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/c/café daily chat thread for 17 August 2023
(self.cafe)
Welcome to our virtual third place, The Café.
Come on in and make a new human connection over a cup of coffee (or Teh Tarik). This is a casual community, do whatever you want, share your oyen pics, your frustrations, and even organize a weekend picnic with the community. The world is your oyster.
Rules are simple, be kind and civil with each other. As with any other café, rude patrons will be kicked out.
Tbf, the Non-Muslims are in a tough position. Put up too much of a fuss, we're branded kafir la, pendatang la, tak hormat la. We can only fight back when the moderate Malays push back together with us.
Oh I absolutely get that fear. Queer ppl with other privileged identities can share the same concern. The thing is that last bit though - were moderate malays invisible or something? We're right here. Always been here. Bila buka topik, don't want to campur tho -"ah, never mind la your thing one". That's what I'm responding/reacting to, that very specific willingness to don't bother (and to use DukeGR4's comment as an example pov that I'm also talking about here). Of course have to stay safe - I'm just saying oh now worry la, dulu org lain kena sell down the river tolong cover line pun barely there. Don't even have to speak up unnecessarily, that just invites trouble - but to swerve and use a small thing example: no need so excessively worried if this biskut or that cake halal right in front of me if I didn't ask you to worry (and maaaaaybe that person is unofficially non-practicing but can't say nothing cos it's a crime). In terms of where I'm situating my response is not like Terengganu where mainly KT yg ada non-Malays. I'm talking about Klang Valley and similar places where it's demographically a situation of at least two ethnic socioeconomic majoritarian blocs. I think from this pov is why ppl always bring up Borneo enviously but part of that social pact is looking out for each other.
Not invisible but not that obvious perhaps? I used to bring my dogs to this vet run by Malays. They love my dogs, but got some complaints about having dogs in the clinic. We have seen some moderate ones who would pet our dogs, just that we feel bad that the clinic staff had to deal with those Karens.
That is a great example. I guess it didn't help if they feel like there's no one else in their corner, like dog owners stopping to use their business because the fascists were loud 😕 ETA: especially since those dogs and their owners have every right to be there, and the fact the vet wanted them to also use their services despite the stereotype that Muslims can't touch dogs in any situation so in their own small way they're living their life and de facto resisting. But no one's there.
Yeah, we know there are moderate ones, but at times it's hard because the fascists are loud.