Matters of symbolism- The Malaysian Insider
JUNE 1, 2010 — We are united by our love of symbolism. Be it the red paint used by Ah Longs, a cow’s head or a Molotov cocktail, it is the idea rather than the act of destruction itself that resonates with us.
Due to the strains of living in a multi-racial society, all of us in some way or the other have been made to walk a narrow middle path of tolerance. We have learnt to eschew extreme symbols for a more acceptable middle ground. The burkha or purple hair is not for us. The tudung with jeans and blonde highlights in the hair are much more reflective of what is acceptable to us.
They communicate traditional values and a modern outlook at the same time in a way that all Malaysians can identify with. We have fashioned our very own distinctive symbolic apparatus, which is an acceptable amalgam of all that is rich in our multifaceted culture.
Being sensitive to the boundaries of what is acceptable between the communities makes us rely on symbols to express to the outside world who we really are. We would rather talk about our favourite celebrities and their beliefs to express our point of view on a topic than say it directly. So even when we are angry, really angry, we tend to use symbols to communicate that anger rather than resort to taking matters into our own hands in a more forceful way.
I would argue that all of us know what the line of acceptable social behaviour is, and if and when we do deviate from it, it is only in marginal ways. Inside the privacy of our communities and homes, we are free to rave and rant about perceived injustices against our race, religion or the boss, but we are very aware of what to say and do in public.
This restraint is the product of three forces; the exposure to extreme violence in the outside world, the absence of any comparable violence in Malaysia and the close proximity to each other of the different races and religions. This unique conflation makes us recognise the value of what we have and what we have to do to maintain it
We look at the world around us and realise that compared to a lot of other parts of the world, we are fortunate indeed to live in a society such as ours. We are literally a world away from the endemic gangland violence of Los Angeles as depicted in The Shield or the genocides of Africa or the communal riots in the Indian subcontinent.
This awareness of the world around us creates the desire to maintain the peaceful status quo we enjoy. However, we are not immune to the pressures of living in a society surrounded by people with different habits, faiths, customs and behaviour. Fireworks that are a celebration to some are noise pollution to others. Eating food that some think of as a delicacy is an act of sacrilege to others. What is affirmative action to some is discrimination to others. Over the years we have evolved mechanisms that allow us to compromise and still live together without recourse to systemic and pervasive violence. But that does not mean that the pressures have vanished. This is where the role of symbols comes into focus.
Symbols allow us to express ourselves without giving offence. A flowing beard or mini skirts in certain contexts are enough to ward off a potential conflict of views and beliefs. They are shorthand for what way of life we believe in which is not open for debate. Symbolic acts in this sense serve as safety valves to release the tensions and stresses of maintaining the peace.
* The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the columnist.
Due to the strains of living in a multi-racial society, all of us in some way or the other have been made to walk a narrow middle path of tolerance. We have learnt to eschew extreme symbols for a more acceptable middle ground. The burkha or purple hair is not for us. The tudung with jeans and blonde highlights in the hair are much more reflective of what is acceptable to us.
They communicate traditional values and a modern outlook at the same time in a way that all Malaysians can identify with. We have fashioned our very own distinctive symbolic apparatus, which is an acceptable amalgam of all that is rich in our multifaceted culture.
Being sensitive to the boundaries of what is acceptable between the communities makes us rely on symbols to express to the outside world who we really are. We would rather talk about our favourite celebrities and their beliefs to express our point of view on a topic than say it directly. So even when we are angry, really angry, we tend to use symbols to communicate that anger rather than resort to taking matters into our own hands in a more forceful way.
I would argue that all of us know what the line of acceptable social behaviour is, and if and when we do deviate from it, it is only in marginal ways. Inside the privacy of our communities and homes, we are free to rave and rant about perceived injustices against our race, religion or the boss, but we are very aware of what to say and do in public.
This restraint is the product of three forces; the exposure to extreme violence in the outside world, the absence of any comparable violence in Malaysia and the close proximity to each other of the different races and religions. This unique conflation makes us recognise the value of what we have and what we have to do to maintain it
We look at the world around us and realise that compared to a lot of other parts of the world, we are fortunate indeed to live in a society such as ours. We are literally a world away from the endemic gangland violence of Los Angeles as depicted in The Shield or the genocides of Africa or the communal riots in the Indian subcontinent.
This awareness of the world around us creates the desire to maintain the peaceful status quo we enjoy. However, we are not immune to the pressures of living in a society surrounded by people with different habits, faiths, customs and behaviour. Fireworks that are a celebration to some are noise pollution to others. Eating food that some think of as a delicacy is an act of sacrilege to others. What is affirmative action to some is discrimination to others. Over the years we have evolved mechanisms that allow us to compromise and still live together without recourse to systemic and pervasive violence. But that does not mean that the pressures have vanished. This is where the role of symbols comes into focus.
Symbols allow us to express ourselves without giving offence. A flowing beard or mini skirts in certain contexts are enough to ward off a potential conflict of views and beliefs. They are shorthand for what way of life we believe in which is not open for debate. Symbolic acts in this sense serve as safety valves to release the tensions and stresses of maintaining the peace.
* The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the columnist.
Comments
Post a Comment