as a traveler I’ve had the opportunity to meet people from all over the world
to meet people from all over the world
to meet people from all over the world in Argentina
in Argentina
in Argentina Argentines in Egypt I met Egyptians and
Argentines in Egypt I met Egyptians and
Argentines in Egypt I met Egyptians and in Japan and that Japanese but here in
in Japan and that Japanese but here in
in Japan and that Japanese but here in Malaysia it’s a little different I meet
Malaysia it’s a little different I meet
Malaysia it’s a little different I meet Malay Chinese and Indian it didn’t take
Malay Chinese and Indian it didn’t take
Malay Chinese and Indian it didn’t take me long to realize that Malaysia is a
me long to realize that Malaysia is a
me long to realize that Malaysia is a little bit more complex than many other
little bit more complex than many other
little bit more complex than many other countries around the world and doesn’t
countries around the world and doesn’t
countries around the world and doesn’t it just make sense on a certain level we
it just make sense on a certain level we
it just make sense on a certain level we all know that Malaysia is defined and
all know that Malaysia is defined and
all know that Malaysia is defined and divided by race after all it’s decided
divided by race after all it’s decided
divided by race after all it’s decided for us from the top down and the bottom
for us from the top down and the bottom
for us from the top down and the bottom up
up
up it’s from government policy and it’s
it’s from government policy and it’s
it’s from government policy and it’s determined by what school your parents
determined by what school your parents
determined by what school your parents sent you to as a kid
sent you to as a kid
sent you to as a kid just trying to figure out a place to go
just trying to figure out a place to go
just trying to figure out a place to go for lunch with your colleagues you have
for lunch with your colleagues you have
for lunch with your colleagues you have to factor in the race question and if
to factor in the race question and if
to factor in the race question and if you’re selling something most likely
you’re selling something most likely
you’re selling something most likely you’ll probably end up marketing to one
you’ll probably end up marketing to one
you’ll probably end up marketing to one of the major races so for better or
of the major races so for better or
of the major races so for better or worse race is a part of life in Malaysia
worse race is a part of life in Malaysia
worse race is a part of life in Malaysia and with race comes this oftentimes
and with race comes this oftentimes
and with race comes this oftentimes misunderstood abstract thing called
misunderstood abstract thing called
misunderstood abstract thing called unity over time so much has been
unity over time so much has been
unity over time so much has been attached to what unity is that it’s hard
attached to what unity is that it’s hard
attached to what unity is that it’s hard to even explain sometimes what it means
to even explain sometimes what it means
to even explain sometimes what it means so today I want to take unity out of the
so today I want to take unity out of the
so today I want to take unity out of the box
box
box I want to dust it off and free it from
I want to dust it off and free it from
I want to dust it off and free it from all the things that we’ve wrapped around
all the things that we’ve wrapped around
all the things that we’ve wrapped around it over time and hold it up in all of
it over time and hold it up in all of
it over time and hold it up in all of its simplicity but to do that we’ll have
its simplicity but to do that we’ll have
its simplicity but to do that we’ll have to look at some of our misconceptions in
to look at some of our misconceptions in
to look at some of our misconceptions in an honest way now you may have heard an
an honest way now you may have heard an
an honest way now you may have heard an old quote never discuss politics or
old quote never discuss politics or
old quote never discuss politics or religion in polite company from Malaysia
religion in polite company from Malaysia
religion in polite company from Malaysia we could very easily throw race in there
we could very easily throw race in there
we could very easily throw race in there as well never discuss politics religion
as well never discuss politics religion
as well never discuss politics religion or race in polite company that’s like
or race in polite company that’s like
or race in polite company that’s like the unholy trifecta of conversation
the unholy trifecta of conversation
the unholy trifecta of conversation material right this may very well be
material right this may very well be
material right this may very well be where political correctness started
where political correctness started
where political correctness started political correctness begins innocently
political correctness begins innocently
political correctness begins innocently enough as the desire to not offend other
enough as the desire to not offend other
enough as the desire to not offend other but in the end it can oftentimes lead to
but in the end it can oftentimes lead to
but in the end it can oftentimes lead to avoidance political correctness might
avoidance political correctness might
avoidance political correctness might say unity is simply not talking about
say unity is simply not talking about
say unity is simply not talking about race or our differences but what would
race or our differences but what would
race or our differences but what would Malaysia look like if you didn’t talk
Malaysia look like if you didn’t talk
Malaysia look like if you didn’t talk about race religion or politics you
