He ain't heavy, he's my brother...

by The Hollies come to my mind, when I read this very refreshing and original article by Wong Chin Huat. For his intellectual thoughts, please read his full article as linked http://www.thenutgraph.com/ahmad-ismail-my-brother .The lyrics seem relevant, at least to me.

(B. Scott and B. Russell)

The road is long
With many a winding turn
That leads us to who knows where
Who knows when
But I'm strong
Strong enough to carry him
He ain't heavy, he's my brother

So on we go
His welfare is of my concern
No burden is he to bear
We'll get there
For I know
He would not encumber me
He ain't heavy, he's my brother

If I'm laden at all
I'm laden with sadness
That everyone's heart
Isn't filled with the gladness
Of love for one another

It's a long, long road
From which there is no return
While we're on the way to there
Why not share
And the load
Doesn't weigh me down at all
He ain't heavy, he's my brother

He's my brother
He ain't heavy, he's my brother...

The Nut Graph Ahmad Ismail, my brother
By Wong Chin Huat
(excerpts):
And I believe Umno and the BN are beyond repair until they lose the elections. Even Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's so-called legacies are pathetic half-baked measures that make former Indonesian President BJ Habibie look like a giant. And the police are increasingly paranoid and mentally unstable to fear not only citizens singing the national anthem, but also citizens riding bicycles!

Talk about intolerance, how many of us have not asked our opponents to shut up, if not also threatened to lock them up? Talk about corruption or privileges, how many of us have not looked for the easy way out? Talk about breaking laws, how many of us have not talked on the mobile phone while driving or supported the pirate DVD industry?

As Malay wisdom reminds us, when we point a finger at others, we point the remaining four at ourselves.
Back to the hypothetical question above, why should I defend the citizenship of someone who denies mine by calling me pendatang? Because I would not reduce myself to his or her level (pardon my pride).

I want a Voltairean Malaysia. To paraphrase my late friend, activist Toni Kasim, “the Malaysia we fight for shall include you, even if the Malaysia you fight for may exclude us.”


The late Toni Kasim (pic courtesy of Ezrena Marwan)

So, I shall defend Ahmad's right to call me a pendatang or penumpang. Just as I would an Islamist's right to peacefully advocate for an Islamic state — despite my opposition to the idea — because he is my brother or she my sister.