not me !

I never heard about the recent earthquake in Padang until my boss asked me if I felt the quake so I went for the morning papers are there it was; the headlines for the day. There was so much suffering and misery and I cannot truly say I understand what they're feeling or going through. We never can until we're there to see it firsthand. That same night I saw an ad on TV asking Malaysians to contribute to the victims of the Padang quake and I thought to myself why should I. Many of you will think that I'm a heartless bitch and everything else that's evil on earth but so be it. First, the Indonesians burn our Malaysian flag and then the call us evil. Then the erect roadblocks to detain Malaysians in Jakarta. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that all Indonesians are evil and spiteful, just a fraction but just enough for me to say NO and believe that charity (from me at least) should begin at home. We have just as many devastated families and individuals that need help so I'll start just where I am. The Indonesians have always been proud so I'll just leave them alone with their pride. I have known many wonderful Indonesians past and present who remain my friends. One of them is a friend's maid who used to come over to my place whenever I was home to chat. Through her, I've learnt to be thankful for all I have and to be appreciative of the sacrifices that maids working abroad had to make. I love this Indonesian lady as if she were my own sister and I feel her sadness when calamity strikes her family. I know how hard it was for her to leave her family behind in search of a better future for them. To my Indonesian readers of my blog, I believe that there is good in everyone and that many of you have a heart of gold. But please do not make us Malaysians to be heartless because we are not. Many of us treat Indonesian maids as members of our family. My boss' Indonesian maid travels with them on all family vacations and she flies Business Class with them. Are we still cruel, evil and heartless ?