about race religion or politics you
about race religion or politics you might have some very quiet Yamcha
might have some very quiet Yamcha
might have some very quiet Yamcha sessions with your friends right and a
sessions with your friends right and a
sessions with your friends right and a whole newspapers might be left blank
whole newspapers might be left blank
whole newspapers might be left blank which might actually not be such a bad
which might actually not be such a bad
which might actually not be such a bad thing sometimes but the problem is not
thing sometimes but the problem is not
thing sometimes but the problem is not talking about race doesn’t actually
talking about race doesn’t actually
talking about race doesn’t actually solve anything it just feels better more
solve anything it just feels better more
solve anything it just feels better more comfortable for the moment in the end
comfortable for the moment in the end
comfortable for the moment in the end though there’s kind of this underneath
though there’s kind of this underneath
though there’s kind of this underneath boiling that happens and sometimes you
boiling that happens and sometimes you
boiling that happens and sometimes you see it boil outside the pot and that’s
see it boil outside the pot and that’s
see it boil outside the pot and that’s when it gets all of the negative
when it gets all of the negative
when it gets all of the negative publicity generally speaking though I
publicity generally speaking though I
publicity generally speaking though I think most Malaysians are pretty not shy
think most Malaysians are pretty not shy
think most Malaysians are pretty not shy to talk about race and the issues
to talk about race and the issues
to talk about race and the issues whenever I meet somebody I whenever I
whenever I meet somebody I whenever I
whenever I meet somebody I whenever I meet somebody new I usually tell them
meet somebody new I usually tell them
meet somebody new I usually tell them quite quickly that I’m married to a
quite quickly that I’m married to a
quite quickly that I’m married to a Malaysian and their first question is
Malaysian and their first question is
Malaysian and their first question is always the same what race hands down you
always the same what race hands down you
always the same what race hands down you probably thought of yourself just now
probably thought of yourself just now
probably thought of yourself just now what race and I understand after all
what race and I understand after all
what race and I understand after all this time the logic behind that question
this time the logic behind that question
this time the logic behind that question after all if you understand what race my
after all if you understand what race my
after all if you understand what race my wife is then you have an idea not always
wife is then you have an idea not always
wife is then you have an idea not always the most accurate idea but you haven’t
the most accurate idea but you haven’t
the most accurate idea but you haven’t ly some idea of where we fit in to the
ly some idea of where we fit in to the
ly some idea of where we fit in to the whole Malaysian experience so if my wife
whole Malaysian experience so if my wife
whole Malaysian experience so if my wife was Malay then you would know that I
was Malay then you would know that I
was Malay then you would know that I muscled Islam to marry her right if my
muscled Islam to marry her right if my
muscled Islam to marry her right if my wife was Chinese then maybe you could
wife was Chinese then maybe you could
wife was Chinese then maybe you could assume that we do some kind of business
assume that we do some kind of business
assume that we do some kind of business together and for sure if my wife is
together and for sure if my wife is
together and for sure if my wife is Indian you know I eat really really well
Indian you know I eat really really well
Indian you know I eat really really well nevertheless what would it look like to
nevertheless what would it look like to
nevertheless what would it look like to talk openly and honestly about race even
talk openly and honestly about race even
talk openly and honestly about race even with other races another big
with other races another big
with other races another big misconception that we oftentimes have
misconception that we oftentimes have
misconception that we oftentimes have about unity is that it means we have to
about unity is that it means we have to
about unity is that it means we have to be colorblind
be colorblind
be colorblind now if political correctness ends in
now if political correctness ends in
now if political correctness ends in avoidance colorblindness will disregard
avoidance colorblindness will disregard
avoidance colorblindness will disregard the importance of race altogether
the importance of race altogether
the importance of race altogether colorblindness might say unity is not
colorblindness might say unity is not
colorblindness might say unity is not seeing our differences or not seeing
seeing our differences or not seeing
seeing our differences or not seeing race this is interesting from Malaysia
race this is interesting from Malaysia
race this is interesting from Malaysia especially because it’s clear to see
especially because it’s clear to see
especially because it’s clear to see that this Malaysian this thing that we
that this Malaysian this thing that we
that this Malaysian this thing that we talked about the Malaysian identity has
talked about the Malaysian identity has
talked about the Malaysian identity has borrowed from the Malay the Chinese and
borrowed from the Malay the Chinese and
borrowed from the Malay the Chinese and the Indian races and so on one hand I’m
