It is good to be home! Despite the fact that I have a deep aversion to any sort of 'nationalism', it is always nice to be 'home' even if it is nothing more than a comfort zone. In fact, I felt at home the moment I boarded flight MH122....see MAS, I am still loyal to you despite my many criticisms of you.
Sydney was great. The program that I attended was great. The presenters delivered an excellent 2-day session despite the fact that they had to manage relatively green horns like me and more seasoned consultants. The session-closing wine session was a nice touch. I have acquired much knowledge and hope to share it with others here.
I also gained much learning on the streets of Sydney. I learned equally well from all the major Australian newspapers and the TV news. The headline on the Sydney Morning Herald on my first morning in Sydney was about the percentage increase in petrol, food and other essential items. There was a write-up about a family growing vegetables in their back plot to reduce grocery bills. There was a TV news report the next day on how many middle class Australians who are falling into the 'poor' category. In South Sydney, I saw a few homeless men and women struggling to keep warm in the biting cold. There was also this barefooted pregnant teenager who kept asking for cigarettes from anybody who cared enough to glance at her. Then there was this hungry looking old couple counting their money repeatedly before entering a MacDonald's.It was sad.
Then I thought about home. Not much difference. Despite the daily dose of political maneuvering and feel good news, many Malaysians are suffering. We are also struggling to make ends meet. We like the people all over the world are affected by the same invincible forces of global economy and proxy wars waged by the big powers of the world. In this quagmire, we the ordinary citizens of the world fall easy prey to hate based nationalistic propaganda. We forget our brotherhood. We think our neighbors are having it good at our expense. We search with a vengeance for every little differentiators be it colour, race, language, origin or religious belief. Half way around the world, Barrack Obama gave a stirring speech about the need to break-down walls of tribalism and walls that separate the Jews, Muslims and Christians. Interesting. But, I have no hope that politicians will make the change the world needs so desperately.
The change must begin right here with us now! We are not at siege by others. We are held ransom by a dangerously gone wrong world-view of Us vs Them.
The world needs more friends.
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