Every year, Friendship Day is either
observed in July or August. The day is significant in promoting solidarity, mutual
understanding and reconciliation in the name of friendship.
Strong friendships are made of
strong fundamentals. Those who stay friends and connected for years understand each other better. They provide advice and solutions when their long-time companions deal with failures and
frustration. After all, a friend in need is a friend indeed.
Likewise, Malaysians are friends to
each other. This friendship is built on trust, unity, respect, tact and
tolerance since pre-independence. Being in a multicultural and multiracial
community, our peace and harmony are challenged by issues - such as inequality, integrity, corruption, race, politics, economy and religion - that create chaos, putting people with different ideologies and ideas at
loggerheads with one another. But we should take these misunderstandings and grouses as
storms that will pass and leave lessons. If
there’s no pain, there’s no gain. We need to undergo these trial and
tribulations together with an open heart and optimistic mind to
stay close and united in our friendship circle.
English poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge
said: “Friendship is a sheltering tree”. When the heat is scorching, we need to become shady trees that provide coolness, calmness, security,
sanctuary and peace. This means that adding fuel to the fire when the country
is dealing with crises and controversies will not help.
Our unique and precious friendship
is meant to be treasured, appreciated and celebrated. We may have different lifestyles, ways of thinking, personalities and cultural practices, but our
differences are our richness. Let us stop the bickering, finger pointing,
overreacting and slandering, for these will shape
us into shallow- and narrow-minded people. As we strive to maintain our
good image, we need to stop washing our dirty linen in public. Instead of speculating and spreading rumours on the Internet, we should address root causes and voice
our suggestions through proper channels.
Let us
also free ourselves from negativity and keep our friendly relationships stronger
than ever.
Courtesy of New Straits Times
29 July 2015
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