Human Beings

Came across a letter the other day, written by a concerned Malaysian to a leading national newspaper, regarding the hordes of foreigners flooding our hallowed shores and contaminating the waters. Well those were not his or her exact words, but to use the exact words would be worse than what I have written here.

Apparently the sight of a few hundred foreigners from a particular country squatted at the prestigious International Airport is something unsightly for this concerned countryman of mine. So much for treating others as you would have them treat you. Beneath the tired, exhausted and sometimes scared faces of those foreigners lies the never-say-die spirit that has motivated and led them to leave behind their families, friends and even their entire existence to create a new and better future for themselves and their children.

The decision to leave your entire life behind and forge into the unknown can only be described as brave. Granted, there have been cases of foolhardy folks abandoning everything in search of the greener grass. However, the folks I am referring to here have come to this stage out of desperation. For them leaving everything behind is the only way forward. They come into a strange land, meet strange people, learn a strange language and even in some instances put up with strange behaviour just to earn a small pittance that can then be sent back to buy their families a bowl of rice.

Tell me, is there anything unsightly about this if you care to look beneath the grubby exterior and see the motives, hopes, aspirations and dreams these folk harbour in taking that flight out of the country of their birth? Well if you think there is, then i would strongly urge you to check your sight.

**This article was previously posted by me in blogster.com on 10th July 2007