MONERA M.

MALIAWAO ESSAY 3

Eliminating Cultural Discrimination is a Must

Living in an area where multiple cultures are present, is absolutely challenging. An

open mind shall be the greatest weapon one should possess so that he or she will
understand the vast differences that each of the particular cultural group has. However,
it is inevitable that in a place where there are different beliefs and practices,
discrimination is possible. There are many forms of discrimination which exist in the
world. One may be discriminated through sexuality, social status, profession, or even
religion.

The story “The White Horse of Alih” authored by Mig Alvarez Enriquez, portrays a
kind of discrimination that is evident especially in Mindanao. It features Muslim
characters named Alih and Omar. These brothers are actually planning to avenge
themselves through killing those who would stand in their way. The two brothers had
been through many struggles and battles because of being Moro. Like in the real world,
where Moro people seem to be different from the rest of the inhabitants. Either positive
or negative issues, Moro are often attached to it. However, it seems that it is more on the
negative issues that the Moro people are involved.

As a Moro individual, it is never easy to deal with the people who prefer to close
their minds about the truth. However, undeniably, there are also incidents in which the
Moro people are responsible but it is also unfair to perceive all Moro people as rude and
savage. Whenever there are rebellion, bombing and wars, killing, and abduction, often
these incidents are attached to the Muslims which is definitely untrue. The same with
other ethnicity, there are good and bad individuals. But not everybody in a particular
group or tribe, is on the side of the negative deeds. Therefore, one should not be labelled
as stubborn or evil just because of the religion where he or she belongs or under.

In the case of Alih and Omar, they had experienced cruelty in which the Americans
would always associate the Moro people with rebellion and villainy. In fact, their own
father had been on one of the many victims of false accusation who was deprived of
liberty and worst, of life. Although it was found out that their father is not really the
culprit, he was successfully punished. It happened just because the accused man is a
Muslim, which is obviously a discrimination that should be eliminated from one’s
mindset. Perhaps the death of their father triggers them to be wrathful and vindictive
but it is never mentioned in the Holy Quor’an, that revenge would be the simplest
solution. This would only mean that once a Moro individual kills, it is because it is in
accordance with their faith but more on the personal side. So, it is not appropriate to
have a generalization on something which we are not even sure it is true.

Although they both experience discrimination from the surrounding people, still
they have tried to fit in. in fact, they have even eaten haram food just to blend with the
dominating faith for they think, it can be a good way to receive recognition from the
society. But in the end, they still feel outcast and different. Indeed, this has enraged the
two brothers but if we look closely at their personalities, we can notice huge differences
between the two. Alih, as the younger brother, seems to be greatly influenced by his
older brother, Omar. Between the two, it is Omar who seems to have control of Alih’s
actions. Alih’s belief and mindset are being conditioned according to his brother’s
manipulation.

As we understand it better, Alih and Omar can be a representation of different

cultures. Omar, as a man who always look after revenge and winning, may mean that
there are people who would choose war and chaos just to fulfill what they know and
believe, is true. On the other hand, Alih is a man who is also vengeful but knows what is
good and bad. This only implies that in a particular group or tribe, it consists two
different kinds of character therefore, generalization shall be removed from the minds of
people.

The last part of the story tells about difference and that discrimination or
generalization should be stopped. Alih, who is greatly influenced by his brother’s
dictations, in the end, has given up to it. In the end, he chooses to do what is right and
pleasing to the eyes of his God. Upon witnessing what his brother Omar did to his houri,
as the Merriam dictionary defines it as “one of the beautiful maidens that in Muslim
belief live with the blessed in paradise,” he then realized that Omar has exceeded his
limits, that Omar is even willing to destroy his own brother Alih by killing the girl he loves,
and this action triggered Alih to do what is proper even if it means killing his own
brother, Omar.
 Killing Omar and defending the love of his life, can only mean that no matter what
culture or ethnicity one belongs with, there will always be two different sides of a
person’s character or behavior, one is in favor of trouble and havoc, and the other one
cares about peace and order. Hence, one should not be judged according to the religion
or culture he or she belongs, because he or she can be either good or bad depending on
what is right or wrong for him or her.