Should we tell our local ghosts to migrate?

ARCHIVES 2013

By admin-s On Oct 31, 2013

Local ghosts may interpret Halloween celebrations in Malaysia as a statement that they are not good enough, falling so short of expectations that people turn to foreign ghosts as replacements. Their egos take a hit.

Khairie Hisyam Aliman, The Malay Mail

One of the wonders of Facebook is that we sometimes find interesting questions to ponder if we spare a few minutes to consider them. One that comes to mind this week is: If Malaysians celebrate Halloween and put on costumes as Western ghosts, would our local ghosts be offended?

To answer the question, first we should consider what would likely cause offence to our local ghosts in such a scenario — the underlying implications of rejection.

Or perhaps some of the local ghosts may be outraged, feeling anger that Malaysians are championing foreign ghosts when instead they should support local brands and culture. That Malaysians are forgetting their roots, forgetting their identities.

The pontianak may feel slighted that kids seem think Dracula is better-groomed, more refined and more classy, while our hantu pocong may be upset that kids seem to prefer Casper’s cuteness over its hard-sell scare-mongering.

They may say: “You are Malaysian, so you should support Malaysian ghosts or get out!”

But what many overlook is that recognition and appreciation, as well as progress, growth and support, need not be a zero-sum game. One’s forward movement need not be at the expense of another.

Just because Malaysians celebrate foreign ghosts and enjoy what they represent in popular culture, it does not necessarily mean that local ghosts would be neglected or pushed out of the picture by these foreign ghosts.

Sometimes, people turn to foreign ideals, role models and examples not because they reject what is available in their own country, but because they wish for improvement, for better and higher standards. They are trying to make things better.

And the sad disconnect that likely results is that one side, trying to connect and offer solutions by way of suggestions and criticism, would be spurned by the other side, who perceive hostility and aggression as underlying the criticism, oblivious to the faults they need to rectify.