DOUBLE STANDARDS AT KL

I enjoyed the teasing from Shanti's family. Krishnan made fun of my southern accent particularly when I tried to speak Tamil. I admired him particularly when he gave a dog to his elderly mother's birthday. Aishyriya was at college and didn't see her too much. Arjun played a great piano rendition of a recent song that even his own mother was impressed. Background, she was tutoring him after finishing work from the office. She wasn't playing either. It sort of reminded of basketball practice by Pat Summitt.

Shanti really showed her boundless energy. During a hot day, she took time during a break from her family practice and tour guided me the whole city of Kuala Lumpur. At least it felt like she did. She covered a British government building(I think), a library for Malay Muslims, and this area where the rivers (oceans meet as well, I think). Kuala Lumpur was a trading post town where they mined for zinc. She discussed about Sultan and British rule. It felt more Sultan than British. The thing I notice that the flag looks like the United States but with a crescent on the star area. I didn't ask too many questions about the Malay Muslim rule. I just listened.

I'm not go over what they said and what they felt. But it was tense. Shanti is the eternal optimist in the family. She always sees the silver-lining and hope in everything and everyone. My analysis was this that Malay Muslims were getting preferential treatment in jobs, education, housing, land ownership, and government money. My impression was that they were more upset at the European visitors who come to Malaysia, see the cleanliness and the modern equities of the place that allows them to justify the racism towards Hindu's, Chinese, and others. I noticed this during the Temple visit to Murugan Temple and their complaints about the visitor's presence. Mostly, it was Europeans and Australians.

I'm sure I was included in this mix. Lazy American enjoying the fruits of someone else's suffering particularly the Hindu's who do the labor stuff but are shut out from important positions like upper management and CEO style. It reminded of a story about a black basketball player from the late 40's and early 50's, Bill Garrett. Not so much racial taunts but the quotas and those unwritten rules. Bill attended Indiana University on a basketball scholarship. Though he had the grades to attened IU and was Mr. Basketball for the state Indiana, it took an alumni from his hometown with financial influence to get Bill the scholarship. Once at Indiana, Bill wanted to be a doctor but only two blacks were allowed at the IU Medical School per a year during that time. Therefore, he chose physical education to become a coach and teacher. Likewise, he served in the army during the Korean War and played for the Harlem Globtrotters before starting his career.

He won a state championship in high school, got a Master's degree, and became an assistant dean at a college. Back then to coach a sport, you had to have a Masters degree and teaching qualifications in the classroom as well as proper behavior. However when he applied for the Indiana coaching vacancy in 1971, he got passed over by Bobby Knight who graduated with only a B.S. in History from rival Ohio State and was fired from his previous job at West Point for hitting a player. Yet, the unwritten rules and quotas that benefited him. IU fans loved Knight and didn't care about his shenanigans because he won and identified with the white majority. Three years after applying for the Indiana job, Bill Garrett died of a heart-attack at the age of 45.

After that learning session, Shanti took me to the old market place and went to various outdoor food places. It was hot outside but I enjoyed looking at the "visiting" women but one thing one bothered me. I noticed these women like to show their bodies off. I remember this lady wore a cloth that barely covered her breasts, her mid-section and her butt. Another lady fed her child with one of her breasts exposed. The natives didn't make an issue. Yet, you see Malaysian women having to wear their scarf over their head. Now, these women did show open affection to their boyfriends in public like hugging and kissing. But for the most part, they were covered up from the neck up but I saw some short sleeves and shorts. Message clear: You can oppress others as long as whites like your results and you don't oppress them.