LETTER | It has been a few weeks since we celebrated Diwali/Deepavali within the confines of the new norm. The new norm is pushing its wave of change like a silent tsunami, challenging old norms and decimating traditions, peeling them off like onions one layer at a time.

Malaysia - Suvarnabhoomi as they mapped it in Sanskrit. Golden kersoneses, as the Portuguese visitors once translated this land in their seafaring maps. A bustling hotpot of different ethnicities, we came together formally in 1957 (and coalesced in 1963) and it has been a rollercoaster ride thus far.

The very concept of being Malaysian and honouring our own heritage shouldn't be divisive, but it sometimes is.

To be chided for the tone of our skin to the stereotyping of being associated with criminal and uncivil behaviour, citizens of Malaysia who are of Indian heritage are sometimes motivated to leave this land and to flee back to India, the land of our ancestors (including the surrounding nations within the Indian subcontinent) or some other pastures.

When Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor used words associated with racial stereotypes to hit back at his Indian critics over the Hindu temple demolition row - let me tell you, it hurt.

Let me remind you again that this is not to justify and celebrate the contributions of ancient and current India but simply an attempt to get across a fact that we are all travellers, and we carry the values of our ancestors in our DNA.

India is made up of so many beautiful cultures, and some sent her children here, and as a result, we, Malaysian born and bred, are third maybe even fourth-generation citizens of this beloved land we are accustomed to calling our home.

The very same Malaysia that we share and will give our lives for with you, my fellow Malaysian. But we are, I must also admit, truly a confused lot.

That's right, a confused community. We were supposed to be together and share the toil, work together and prosper. Malaysia is supposed to be like one big family.

We were like that, but we have been moulded by the real minorities - the power-hungry and the evil who are still exploiting our differences.

I also hate the fact that we divide ourselves within the community based on caste and creed and language.

But despite this confusion, there are people like you and me who are true citizens wherever they reside.

Good values of love and loyalty still reside in us all. The true celebration of light over darkness. Diwali.

My true hope is for us to address these potholes of confusion through conversations, celebrations of arts, culture, heritage, anything and everything that confuses us at times.

Politics? Religion? Sorry. They sleep together these days. I'd rather they get a room and sort out their issues.

We can learn from each other. Discover, console, inspire, and remind ourselves of shared values and to be a tighter knit community and contribute as citizens of this beautiful country, our family had helped build in the past.

We must find ways to connect. We can start small. Podcasts are perfect for it.

Let's use what is deemed our biggest flaw as a society - our differences and confusion - and make it a strength.

I love this country to the core - even this little confusion that sometimes pops up. It's no one's fault, but it will be our loss if we don't address it.

We have time. We don't have to go in at the top of our voices and yell about how patriotic we are or launch multiple videos of anger and hate towards idiots working for a heinous cause.

We can do better. So much better.

We are not people who can only be identified as drunkards, gangsters and thieves. We are also citizens, like you and me, doing halal jobs and earning an honest living.

Honest. Just like you.

There's dirt everywhere lah. Even in New York, there's trash that smells just like the one you put out this evening after a good meal.

Peace. May you achieve all that you are chasing, respect your fellow beings who share this same planet, and live harmoniously.

There is hope. All we need is some patience.

BALAMURUGAN RAMAKRISHNAN is a proudly Malaysian musician, techie and budding entrepreneur who celebrates culture and diversity.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.