the Indian races and so on one hand I’m
the Indian races and so on one hand I’m in full support of seeing yourselves as
in full support of seeing yourselves as
in full support of seeing yourselves as Malaysian first and seeing others as
Malaysian first and seeing others as
Malaysian first and seeing others as Malaysian first but at the other on the
Malaysian first but at the other on the
Malaysian first but at the other on the other side we have to see that what this
other side we have to see that what this
other side we have to see that what this Malaysian thing is is a combination of
Malaysian thing is is a combination of
Malaysian thing is is a combination of all of us together so how would it
all of us together so how would it
all of us together so how would it change the way we see race if we fully
change the way we see race if we fully
change the way we see race if we fully understood just how much of our own
understood just how much of our own
understood just how much of our own sense of identity has been given to us
sense of identity has been given to us
sense of identity has been given to us from other races I believe that by
from other races I believe that by
from other races I believe that by valuing the significance of race were
valuing the significance of race were
valuing the significance of race were better able to respect one another this
better able to respect one another this
better able to respect one another this little guy is my son he’s two years old
little guy is my son he’s two years old
little guy is my son he’s two years old and he does not yet have a handle on the
and he does not yet have a handle on the
and he does not yet have a handle on the whole race thing just yes so we got to
whole race thing just yes so we got to
whole race thing just yes so we got to be patient with him but he does interact
be patient with him but he does interact
be patient with him but he does interact with Malays Chinese and Indian people
with Malays Chinese and Indian people
with Malays Chinese and Indian people very very regularly and naturally we
very very regularly and naturally we
very very regularly and naturally we want him to be respectful he’s a little
want him to be respectful he’s a little
want him to be respectful he’s a little Asian kid he has to be respectful and
Asian kid he has to be respectful and
Asian kid he has to be respectful and polite to his elders and greet people
polite to his elders and greet people
polite to his elders and greet people appropriately right so the problem with
appropriately right so the problem with
appropriately right so the problem with that the difficulty in that is that it
that the difficulty in that is that it
that the difficulty in that is that it all depends on race after all you’re
all depends on race after all you’re
all depends on race after all you’re greeting someone when do you Salaam and
greeting someone when do you Salaam and
greeting someone when do you Salaam and when do you just shake hands it depends
when do you just shake hands it depends
when do you just shake hands it depends on race right so for our son we have to
on race right so for our son we have to
on race right so for our son we have to tell him buddy you can’t call your
tell him buddy you can’t call your
tell him buddy you can’t call your Chinese uncle patchy it just doesn’t
Chinese uncle patchy it just doesn’t
Chinese uncle patchy it just doesn’t really work and you’re a bum she won’t
really work and you’re a bum she won’t
really work and you’re a bum she won’t respond to honey and your maymay she
respond to honey and your maymay she
respond to honey and your maymay she doesn’t even know what a tongue good she
doesn’t even know what a tongue good she
doesn’t even know what a tongue good she is but you’re lucky okay
is but you’re lucky okay
is but you’re lucky okay because this is Malaysia when in doubt
because this is Malaysia when in doubt
because this is Malaysia when in doubt just call everyone boss
my point is this we want our son to
my point is this we want our son to actually see race not to show disrespect
actually see race not to show disrespect
actually see race not to show disrespect but to show greater respect another very
but to show greater respect another very
but to show greater respect another very common misconception is that unity is
common misconception is that unity is
common misconception is that unity is something that happens from the top down
something that happens from the top down
something that happens from the top down and this is very interesting the
and this is very interesting the
and this is very interesting the phenomenon here in Malaysia whenever I
phenomenon here in Malaysia whenever I
phenomenon here in Malaysia whenever I talk to people about unity they
talk to people about unity they
talk to people about unity they instantly get sceptical Malaysians like
instantly get sceptical Malaysians like
instantly get sceptical Malaysians like I’m wearing some kind of saw to Malaysia
I’m wearing some kind of saw to Malaysia
I’m wearing some kind of saw to Malaysia hat they’ll immediately become a little
hat they’ll immediately become a little
hat they’ll immediately become a little bit are you sure about that I don’t know
bit are you sure about that I don’t know
bit are you sure about that I don’t know if that’s so possible and I get it I
if that’s so possible and I get it I
if that’s so possible and I get it I understand the skepticism after all if
understand the skepticism after all if
understand the skepticism after all if it’s a top-down situation you can’t
it’s a top-down situation you can’t
it’s a top-down situation you can’t really talk about unity if you’re not
