A mixed lot

June 28th, 2008 Posted in Uncategorized

Coming from a multi ethnic society one would think it'd be easy for some one of mixed ancestry to fit in emotionally. Talking to a few, it is on the contrary because they feel they have to fit in to the expectations of the majority races in the country. Since they are a bit of Country and a bit of Rock and Roll as the Osmonds used to sing,  these people can be a confused lot, as they are not too sure how to describe themselves.

They are confused  in a race obsessed society like ours which demands precise racial identity. If you are not a KadazanDusun, you are a Malay, if you are not a Malay you are a Chinese, then if you are a mixed salad, you simply don't know where you stand.

Take my friend Herman, he is a mixture of Kadazan, Bajau, Chinese and a dash of Pakistani/Murut. He is at a loss how to classify himself. Since he is  Muslim, he calls himself  Malay. End of  story.

Then people will tell you that there are no Malays in Sabah. They are  right and wrong at the same time. They are right when they say there are no ethnic Malays (Orang Melayu) here, but, then there are members of the Malay race (Bangsa Melayu) which include all of the natives here.

Confusing isn't it? I have come across locals , for example, who are a mixture of Kadazan, Chinese, Dayak and say some Burmese,  being Christian they cannot simplify their bloodlines by calling themselves a Malay as being one means you are a Muslim. They  don't know how to categorise themselves as they feel they are all of the mixture, at the same time none of the mixture.

The Democratic Party US Presidential candidate, Barrack Obama, identifies himself as an African-American, that's half of his heritage. Is he right? Time magazine recently wrote a story  detailing  his mum's role in  the making of him. Like they say without your mother you won't be in this world. Shouldn't he acknowledge  his mum's  genetic contribution  by openly calling himself a bi-racial person?

The famous golfer, Tiger Woods, is on record saying he is a multi -cultural person. His late father was a mixture of African, White and Native American, while his mum is  Sino-Thai. Most people will slot him in the African -American category. This is not  how he sees himself! And,  also this is not a fair definition of his cultural heritage!

What is the solution if any? My answer is simple,  it is how you see yourself that counts as other people have no right to think for you.

To my friend, Herman, who is a bit of "everything Sabahan", your bloodlines count to a degree , but, it is you as a person that counts  more and not your facial features or skin colour.

It's  not easy, as people love to label you because they need to understand where you are coming from, once you don't fit in their  mental picture of you, they will resort to a shortcut to satisfy themselves.

I say let them, it is not that bad really. There will be many more in your situation as society evolves. Everybody is inter marrying especially in Sabah,  just be what you want to be.

Dr. Mahathir calls himself a Malay, even though he has Indian Kerala blood. Badawi the same with his Chinese Hainan maternal grandfather. It is also the same with our first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, despite his Burmese-Siamese mother.

If you compare yourself to the politicians around the world now, what with the ever rising fuel price,your 'problem' is nothing, if you could call it that.

I am sure some of these leaders are humming  a John Lennon song to themselves.

"Christ, you know it ain't easy,

You know how hard it can be,

The way things are going ,

They  gonna crucify me!"  

                                        (The Ballad of John and Yoko)

 And Herman, you sleep pretty well at night, don't you?