In conjunction with Merdeka Day at the end of this month, and the brilliant print and online features, TimeOut Kuala Lumpur also asked LoyarBurokkers what unity means to them, to which they reply…
Marcus van Geyzel (@vangeyzel on Twitter), Corporate Lawyer, and Blawgmeister Minion, tasked by Lord Bobo to run the whole damn blawg
I suppose unity is sticking together despite differences. Absolute unity would be pretty boring – that sounds like rigid uniformity, homogeneity, and dull sameness. Life needs a bit of conflict, fun, unpredictability, and intrigue once in a while to remain exciting.
I don’t want to spend time thinking about my definition of unity, because I think realistic unity happens organically, and by nature should resist definition.
It’s impossible to have everyone holding hands, thinking the same thoughts, dreaming the same dreams, and singing the same heart-songs – and I wouldn’t want to live in that boring world.
Justine Mei-Ern Tan (@justinemeiern), Law student and Curator on the Masthead blawg editorial team
Unity isn’t some campaign or far-fetched ideal.
Unity is agreeing to disagree, while effectively pooling individual talents for the greater good.
Syazwina Saw (@syazwinasaw), Curator of the blawg’s Masthead editorial team
Unity is born out of a sense of belonging to an entity – either to a group, club, organisation, party, or even country.
But that in itself requires one to believe in everything that entity stands for and represents, and how it manifests its beliefs into the world.
Unity should not be blind or it will be misguided, and neither should it be above criticism for then it will commit wrongs unimpeded.
At the very least, unity means that at one moment, an entire group of people from various backgrounds and experiences can come together in a particular moment and say, “Yes, I belong here, with all of you, and it feels bloody great”.
Fahri Azzat (@LBMinion1), Lawyer, and one of the founders and first and most prolific writers for the blawg
Unity is the willingness to stand united in a common cause towards shared interests in spite of the diversity and differences of opinions, outlooks and belief.
So unity means transcending the superficial differences towards a deeper commonality that we all share – our humanity.
It does not mean homogenising or rationalising opinions or belief so that they are free from challenge or difference.
Diversity is the other face of unity.
Edmund Bon (@edmundbon), Lawyer, Fashion Designer, and one of the first ever LoyarBurokkers to be summoned and tasked by Lord Bobo with spreading the Gospel of Blawg-awesomeness
Actually I think these kind of questions are quite silly.
Malaysia would be better off if we all just started doing things, instead of trying to come up with descriptions or labels to stick on each other.
Everyone should start acting instead of just talking and thinking.
Buat kerja! Jalan!
Lim Ka Ea, Chief Executive Minion at the LoyarBurok Rakyat Centre / Malaysian Centre for Constitutionalism and Human Rights
Unity is like a classic Oreo cookie; two black crunchy cookies holding together one layer of white soft cream.
Both have different texture, taste and ingredients but they share a common ground and have the same purpose.
Some people prefer to eat just the white layer of cream while some prefer to remove the cream and eat just the cookies.
However people want to eat it or take it apart, an Oreo cookie will always be two black cookies and one white layer of cream sticking together.
Some very interesting people!
Some very interesting people!
Nice!