really talk about unity if you’re not
really talk about unity if you’re not offering equality and equality is really
offering equality and equality is really
offering equality and equality is really the best when it comes to policy it’s
the best when it comes to policy it’s
the best when it comes to policy it’s the best that a government can do and
the best that a government can do and
the best that a government can do and that’s not even getting at unity unity
that’s not even getting at unity unity
that’s not even getting at unity unity is something deeper it’s something more
is something deeper it’s something more
is something deeper it’s something more personal it doesn’t necessarily follow
personal it doesn’t necessarily follow
personal it doesn’t necessarily follow policies or mandates and even if there
policies or mandates and even if there
policies or mandates and even if there was a change in policy even if there was
was a change in policy even if there was
was a change in policy even if there was equality at least on paper that doesn’t
equality at least on paper that doesn’t
equality at least on paper that doesn’t mean that there’s unity look at the
mean that there’s unity look at the
mean that there’s unity look at the United States there’s equality on paper
United States there’s equality on paper
United States there’s equality on paper there’s policies there’s laws in place
there’s policies there’s laws in place
there’s policies there’s laws in place to guard equality and yet people would
to guard equality and yet people would
to guard equality and yet people would say the country has never been more
say the country has never been more
say the country has never been more divided than it is right now so
divided than it is right now so
divided than it is right now so unfortunately and quite inconvenient Lee
unfortunately and quite inconvenient Lee
unfortunately and quite inconvenient Lee for us equality is not really the same
for us equality is not really the same
for us equality is not really the same thing as unity looking at this from the
thing as unity looking at this from the
thing as unity looking at this from the bottom up instead I think offers us a
bottom up instead I think offers us a
bottom up instead I think offers us a lot more hope if we boil society down to
lot more hope if we boil society down to
lot more hope if we boil society down to its most basic fundamental building
its most basic fundamental building
its most basic fundamental building blocks we’re left with relationships
blocks we’re left with relationships
blocks we’re left with relationships between people their families and their
between people their families and their
between people their families and their friends there’s something interesting
friends there’s something interesting
friends there’s something interesting about these bonds they’re they’re strong
about these bonds they’re they’re strong
about these bonds they’re they’re strong they can withstand difference
they can withstand difference
they can withstand difference disagreement even distance and yet
disagreement even distance and yet
disagreement even distance and yet remain intact I believe that they’re
remain intact I believe that they’re
remain intact I believe that they’re resilient because they’re personal and
resilient because they’re personal and
resilient because they’re personal and in a group setting like a family there
in a group setting like a family there
in a group setting like a family there might be a difference in roles but each
might be a difference in roles but each
might be a difference in roles but each person is
person is
person is valued as essential to the whole this is
valued as essential to the whole this is
valued as essential to the whole this is what policy no matter how good it is
what policy no matter how good it is
what policy no matter how good it is really can’t give us it’s because of the
really can’t give us it’s because of the
really can’t give us it’s because of the personal nature of these relationships
personal nature of these relationships
personal nature of these relationships that everyone feels valued and when you
that everyone feels valued and when you
that everyone feels valued and when you feel valued you feel like there’s
feel valued you feel like there’s
feel valued you feel like there’s equality even if there might not be
equality even if there might not be
equality even if there might not be equality so Malcolm Gladwell alludes to
equality so Malcolm Gladwell alludes to
equality so Malcolm Gladwell alludes to this whole thing when he discusses in
this whole thing when he discusses in
this whole thing when he discusses in his book The Tipping Point something
his book The Tipping Point something
his book The Tipping Point something called social channel capacity now
called social channel capacity now
called social channel capacity now social channel capacity is essentially
social channel capacity is essentially
social channel capacity is essentially the threshold that we have for
the threshold that we have for
the threshold that we have for relationships how many relationships we
relationships how many relationships we
relationships how many relationships we can handle at any one time and yet keep
can handle at any one time and yet keep
can handle at any one time and yet keep them personal and that number is 150
them personal and that number is 150
them personal and that number is 150 studies have shown in informal groups
studies have shown in informal groups
studies have shown in informal groups when the membership exceeds that number
when the membership exceeds that number
when the membership exceeds that number things start to go wrong a little bit
things start to go wrong a little bit
