Remembering May 13

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia academician Professor Kamaruddin M. Said remembers May 13 well: "That day was just like any other day for me. I was a Form Four student then, studying in Alam Shah High School in Cheras.

"I was there when the now infamous election celebration parade passed me by.

"Not knowing much about politics then, I thought the parade was lively and added much excitement to an otherwise normal day.

"It wasn't until years later that I found out about the bloody result of that parade.

"The next day in school, all the older boys, including myself, were asked to go donate blood at the General Hospital. We were just told a great tragedy had happened, so we gave our blood.

"Thinking back now, my blood probably ended up saving a life that day.

"Chinese or Malay, it didn't matter because we all bleed the same."

Source: We all bleed the same by David Yeow (NST)

Which party started it don't matter. Who is to blame don't matter. What were the motives don't matter. Details don't matter when lives are lost. What matters most is that we are the same. We love our country and the friends we grew up with, no matter the colour. We should protect that love.