I was watching TV with Sash this evening. She is only allowed to watch the Treehouse channel as it is a channel catering exclusively to Pre-schoolers, so they air age appropriate non-violent mushy sentimental/educational cartoons with morals and ethics. I am convinced that had I access to this channel as a child I would not be the morally lax, ethically challenged degenerate that can curse like a sailor that I am. I would also be able to differentiate a tepir from a tree sloth. They are also not allowed to advertise junk food and toys, so I dont get tempted by junk food, and D by toys that crash together. So as fillers, they advertise upcoming shows and specials. Like the special day on Feb 14th, which is Friendship and Caring Day. My first thought was...huh? What happened to Valentines Day? Then it hit me..political correctness. Some people dont believe in St. Valentine. They didnt advertise Christmas either, it was just Happy Holidays. I suppose this will placate the multi racial and multi denominational Canadians. I am beginning to realise where D gets his political correctness from...and why he doesn't understand my Malaysian blase-ness about race. I remember when we were visiting KL he would ask me why I would for example say "so, we should go to that stall (the best food in KL is street hawker food sold from roadside stalls) with the Chinese guy" instead of "so, we should go to that stall with the man wearing the red shirt". I told him because the other seller sold satay and he is Malay and another Indian. And D asked, but why refer to him as Chinese. My response, because he is, whats up with you??. Cant we just eat this nice Chinese fried kueh teow in peace? After a while I realised that D assumed that by recognizing race as a differentiating factor, I did this in a derogatory manner. I explained that this is far from the case. We are all Malaysian but unlike in other countries, we are not the many races and religions melted into one pot. I mean, could there even be such a concept? Malaysia is more like a trifle...obviously made up of various layers, but also beautiful and harmonious as a whole (damn, now I feel like having some trifle). We are able to hold on to our cultures and beliefs because we are ABLE to practice them alongside others. This is the Malaysia that I know...it may not be what is experienced by many..but this is what I know and feel. So while I am glad that Sash is being taught political correctness, I am equally relieved that she will one day be able to experience and understand the Eid, Chinese New Year, Depavali and Wesak. And she will appreciate that while her Mum prefers Chinese Fried Kueh Teow over the wet Malay fried kueh teow, it doesnt mean she is not appreciative of her Malay culture (and food). She is just appreciating the joys and benefits of being Malaysian (OK, now I am officially hungry).