things start to go wrong a little bit cliques begin to form and there’s a loss
cliques begin to form and there’s a loss
cliques begin to form and there’s a loss of trust people remain strangers and
of trust people remain strangers and
of trust people remain strangers and eventually the group will fragment why
eventually the group will fragment why
eventually the group will fragment why simply because the personal connection
simply because the personal connection
simply because the personal connection among each member of the group was lost
instituting unity therefore on a
instituting unity therefore on a top-down large scale like policy would
top-down large scale like policy would
top-down large scale like policy would seek to do is inherently problematic
seek to do is inherently problematic
seek to do is inherently problematic simply because we don’t have the
simply because we don’t have the
simply because we don’t have the capacity for relationships on that level
capacity for relationships on that level
capacity for relationships on that level for relationships among such a vast
for relationships among such a vast
for relationships among such a vast number of people trying to get to know a
number of people trying to get to know a
number of people trying to get to know a race is quite difficult it’s impossible
race is quite difficult it’s impossible
race is quite difficult it’s impossible to be friends with a race but you can
to be friends with a race but you can
to be friends with a race but you can get to know an individual or a family
get to know an individual or a family
get to know an individual or a family from that race that is much more
from that race that is much more
from that race that is much more reasonable and simple what does this say
reasonable and simple what does this say
reasonable and simple what does this say about unity it says that the way forward
about unity it says that the way forward
about unity it says that the way forward may not be to change policy first or try
may not be to change policy first or try
may not be to change policy first or try to reorient our stereotypes first in
to reorient our stereotypes first in
to reorient our stereotypes first in order to befriend or embrace people from
order to befriend or embrace people from
order to befriend or embrace people from other races the way forward may be to
other races the way forward may be to
other races the way forward may be to find those personal relationships first
find those personal relationships first
find those personal relationships first and allow those encounters
and allow those encounters
and allow those encounters to change the way we think about the
to change the way we think about the
to change the way we think about the rest of the group then our stereotypes
rest of the group then our stereotypes
rest of the group then our stereotypes change organically our values change and
change organically our values change and
change organically our values change and policies will usually reflect the values
an amazing example of this very thing is
an amazing example of this very thing is seen in this picture the African
seen in this picture the African
seen in this picture the African American here is named Darrell Davis
American here is named Darrell Davis
American here is named Darrell Davis he’s a musician who has spent the last
he’s a musician who has spent the last
he’s a musician who has spent the last 30 years traveling the United States
30 years traveling the United States
30 years traveling the United States befriending white supremacists members
befriending white supremacists members
befriending white supremacists members of the Ku Klux Klan for those of you who
of the Ku Klux Klan for those of you who
of the Ku Klux Klan for those of you who aren’t familiar with this this is
aren’t familiar with this this is
aren’t familiar with this this is America’s most racist organization they
America’s most racist organization they
America’s most racist organization they believe that the white race is superior
believe that the white race is superior
believe that the white race is superior and dominant to all other races and
and dominant to all other races and
and dominant to all other races and they’ve acted on this with violence and
they’ve acted on this with violence and
they’ve acted on this with violence and even murder over the years to see this
even murder over the years to see this
even murder over the years to see this picture is actually quite provocative
picture is actually quite provocative
picture is actually quite provocative for a lot of Americans amazingly over
for a lot of Americans amazingly over
for a lot of Americans amazingly over time
time
time over 200 members of the KKK have
over 200 members of the KKK have
over 200 members of the KKK have renounced their membership and left
renounced their membership and left
renounced their membership and left because of friendship with Darrell and
because of friendship with Darrell and
because of friendship with Darrell and when they leave you see this guy’s Klan
when they leave you see this guy’s Klan
when they leave you see this guy’s Klan robe
robe
robe they give Darrell their Klan robe as a
they give Darrell their Klan robe as a
they give Darrell their Klan robe as a symbol of respect and friendship to him
symbol of respect and friendship to him
symbol of respect and friendship to him now what happened here how is this
now what happened here how is this
now what happened here how is this possible Darrell didn’t actually go
possible Darrell didn’t actually go
possible Darrell didn’t actually go about this trying to convert he won any
about this trying to convert he won any
