The title definitely would remind you guys about the Hindi movie, My Name is Khan (-I'm Not a Terrorist). It's a movie about "say no to racism". Where the Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan will be portraying a character as an autism patient, a Muslim who have Khan as his last name. The story revolves around him and how he suffers in USA after the 11th Sept tragic.
So my title here slightly will be touching the racism issue too. This could be a bit offensive to few, but believe me this is what really happening around me.
Maybe many of you will be thinking deeply what is the meaning of "keling"?(I'm damn sure that "many of you" are not from Malaysia and Singapore). Let me link you guys to the explanation about the word. Come click this and read it by yourself. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keling
So as everyone knew the meaning right now, lets talk about it.
Well now the question is, why does everyone here (I mean Non-Indians in Malaysia) still using the word "keling" to refer the Indians, even though they knew using the word is considered as a discrimination to the group. Isn't it INDIAN is easy to pronounce than the word "keling" which we have to pronounce it from our epiglottis...? ;) Isn't it INDIAN is such a nice and polite way to refer the Indians..? Isn't it INDIAN is really mean an Indian..?
Huh..! Even a dozen of equivalents were given here still the "keling" will be best recognized as an Indian by our non-Indian friends. This term being used in many phrases such as "janji keling" (janji is promise in malay) where here they mention Indians are liar, "keling-fan" (fan is food in chinese), or even some says "keling" magazine for the Indian magazine such as Movieland.
Well, the third phrase was lively heard by myself at my workplace, which gave me a big shock. I was totally got embarrassed and felt like being pushed to a ditch even though that word was not directly refer to me but it was to my race. No matter how good-heart you are, how helpful you are, how intelligent you are, how nice you are, how talented you are, how beautiful you are, how rich you are, how ever you are...if you are an Indian, you 'll get humiliated or called as "keling" by some how in some situation. Funny huh..!
Few of my Indian friends like to sound back to those who use this term. And they even advice me to do so, but what is the point?? Our non-Indian friends already get used to it. Nothing can be changed by warn them or force them. It is said that the word "keling" was widely used by many in those days, maybe they are not educated or civilized that time. But what should we say if that term is still being used now among well educated people? No point argue or fight with them. They should realize its a cruelty and verbal abuse. They also should understand that usage of that word will only degrade their image and drop their dignity.
Stop hurting people's feelings and respect others races. It is thousand times better than
joining in furry friend farm or blue cross just to show off that you are kind. I think we are much better than animal.
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