselves.
Tell me to mind my language - I would've accepted it and simply apologised, because hey, it is rude to use the "F" word. But to raise culture into the situation, becomes an issue to me.
I don't feel any less of a Malay. I never tried to condem my own culture, my own race; everything that is negative about me is of no influence from other external sources. I take the full blame - not my parents, not my friends, not television, but me.
Cursing exists in our own community, I just happen to curse in English.
note: before everyone starts to think that I'm this foul-mouthed individual who curses or swears everyday regardless of the situation - you're wrong. I know when to filter when I need to; why do you think I censor the words here in my blog? I know my context..
Muaz Al Rashid
0 comments:
Post a Comment