about this trying to convert he won any one’s thinking or get them to leave the
one’s thinking or get them to leave the
one’s thinking or get them to leave the KKK he simply wanted to know how you can
KKK he simply wanted to know how you can
KKK he simply wanted to know how you can hate me even though you don’t know me
hate me even though you don’t know me
hate me even though you don’t know me you see the KKK hates a race they hate
you see the KKK hates a race they hate
you see the KKK hates a race they hate the group but they don’t know anyone
the group but they don’t know anyone
the group but they don’t know anyone from that group personally and when
from that group personally and when
from that group personally and when Darrell comes out of that group and he
Darrell comes out of that group and he
Darrell comes out of that group and he says I want to be your friend and they
says I want to be your friend and they
says I want to be your friend and they get to know him all of a sudden there’s
get to know him all of a sudden there’s
get to know him all of a sudden there’s a conflict I’m supposed to hate the
a conflict I’m supposed to hate the
a conflict I’m supposed to hate the group but this guy’s okay and it’s from
group but this guy’s okay and it’s from
group but this guy’s okay and it’s from that personal relationship with the one
that personal relationship with the one
that personal relationship with the one that hatred for the many is extinguished
that hatred for the many is extinguished
that hatred for the many is extinguished so what is unity in its most basic sense
so what is unity in its most basic sense
so what is unity in its most basic sense unity is friendship instead of avoiding
unity is friendship instead of avoiding
unity is friendship instead of avoiding race or minimizing the importance of our
race or minimizing the importance of our
race or minimizing the importance of our differences
differences
differences friendship says I see you I accept you
friendship says I see you I accept you
friendship says I see you I accept you and I value you friendship creates a
and I value you friendship creates a
and I value you friendship creates a safe environment to be curious to ask
safe environment to be curious to ask
safe environment to be curious to ask questions to agree to disagree and even
questions to agree to disagree and even
questions to agree to disagree and even to make mistakes which is inevitable
to make mistakes which is inevitable
to make mistakes which is inevitable when you’re dealing with people from
when you’re dealing with people from
when you’re dealing with people from different cultures and races you can
different cultures and races you can
different cultures and races you can just ask my wife from here we can
just ask my wife from here we can
just ask my wife from here we can understand one another understand
understand one another understand
understand one another understand another race find a sense of healing for
another race find a sense of healing for
another race find a sense of healing for some of the wounds that we may have
some of the wounds that we may have
some of the wounds that we may have suffered and even seek forgiveness for
suffered and even seek forgiveness for
suffered and even seek forgiveness for some of the wrongs that we may have
some of the wrongs that we may have
some of the wrongs that we may have committed now how do we move forward
committed now how do we move forward
committed now how do we move forward what’s the next step does it have to be
what’s the next step does it have to be
what’s the next step does it have to be as scary and con’s young as going and
as scary and con’s young as going and
as scary and con’s young as going and trying to build friendship with a white
trying to build friendship with a white
trying to build friendship with a white supremacist
supremacist
supremacist fortunately for malaysia i think it’s a
fortunately for malaysia i think it’s a
fortunately for malaysia i think it’s a lot more simple than that but it does
lot more simple than that but it does
lot more simple than that but it does take a willingness to step outside your
take a willingness to step outside your
take a willingness to step outside your comfort zone and engage people that are
comfort zone and engage people that are
comfort zone and engage people that are different and build friendship with them
different and build friendship with them
different and build friendship with them it could be as simple as a yellow shirt
it could be as simple as a yellow shirt
it could be as simple as a yellow shirt asking a red shirt for a selfie and this
asking a red shirt for a selfie and this
asking a red shirt for a selfie and this was really easy actually
was really easy actually
was really easy actually he might be surprised but if that’s
he might be surprised but if that’s
he might be surprised but if that’s still too intimidating what if I simply
still too intimidating what if I simply
still too intimidating what if I simply told you that it was nothing more than
told you that it was nothing more than
told you that it was nothing more than playing a game my wife and I about a
playing a game my wife and I about a
playing a game my wife and I about a year and a half ago launched a social
year and a half ago launched a social
year and a half ago launched a social enterprise called rogue culture with the
enterprise called rogue culture with the
enterprise called rogue culture with the aim of uniting Malaysians to play now to
aim of uniting Malaysians to play now to
aim of uniting Malaysians to play now to that end we have developed the lay pop
that end we have developed the lay pop
that end we have developed the lay pop game and we launched that last year on
