Always searching for input of fresh ideas

As I have said repeatedly, politicians, senior journalists, commentators and analysts often meet people of different races, religions, nationalities, politics, social classes and even ideologies because we must be humble enough to admit that, even if we hold triple PhDs from Oxford or Cambridge or Howard, it is impossible for us mortal human beings to know everything under the sun.

We cannot always mix around only with people who have already long held the same views with us although we still consider the shared views to be right and correct. We need new input of ideas, from reading books or conversations with as many types of people as possible, from time to time as the world around us changes, for good or for ill, from day to day.

Meeting and talking to real people in the know help to clarify concepts and minimise the risks of resorting to familiar stereotypes, unverified assumptions, conspiracy theories, wild rumuors or sweeping judgements.

Visiting new places and seeing new things also give us a real sense of the world with its right proportion and all its complexities.


US, Japan encircling China?
http://www.malaysiakini.com/opinionsfeatures/36057

Changing China - views of a scholar (Part 1)
http://www.malaysiakini.com/opinionsfeatures/22715

Changing China - views of a scholar (Part 2)
http://www.malaysiakini.com/opinionsfeatures/22716

Rising China - challenge or opportunity? (Part 1)
http://www.malaysiakini.com/opinionsfeatures/22691

Rising China - challenge or opportunity? (Part 2)
http://www.malaysiakini.com/opinionsfeatures/22696

Rising China - challenge or opportunity? (Part 3)
http://www.malaysiakini.com/opinionsfeatures/22701

Rising China - challenge or opportunity? (Part 4)
http://www.malaysiakini.com/opinionsfeatures/22705

Rising China - challenge or opportunity? (Part 5)
http://www.malaysiakini.com/opinionsfeatures/22706

Taiwan straits - a sea of tension (Part 1)
http://www.malaysiakini.com/opinionsfeatures/29115

Taiwan Straits - a sea of tension (Part 2)
http://www.malaysiakini.com/opinionsfeatures/29211

Indonesia in democratic transition (Part 1)
http://www.malaysiakini.com/opinionsfeatures/28605

Indonesia in democratic transition (Part 2)
http://www.malaysiakini.com/opinionsfeatures/28670

Indonesia in democratic transition (Part 3)
http://www.malaysiakini.com/opinionsfeatures/28680

M’sian foreign policy – a critical exploration (Part 1)
http://www.malaysiakini.com/opinionsfeatures/31850

M’sian foreign policy – a critical exploration (Part 2)
http://www.malaysiakini.com/opinionsfeatures/31896

M'sian defence policy - a critical survey (Part 1)
http://www.malaysiakini.com/opinionsfeatures/30500

M'sian defence policy - a critical survey (Part 2)
http://www.malaysiakini.com/opinionsfeatures/30592

American allies in Asia-Pacific region
http://www.malaysiakini.com/opinionsfeatures/22101

Is Iraq another Vietnam for US?
http://www.malaysiakini.com/opinionsfeatures/33146

M’sia should meet the challenges of a different America
http://www.malaysiakini.com/opinionsfeatures/22177

History determines politics in Northeast Asia?
http://www.malaysiakini.com/opinionsfeatures/35991

US strategy in Asia-Pacific: A M’sian forecast (Part 1)
http://www.malaysiakini.com/opinionsfeatures/32101

US strategy in Asia-Pacific – a M’sian forecast (Part 2)
http://www.malaysiakini.com/opinionsfeatures/32206

Malaysia's troubles from the North (Part 1)
http://www.malaysiakini.com/opinionsfeatures/22673

Malaysia's troubles from the north (Part 2)
http://www.malaysiakini.com/opinionsfeatures/22677

Malaysia's troubles from the north (Part 3)
http://www.malaysiakini.com/opinionsfeatures/22682

Malaysia's troubles from the north (Part 4)
http://www.malaysiakini.com/opinionsfeatures/22687

The East Asian community
http://www.malaysiakini.com/opinionsfeatures/45726

Whither Asean?
http://www.malaysiakini.com/opinionsfeatures/44249