EVERY year, Friendship Day is either observed in July or August. The day is significant in promoting solidarity, mutual understanding and reconciliation in the name of friendship.
Strong friendships are made of strong fundamentals.
Those who stay friends and connected for years understand each other better.
They provide advice and solutions when their long-time companions deal with failures and frustration. After all, a friend in need is a friend indeed.
Likewise, Malaysians are friends to each other.
This friendship is built on trust, unity, respect, tact and tolerance since pre-independence.
Being in a multicultural and multiracial community, our peace and harmony are challenged by issues — such as inequality, integrity, corruption, race, politics, economy and religion — that create chaos, putting people with different ideologies and ideas at loggerheads with one another.
But we should take these misunderstandings and grouses as storms that will pass and leave lessons. If there’s no pain, there’s no gain.
We need to undergo these trials and tribulations together with an open heart and optimistic mind to stay close and united in our friendship circle.
English poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge said: “Friendship is a
sheltering tree.”
When the heat is scorching, we need to become shady trees that provide coolness, calmness, security, sanctuary and peace.
This means that adding fuel to the fire when the country is dealing with crises and controversies will not help.
Our unique and precious friendship is meant to be treasured, appreciated and celebrated.
We may have different lifestyles, ways of thinking, personalities and cultural practices, but our differences are our richness.
Let us stop the bickering, finger pointing, overreacting and slandering, for these will shape us into shallow- and narrow-minded people.
As we strive to maintain our good image, we need to stop washing our dirty linen in public.
Instead of speculating and spreading rumours on the Internet, we should address root causes and voice our suggestions through proper channels.
Let us also free ourselves from negativity and keep our friendly relationships stronger than ever.
Muhamad Solahudin Ramli, Marang, Teregganu