game and we launched that last year on
game and we launched that last year on Malaysia Day as a fun way to bring
Malaysia Day as a fun way to bring
Malaysia Day as a fun way to bring different races together and celebrate
different races together and celebrate
different races together and celebrate being Malaysian now before this we’d
being Malaysian now before this we’d
being Malaysian now before this we’d always been passionate about unity and
always been passionate about unity and
always been passionate about unity and diversity and it’s probably because
diversity and it’s probably because
diversity and it’s probably because we’re from two different races ourselves
we’re from two different races ourselves
we’re from two different races ourselves but once we actually saw our multi race
but once we actually saw our multi race
but once we actually saw our multi race Malaysian friends playing games together
Malaysian friends playing games together
Malaysian friends playing games together board games party games and we saw how
board games party games and we saw how
board games party games and we saw how easily
easily
easily they could connect and build
they could connect and build
they could connect and build relationships we realized that there
relationships we realized that there
relationships we realized that there must be something very powerful about
must be something very powerful about
must be something very powerful about play and there actually is beneath the
play and there actually is beneath the
play and there actually is beneath the surface there’s a whole lot of stuff
surface there’s a whole lot of stuff
surface there’s a whole lot of stuff happening when you engage in play on a
happening when you engage in play on a
happening when you engage in play on a psychological level we all know that
psychological level we all know that
psychological level we all know that friendship needs trust to survive but
friendship needs trust to survive but
friendship needs trust to survive but did you know that studies have actually
did you know that studies have actually
did you know that studies have actually shown that trust is built through play
shown that trust is built through play
shown that trust is built through play it’s easy to think about this when
it’s easy to think about this when
it’s easy to think about this when you’re a baby learning to walk and
you’re a baby learning to walk and
you’re a baby learning to walk and playing with toys and falling into your
playing with toys and falling into your
playing with toys and falling into your parents arms you’re building trust as
parents arms you’re building trust as
parents arms you’re building trust as you play as a child but that same
you play as a child but that same
you play as a child but that same phenomenon is happening even as adults
phenomenon is happening even as adults
phenomenon is happening even as adults when we play together also when you play
when we play together also when you play
when we play together also when you play and laugh with other people you’re
and laugh with other people you’re
and laugh with other people you’re connecting on an identity deep level
connecting on an identity deep level
connecting on an identity deep level let’s think about it if you’re able to
let’s think about it if you’re able to
let’s think about it if you’re able to make someone laugh it’s proof that you
make someone laugh it’s proof that you
make someone laugh it’s proof that you understand them you get them you know
understand them you get them you know
understand them you get them you know how they think you know their references
how they think you know their references
how they think you know their references and their inside jokes and if they can
and their inside jokes and if they can
and their inside jokes and if they can make you laugh you instantly feel a
make you laugh you instantly feel a
make you laugh you instantly feel a sense of connection familiarity even if
sense of connection familiarity even if
sense of connection familiarity even if you’ve just met them in this way we
you’ve just met them in this way we
you’ve just met them in this way we desire to create a open place a culture
desire to create a open place a culture
desire to create a open place a culture of conversation where people can connect
of conversation where people can connect
of conversation where people can connect in a fun way and be themselves through
in a fun way and be themselves through
in a fun way and be themselves through this we want to spark a movement of
this we want to spark a movement of
this we want to spark a movement of friendship among multiracial Malaysians
friendship among multiracial Malaysians
friendship among multiracial Malaysians now as we value one another in
now as we value one another in
now as we value one another in friendship we’re able to move from
friendship we’re able to move from
friendship we’re able to move from tolerance to acceptance and even all the
tolerance to acceptance and even all the
tolerance to acceptance and even all the way to celebration I’ll leave you with a
way to celebration I’ll leave you with a
way to celebration I’ll leave you with a quote from your own Tunku Abdul Rahman
quote from your own Tunku Abdul Rahman
quote from your own Tunku Abdul Rahman it is my daily prayer that all the
it is my daily prayer that all the
it is my daily prayer that all the different races in the country will
different races in the country will
different races in the country will continue to live together in friendship
continue to live together in friendship
continue to live together in friendship thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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