LONE

Friday, August 13, 2004

Patriotism is the Flavour of the Month

::Whenever August approaches each year, calls for the people to demonstrate Patriotism are heard. In the past many years the demonstration of patriotism has been equated with the flying of the Jalur Gemilang, be it in front of the shop, the house, on top of the car or van and even the becha, bicycle or motorbike. A MINIster has even said that he would like to see a "sea of jalur gemilang". This year the playing of patriotic songs has been added to the patriotic display. Does all this indicate that August should be the only month when patriotism is to be evident by flag- flying populace and for the remaining 11 months of the year, it can be forgotten?

The obvious answer is a big NO. Patriotism should be evident everyday of this year and the next and the next. It should be evident daily, in all things and deeds, big and small that we carry out and do daily in the course of living. Simply defined Patriotism is love of one's country and the willingness to do and sacrifice for what is right and good for the country. It can range from not littering the streets, paying our bills, assisting the old folks across the street, paying taxes due, not commiting fitnah or vandalising public phones, studying smart and hard, applying one's knowledge and knowhow appropriately, ensuring that the MRR2 does not crack to the ultimate sacrifice of one's life. And these things, many of the non-flag flying populace of this country do daily and quietly. So hopefully, this silent non-flag flying patriots will also be thought of, during this month of flag-flying and playing of patriotic songs.

It is sad to realise that after almost 47 years, we still need to look for a patriotism formula. It is sad that come each August, our leaders are still require to drum up that love for the country by calling for the flag-flying display and the blaring of patriotic songs. Obviously patriotic fervour is sagging and flagging, especially so in the past few years. Where one would have expected more patriotism as the nation approaches her half century mark; if we could really measure patriotism, many would agree that may be we are all less patriotic now.

In the past two decades or so we have become more self-serving and less nation-serving. more materialistic and less patriotic, more money worshipping and less God worshipping. Could we have been led astray by all the Bolehs, the tallest buildings, the longest satay and the biggest cha siew pau? To say that we have been misled would be to blame the leaders alone but in actual fact we are also to be blamed for allowing ourselves to be misled for the past many years.

We are now so fortunate that this Merdeka day, we have leading us a new leader, one who says that he is a leader of all of us, a leader who has proclaimed to the nation that he is God fearing. We have a leader who not only will act accordingly today, tomorrow and the day after but actually a leader who has also declared that for what he does today, tomorrow and the day after, he will be answerable in the thereafters. The actions of such a leader will surely have their effects on all of us. How can we not mirror his acts and actions. As our leader goes into the first year of his leadership and with the fast approaching party elections soon to be out of the way, he will be able to lead us back to the correct path for obviously he must be aware of the main cause of the present state of the country. So in the years to come, we may have no need for the flag-flying and patriotic songs of the month of August to remind us to be patriotic for we would, by then, be a nation of daily patriotic people.

Now am i a dreamer or am i senile?

| ¶ 8/13/2004 04:21:00 PM

LONE's rantings for all interested, COMMENTS/KOPI-0s welcomed. Comments are solely the views of their makers
MALAYSIA, a great place to be in, BUT we can, will and must make HER better.

You may say I'm a dreamer but I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one.
IMAGINE:youtube::John Lennon

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