Sharing each other’s joys and woes

As we mourn the deaths of many of our icons, let’s continue to respect and celebrate each other’s festivities.

IT’S that time again when we take stock of the year that’s passed and look forward to new goals and resolutions for the year ahead.

The majority of my friends and people I know consider 2016 to be a challenging year, to put it mildly.

For most people, 2017 can’t come soon enough.

This is hardly surprising from an economic point of view, as this year has seen a sharp drop in the ringgit’s value, the loss of thousands of jobs and an increase in prices of a variety of daily necessities.

On the world stage, Donald Trump’s shock win in the United States presidential elections has dominated most of the headlines, as have the series of celebrity deaths that may yet define 2016 – Carrie Fisher, George Michael, Leonard Cohen, Prince, David Bowie, Glen Frey – all of them icons, and all of them gone way too soon.

George Michael’s death in particular struck a chord, because his music played a role in my growing up years – first with Wham! and then as a solo artiste.

The time of his death, on Christmas Day, was also particularly poignant because Last Christmas was one of his biggest hits (and my personal favourite).

The Grim Reaper’s heavy workload aside, Christmas was also the time of the year when we were treated to the most absurd social media debate – whether it is permissible for Muslims to wish non-Muslims Merry Christmas.

Yup, I kid you not. As someone who has to monitor social media a lot during the course of my work, this debate was troubling for a variety of reasons.

First, what does it say about the state of our country when a Malaysian cannot greet a fellow Malaysian with festive wishes during his or her festival?

Secondly, as this touches on religion, the arguments on social media rapidly became divisive and thirdly, the debate was inconclusive.

In other words, the jury is still out if a Muslim can greet a Christian with a “Merry Christmas”.

As a Christian, it’s not my place to go into the intricacies of this argument and counter- argument (although the Federal Territories Mufti said recently that it was permissible for Muslims to wish Christians Merry Christmas).

No, I would just like to highlight the fact that Malaysia has long been looked up to as a country that’s rich in diversity and one where different races celebrate each other’s religious and cultural festivals.

At least, that’s the politically correct line. The reality is that we are becoming increasingly polarised.

But still, I take heart in the fact that many of my Muslim friends wished me on or before Dec 25.

Fellow The Star columnist Daphne Iking wrote about this same subject last week and in fact, as a Muslim convert herself, she is best qualified to talk about this subject.

I urge readers to read her column which is available online at thestar. com.my.

Daphne told me that she was compelled to write the column because of a series of Facebook postings attacking her as a Muslim for her festive greetings.

Ironically though, those attacking her were Christians themselves who felt that a Muslim convert had no right to do so. Strange but true!

I also noticed that many celebrities like Daphne and also prominent politicians took to Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to offer Christmas greetings to their followers.

Many of these people were Muslims themselves, but the simple act of offering festive wishes in a climate where such a thing is frowned upon by a segment of the population should be lauded.

However, the most sensible argument I’ve read online comes from the Crown Prince of Johor, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim: “Offering festive wishes to the non-Muslims does not make one less of a Muslim. Islam teaches its followers to respect people of different races and beliefs and to stay away from any form of extremism. Islam is a religion of peace and love.”

In his Facebook posting just before Christmas, Tunku Ismail said he was puzzled why people have to be afraid of respecting one another.

I have to say, I totally agree with him – Malaysians seem to waste their time arguing over trivial matters, in this case something as insignificant as a festive greeting. His statement resonates with me. Conversely, when I wish my fellow Muslim or Hindu friends and colleagues “Selamat Hari Raya” or “Happy Deepavali”, I do not feel any less of a Christian.

In fact, it makes me proud to do so as I embrace the various cultures that make up Malaysia, and my wishing others is reflective of the values that have shaped me – to become someone who is not only respectful but happy to be living aside others, no matter their differences.

Now, enough of this triviality. I’ve got more important things to deal with now, like my 2017 resolutions. The other thing that puzzles the writer is that the malls can’t wait for festive occasions to end. How else do you explain Christmas trees in shopping complexes during the Deepavali celebrations and now Chinese New Year decor in malls during the Christmas period?