I REFER to the letter by Dr Chandra Muzaffar (”Too sweeping a comparison” — NST, Nov 11) on the election of Barack Obama and minorities in Malaysia.

In accusing the various parties of being simplistic, the writer is guilty of being superficial in his conclusions about the motives of the Chinese community.

We do not send our children to Chinese schools because of our desire to perpetuate the language or culture, but for the simple fact that government schools are abysmal in their standards of education.

Most parents in Johor send their children to schools in Singapore, where the language of instruction is English, for the same reason.

I have many friends who are the product of Western universities who do not speak a word of Mandarin and are immersed in the philosophies and social constructs of the Western world. Yet, they insist on educating their children in Chinese schools.

The writer would do well to conduct in-depth research on the Chinese community before making such sweeping statements.

As for the overwhelming optimism about Obama being elected to the highest political office in the United States, we simply see the possibilities of such a momentous event.

Here we have a member of the minority class being elevated to such prominence by the very same people who 40 years ago had prevented his ancestors from travelling on the same bus or going to the same school.

The fact that the ancestors were fellow Christians didn’t prove to be a mitigating factor.

The real lesson to be learnt here is that through hard work, talent, determination and self-confidence, one can conquer his or her personal Everest.

Anyone with the ability and commitment should be able to contribute his or her particular thread to the fabric of Malaysia.

What better way to educate young Malaysians about achieving their dreams than to point to the example set by Obama?

In view of the turmoil happening worldwide, which will soon inundate our shores, this is not the time to dwell on what divides us but on what can bring us together.

By bringing in the issue of religion, the writer is reinforcing the same contentious factor that is driving us apart.

JOHN CHANG, Petaling Jaya

Source: NST – November 11, 2008