1Slogan, 2Debates, 4Kids and an Alphard - Part One

Off to KL this week to look for a new car - maybe.  With the small tribe we've succeeded in breeding, we feel the need for a larger set of wheels!  So it's come down to a race between the Toyota Estima and the mighty Alphard.  I'm all for the Alphard, just cos it's a big beastie on the road and it looks awfully comfy!  And the TV/DVD will come in handy no doubt too!

Change of topic.

Last week my March IEP (Intensive English Programme) finished.  Was a good course, but as it was a bit short of students, I called in some old students who had finished the previous one.  The reason?  Debates!

Usually, at the end of the month-long course, we have 2 debates on issues facing Malaysian students today.  Sometimes the topic is something like 'Which is better?  Studying in Malaysia or Studying Overseas?'.  A topic like that gets everyone talking!

This time I went for something even more taboo here - one on culture and another on politics!  Ah politics, I just love politics in Malaysia.  I'm sure to do a post on it when I feel like writing a tome.

The first debate was 'How has Western Culture affected Malaysia - generally positively or negatively?'  This generated a heated debate, with points being raised on both sides that really made me grin.  I, being a Westerner, was prepared for some negativity towards my ilk, but I am a professional and show no bias.  I was rather impressed with the whole debate, as it was mature and insightful - most of the time!  There were times when it strayed off the point, but hey, that happens.  There were also times when some very dubious allegations were made, with little or no factual basis.  But on the whole a very decent attempt at a contentious topic by Malaysian students.  Points raised to denounce Western cultural influence included fast food, sexual liberalisation and media influence on Malaysian youth.  Points raised in affection of Western influence included concepts of charity, the honour system and waiting in line!  As you can see, only small parts of both arguements were presented, mostly because of time constraints, but it was a very good arguement with the side in favour of Western influence winning by the narrowest of margins.  I wasn't biased in the least.

The second debate I'll put in the next post later... again, time constraints.

The Evening Post

I taught a class tonight, my Cambridge CAE class, and many topics were discussed.  It was a good class for conversations, passing ideas around and me teaching my students about how to argue properly!

I first showed them a youtube clip about the US health reform bill which was passed today.  The clip was of the so-called Tea Party Republicans who were against the reform of the health system.  I was interested to hear their side of the argument, but was sorely disappointed and showed my students why.  A pair of media studies students from a University (didn't say which) were asking questions of the protestors as to what in the bill they were against.  Not one could offer a rational argument, a debatable proposition or even a coherent sentence as to what they were against.  What WAS clear however, was the complete lack of knowledge about what they were fighting against!  Most just quoted a Fox News presenter or mentioned a rumour they'd heard or a part of the bill they THOUGHT was in it which they were against.  No facts.  No actual details of any sort - and it made them look like hillbillies.  Uneducated, close-minded hillbillies.

Now my purpose of showing this to my students wasn't to pass judgement on the protestors, I left that to this blog!  My purpose was to show them the importance of reading, research and finding out facts before believing in something you have been told.  I showed them the footage to highlight how ridiculous these people looked, even though they firmly believed the bill was bordering on communism.  I am showing a high degree of bias here, but the effect was plain for all to see.

Now, the other point of mentioning this tonight was just how much it resonated with what has been happening in Malaysia the last few months, if not years.  The fear-mongering, the lack of facts, the rumours and heresay about threats to rights, privileges and the creating (or strengthening, to be more accurate) of the seige mentality of the majority Malay community here.  I would hazard an educated guess and say that most Malays are not impressed or represented by these groups, but they get a following in more rural, conservative (and poor) areas.  Groups which have sprung up such as Perkasa (translation I'm not sure of - see post below of my command of Bahasa!)  are purely based on racism and exist to create fear and suspicion of other communities in Malaysia.  Now a couple of points come to mind immediately.

How do groups like this exist at all?  Why aren't they shunned into oblivion?  Why do people give them the time of day?  There is no one answer as far as I know, but suffice it to say that education and money play an enormous role.  'Fear of the others' is a common thread which has been implanted into the mind of your average Malaysian, and racial profiling is par for the course.  Everyone does it.  Most would be ashamed to admit it  My point is that the politicians here use this fear to garner votes, to hold power, to accumulate wealth.  I always say to my wife that if I was a reporter here I'd probably be dead within a week, a month at the most.  I rock the boat, I ask the obvious question.  I don't take the answer as gospel truth!  The simple fact remains that these groups exist, and there are groups from each community which espouse the same nonsense, but they are not tackled head on publicly for fear of the questioner being labelled a traitor of their race, a bad Muslim or Hindu or Christian, too liberal (whatever that means) or too Westernised.  That last one I just love.  Anything to deflect the bigot from answering a direct question.  No facts presented, just deflection.

I guess, to balance this post, I do support freedom of speech.  I would go so far as to say that I support their right to express their opinion on matters they deem close to their hearts.  I wouldn't question their rights to that for one second.  What worries me is that they are moving in from the lunatic fringe into the  mainstream.  People are not countering their arguments with undeniable facts or logic.  This scares me.  I spend a lot of time trying to educate my students to be critical thinkers, to question the knowledge, to always ask WHY?  I think in Malaysia, as in the USA (and no doubt everywhere else) education is the key.

I feel there is more to come on this topic.  Watch this space.  Please leave comments and I hope to get a debate going on this issue and more in the future!