Hope

Witnessed something very respectable about Penangites yesterday while taking the mini bus home.

Got on the bus yesterday during one of those after work rush hour period where the bus is usually packed. There’s a guy in the bus who could’ve grabbed a seat throughout, but instead, this man kept passing available seats to every aunties and uncles that were standing around him. And we’re not talking about all those very 80-year-old looking senior citizens, just strangers who looked slightly elder than him.

Then, I saw a gay couple on the bus, sitting at the row next to me. Despite the fact that they were on a mini bus, in Penang, during rush hour, this pair of lovers did almost everything a straight couple would’ve done: holding each other’s hand, laughing off at a joke or two, lean over on each other’s shoulder… really sweet.

Now do note that this is Malaysia we’re talking about, in a public bus, with people around. Yet, this couple has no intention of hiding what they’re doing. And from my observation, no one sneered, stared, or even harassed the couple. To everyone else, they’re just another couple on the bus.

If this is actually happening everywhere around the world, and the reaction gained is similar to what I experienced yesterday, this world could actually be a better place! Polite passengers on the bus, with no discrimination whatsoever.

I’ve always hated my bus ride home during rush hours, but yesterday’s ride was something that made me feel good; that there’s still hope of a polite community without discrimination…