So... this morning bright and early, Elizabeth Regina Tudor and I got a lift from the lovely Ida Mariana to attend the wonderful I Want To Touch A Dog event at the Bandar Utama park. Bessie (short for Elizabeth) is an extremely shy dog so I thought this event would be good for her, too, to help her overcome her own fear of other dogs. She was very concerned at the start of the event but slowly warmed up to other doggies and she loved the attention she was receiving from so many people. She still has a thing about walking on grass and getting dirty, but thats another issue to tackle another time. Although it was an early morning event, I was gladdened by the huge turnout of dog owners as well as people curious about touching dogs. The most joyful thing for me was to see people from all walks of life, all races, all ages, coming together and reaching out across a divide. Many people assume that it is Muslims who are afraid of dogs for no good reason. There were many dog owners present who were also Muslims. There were also many non-Muslims who came to overcome their own canine anxieties. In fact, many dogs are cruelly mistreated by non-Muslims! I am so glad to see this event rise above horrible stereotypes. What I felt today was love. A love for one another, and a desire to reach out. A desire to conquer ones own fears - isnt that something we should do more of? Today, I saw a glimmer of what Malaysia can be. When we reach out and help each other overcome anxieties. There will always be haters on both sides of the fence, but I am so happy to a part of the bridge that seeks to reach across the divide. I am so happy for Bessie that she became less wary of other doggies. I am so so so happy to see so many Malaysians enjoying a wonderful morning together - laughing, smiling, reaching out, and sharing a good time. Thank you Syed Azmi for doing this. Youre a champion! Many Malaysians at this point in time just seem to be content being suspicious of one another, or complaining, or being just plain old hateful. I think thats a pretty horrible existence. Wouldnt it be so much better for you to be a part of the solution instead? Even just saying please or thank you or even smiling at a stranger doesnt cost much. But it does wonders for our community. And this morning was pure proof of that!
Posted on: Sun, 19 Oct 2014 07:01:00 +0000
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