Indeed, most Malaysians are racists. No denying of that. The structure within which Malaysians interact promotes and protects racism and racialism. It segregates the people, allocates privileges to select communities, justifies discrimination, and prevents true interaction by classifying certain issues as sensitive.

Well, that is obvious. What's not obvious is the way forward: what should we do to slough off racism and racialism from our system?

The government-sanctioned policies hope, and occasionally attempt, to promote a single race - a Malaysian race. Assimilation is the code word. Malaysians, under a single banner would be united, speaking a single language (Malay), espousing a single creed (Islam). In that Malaysia, there will not be any ethnic strife, since there would only be one ethnic community, all the rest marginalised, having been deprived of political, economic and intellectual clout.

Using a model similar to the above to interpret reality, one reader, Durrishah Idrus, proclaimed, [#1]We are racists[/#] (March 1).

She thinks that wanting mother tongue education is somehow racist. Why is that so? Should someone forgo his unique identity if he doesn't want to be branded a racist?

Of course, he would pose fewer problems for the policy maker, who simply needs to device one-size-fits-all policies. But is that a laudable goal to pursue?

I say no. I say we should recognise uniqueness; promote tolerance; embrace diversity in all its bewildering vastness. Why should one ethnic community so want to impose upon another its own culture and/or belief system? Every such attempt of the past have only brought about greater human misery. Why should the present be any different from the past?

You and I are different. My goals and set of preferences aren't the same as yours. I want to lead a life of my choosing, not yours, nor that of any community or even country. I believe that the Tamil education I received as a child allows me to interpret reality differently. It gives me a unique perspective that you aren't privy to. I succeed where others fail.

For that reason, I strongly support mother tongue education and cultural diversity - not because I am some close-minded racist. A common language helps better interaction, but that doesn't mean other ethnic communities should forgo their own cultural and spiritual development.

Malaysians have benefitted immensely from the cultural diversity found in Malaysia. The diversity poses numerous challenges, but it is a problem only for those who cannot think life in all its complexity. For others, it offers great opportunities - for which reason I would always remain a proud Malaysian - that our nation could and should harness to pave a better future for all.

But that, alas, can only happen after the present racist superstructure is dismantled. When would that happen?