It does not take a genius to realise that the bumiputera and non-bumiputera classification would be ripped to shreds if a Bangsa Malaysia were to evolve. If that happens, the entire foundation and constitution of this country would have to be re-written and together with it all the policies of the government vis--vis the various communities in this country. Thus the reticence of the bumiputeras in embracing the Bangsa Malaysia concept.

Hence, as far as the powers-that-be are concerned, it is a forgone conclusion that if at all a Bangsa Malaysia is to be created, it should take the values and ethics of the majority community which implicitly means a nation of Malays only - Malays here defined as per the constitution, i.e. someone who is a Muslim, speaks Malay and practices Malay customs.

Our leaders from Umno are very keen on the assimilation model that has evolved in Indonesia where every citizen speaks Indonesian and has an authentic Indonesian name irrespective of their ethnic background. The Bangsa Malaysia concept has however been portrayed as 'tainted' with the Malaysian Malaysia concept of the DAP.

Unlike what Aleesha stated , Americans are proud of their nationality first and foremost and their 'American values'. Race statistics are compiled for social-engineering purposes and not to be stamped on their foreheads or filled in every single form throughout their lives. It also goes without saying that a leader of the ruling party in government would have been deemed an extreme right-winger and avoided like a leper for making insidious statements of other communities in the country in sharp contrast to what is happening on our shores.

Nevertheless, with a truly enlightened leadership which could think out of the box as Sadirah K pointed out (in Pak Lah, please don't tell us to shut up ), some progress could be made towards evolving a true Bangsa Malaysia identity as stated by AAA in his letter ( Coconuts, Kongsi-Raya and Eskimos ) where the affirmative policies for our bumiputera brethren are not usurped completely, and just and fair policies for all Malaysians could be devised.

I am not in the least impressed, nor am I surprised, by the views expressed by Norlinda ( If you love your partner, you'll convert ), Aleesha ( Forget about creating a Bangsa Malaysia ) and Mrafee ( Inter-religious marriages: Sacrifice your love ) on marriages between Muslims and non-Muslims in this country. Nevertheless, what they expressed is what is practised in our beloved nation.

The cornerstone of any just and fair society is that 'we do not do unto others, what we would not like done unto us'. This principle however only stands insofar as everyone is viewed as equals. That is not the case with Muslims vis--vis non-Muslims and Norlinda duly alluded to that by saying 'if you (non-Muslim) truly love your partner (Muslim), you (non-Muslim) would convert'. It did not prick her as to the hypocrisy of this statement.

It would be interesting for readers to note that the United States had anti-miscegenation laws in existence till 1967 until a landmark Supreme Court decision in Loving vs Virginia.

Richard Perry Loving was a white man who married Mildred Jeter, a black woman, in 1958. They were residents of Virginia but left the state and registered their marriage in the District of Columbia (Washington) to evade a Virginia state law banning the marriage between people of different races. Upon returning to Virginia, they were charged and imprisoned for a year, with the sentence suspended on condition they left Virginia.

The trial judge in the case, Leon Bazile, quoting an 18th century definition of race, stated that:

"Almighty God created the races white, black, yellow, and red, and he placed them on separate continents. And but for the interference with his arrangement there would be no cause for such marriages. The fact that he separated the races shows that he did not intend for the races to mix."

We could easily substitute religion for race in the above paragraph and see how ridiculous the notion is but alas that is what is happening in the 21st century.

Interestingly, Norlinda and Aleesha allude to the father being the determining factor for the race of the child. Would it also be the same where for instance a non-Malay man marries a Malay woman? Or would the children be bumiputeras? Different rules for different communities?