"Respect Your Elders!"

That is probably one of the most overused phrases among the Chinese community. WHether or not they are right, its another issue, but you must NEVER DISAGREE with your elders just because they are so called older and more experienced than you.

Guess what, being old does not neccesarily mean being right all the time. Sometimes, I find my elders extremely narrowminded and whenever I attempt to argue with them, someone will tell me off for not respecting the elders.

The idea of old is right is so ingrained into the minds of the Chinese community that they will not suffer any questioning or criticism of the elders. The sultan is old, its not as if he is very wise or he is always right, is he?

I find the idea that being old means one is always right extremely unfair to us youngsters as they too are normal human beings. Who are they, just by virtue of having more experience and more white hair, to say that they are always right?

Where is the democracy here for the right to question and the right to free speech?

PS: There's a sms going around telling everyone to wear black arm bands or black clothings on tuesday to mark the death of democracy in Perak. Apparently, my grandmother who just returned from China and Hong Kong saw news of the crisis in Perak on prime time news. So happening. The Sultan, who is quite famous around the world and the state of Perak have just become the laughing stock of the world for having 2 Chief Ministers/MB at the same time. Democracy has just hit a new low in our poor Silver State.

Labels: Musings and Thoughts

11:15 PM