Science v djinns

In the past week, the science world celebrated the historic success of European Space Agency (ESA)’s spacecraft Rosetta landing the Philae on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.

Space exploration has always been a lengthy, expensive experiment for any country or conglomerate; and, in this particular case, the spacecraft left earth 10 years ago before making contact with the comet.

It released the lander through a combination of rockets, harpoons, and maths; which then drilled on the comet’s surface to collect data on its composition, transmit the data back to earth. But then, get this, it simply ran out of battery. In short, 10 years (or more) of effort, blood, sweat, and tears by everyone involved was reduced into an achievement that lasted only for a few days.

Such is the harsh reality of science, and life in general.

Back in Malaysia, there is publicity around a forum to be held at the end of the month on djinns and medicine. As a scientist, my sensitivities are challenged by this news. Yes, I believe in God and spirituality; but can we focus our time, effort, and funds discussing the current breakthrough in the medical world based on scientific and clinical evidence?

While the article promoting the forum cited the objective by the organiser as “to combine information from both medical and psycho-therapy fields to talk about medical diseases that look medical, but are actually not”, I can’t help but wonder at the irony that Malaysia is more tolerant on conducting such forums than conducting research and forums with healthy discussions on Gender Identity Disorders (GID) or illnesses related to mental health.

It’s as if it’s okay to blame supernatural beings for causing disease or altering a person’s behaviour; but it’s not okay if the said person is considered ill mentally from the medical perspective.

It’s neither okay to understand depression and provide much improved, sensitised and de-stigmatised psychological support and counselling; nor is it okay to raise awareness in reducing our own stigma and increase our understanding and acceptance of those with such conditions or diseases and science in general. 

I was engaged in discussions with a group of science enthusiasts over the weekend. It was interesting to note that while efforts by the Malaysian AIDS Council on HIV/AIDS awareness have been ongoing since the 1990s, the first question I received from the group was “Can someone hug a HIV+ person and contract the virus?”

For the record: no, unless you have an open wound rubbing against the person’s open wound. And, last I checked, hugs did not involve bleeding wounds.

I have a feeling that I will have to persistently explain about HIV transmission in the many years to come. But that question reminded me that our tendency to sweep sensitive, tough issues under the carpet is not helping anyone. If one feels ignorant, one only needs to ask or critically assess information from different sources. But that’s the issue here, isn’t it? Malaysians in general are too shy to ask.

We are happier harping on an issue, completely missing the point most of the time, but too shy to admit that we actually require a little bit more enlightenment about an issue or situation. Worse, we retaliate very negatively to issues and in some cases spread hatred towards things and issues that we do not understand.

Even worse: we tend to jump into the bandwagon of hatred for the sake of keeping up with the masses. While efforts have been made from many parties through social media, be it in article form or video form – it seems that for the majority of us, it is easier to just continue to be on our high-horse and hate everyone else who thinks differently than us. It’s always amazing to see Malaysians choosing hatred over love, choosing to believe in heresy than factual evidence, choosing to judge than understand, choosing public defamation over kindness.

Maybe there are djinns around who possess Malaysians into not thinking... who knows? – November 19, 2014.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.