So much hate over Ponggal fiasco, by bigots and small minds!
False news is more novel than real news, and that could be the reason why false news has wider reach compared to good old-fashioned news.
Most people respond to false news with surprise, fear and disgust. Real news tend to be met with sadness, joy, anticipation and trust.
Recently, I published an opinion piece based on a circular send by the Education Ministry entitled “Can a Ponggal boiling pot affect your faith? Yes, says the Education Ministry!”.
While many were reviled by the ministry’s decision to declare Ponggal celebration as haram to Muslims, I have also received brickbats from some, mostly by Muslim social media users, who I think misinterpreted the content of the article.
The article, in my view, clarifies what is the actual meaning of Ponggal celebration. It was also meant to question the ridiculous nature of the directive, which was confusing a cultural celebration to a religious one.
In response to my article, people responded on Facebook with some outright racist and distasteful remarks. Here are some examples:
The Facebook posting was done by one who calls himself to be Prof Shamsul Rahman. From my own checks, I found that such a person exists and he works at Universiti Teknologi Petronas.
The good professor labelled me as a “Hindu writer”. And you see, I have a problem with that.
This Hindu writer has been a journalist for thirteen years, championing issues affecting people of all races of religion. This Hindu writer had also highlighted the plight of Orang Asli. Please do not take my word for it. Check out this link. It was written a day before the Ponggal issue blew up. That’s a Hindu writer for you!
As hatred is very contagious, Prof Shamsul Rahman’s message received a lot of love and support from those sharing his mindset.
Here are some samples of the love and support the good professor received from his fans:
Hanzallah A. Bikha: Let’s invite them for cow slaughter, let’s see the effects. Which user Solahuddin Ahmad answers that it’s a good idea.
Another Facebook user Abah Insyirah made a threatening remark, saying they should slaughter cow’s head in front of my house and a Hindu temple, saying it will be a good comparison.
Em Yusoff questions “slaughtering cows will not affect your faith”?
Meanwhile facebook user Aliffshah Mohd Shah said “using the same logic, this year let us hope that they will join us for hari raya Korban. Let’s see whether this will affect their faith”.
She also added a note, reminding me that I am a Hindu writer.
I will let our readers to make their own conclusion based on screenshots I have produced.
Anyway, just a little a bit of information. Slaughtering a cow in front of me WILL NOT affect my faith or any other people who practises the Hindu religion.
For us Hindus, Buddhists, Jains and Sikhs, a cow is a sacred animal.
To us, an act of killing a cow is akin to slaughtering our own mother. And that is why we do not consume beef.
And how is it the same in comparison with us inviting Muslims or others to watch us stirring a pot filled with rice and milk? Is stirring an earthen pot akin to killing an animal?
Please use your cognitive ability to ponder on this.
Hema Subramaniam is Editor in Chief at The Leaders
