Speak to My Finger

Tunku Abdul Rahman shouted "Merdeka" seven times to the expectant crowd in Merdeka Stadium on 31 August 1957. It was 50 years ago...

Today, 31 August 2007, is the 50th year of Independence for Malaysia. It is an achievement we Malaysians are strongly proud. I'm sure this is a pride our older cohorts would proudly exhibit. I may have been born 28 years after Merdeka and may not capture the true meaning and significance of Merdeka/ Independence our fore Fathers of Malaysia - past prime ministers - struggle in obtaining Independence but I'm proudly to say I'm proud to be a Malaysian.

Why not? The simple truth is Independence is not something can be easily obtained. It is a strong determination and courage to even dream of it during the colonization days where weapons, vested interests and power speak louder than words. If a scholar make an outcry to the public of uniting to achieve independence because it is our land, water and air that the colonizer is extracting not the indegenes, the colonizer will arrest the scholar under the charge of corrupting the population and categorized he/ she as dissident or globalization term, terrorist. In short, those are the days filled with challenges where the sky is only the limit.

And our founding father, Tunku Abdul Rahman, did it. How proud I am to be in a country that is independent and peaceful.

As I said earlier, I may just one of the younger generations that just join the bullock cart of shouting "Merdeka" and "Malaysiaku Gemilang" in front of the television but I really meant it. In my heart, I followed the shouts and sang along the songs because it is my only way to show appreciation and gratitude to the past ministers for making Malaysia a country I'm proud of and what's more for shaping me mentally, physically and spiritually. Without the environment they have designed, I won't be what I am now. I'm grateful for the environment I grew up for finally discovering what my dream and talents. For this, I'm thankful and thank you.

I do not comprehend the meaning of 'war' because there is never a war in Malaysia since her Independence. Talking to me about the experience of war is like talking mumbo jumbo to me because I cannot simply understand!! It doesn't exist in my dictionary! This is possible because Malaysia is in peace with all ethnics living under one roof. We share, care and tolerate with each other because we acknolwedge each other's differences and they are created by nature. The reason we are all different because we can learn something very important from each other with these distinct features - simply to learn how to accept one's differences no matter what.

I am Chinese by ethnic but I'm a Malaysian inside out. It makes me no different than my other ethnic counterparts, be it Malay or Indian, because we are all Malaysians. I do not see any differences in us all that some sees disapprovingly because I don't see any differences at all in features. They too have a face (ugly or beautiful), eyes (beady or doe), nose (straight or crooked), mouth (small or big) and so on. So what makes us all so different that some of us spit "We are superior than you"? A Quality Checker Institute of Skin Colour? And set up by ...?

I am proud to say my friends are all from all races in Malaysia and I treat them all equally without discrimination and prejudice. And the environment I grew in never once taught me to differentiate people by ethnicity but by personality quality.

There are times I'm unhappy with my life because of the designed environment that is supposed to be for my own good. Instead, I believe actions are much louder than words or simply "lost in translation". No one environment is perfect for every individual in a population but that it is up to the individual to make a change, as Gandhi says "make the change you wish to see." Looking back at world history I learn and current worldnews, I am fortunate to be in an environment that has no inter/ intra-racial conflicts that ignite violence outbreaks, although I cannot deny that this could happen to my lovely ambience. But I know what we Malaysians want. We simply want peace. But somewhere deep inside my heart has legitimate concern over this matter.

No matter what happens, I would bravely step forward to restore the environment- whatever it takes - because I don't want to see "Merdeka" to be erased from my younger generations' history books. If not, why did we shout "Merdeka" together with Tunku Abdul Rahman? As I said earlier, I do not understand "war" but it doesn't mean I cannot imagine the horror of war, and by imagining it doesn't mean I have given birth to empathy. Fear and anger will only strike my heart. By looking at those horrific war pictures, I have to remind myself countlessly that I'm living in a country that experience and witness no such horror and must not. I'm simply grateful for that and many young people should not and must not forget this goodness we are endowed even though discovering weaknesses is our main past time.

There is always goodness in a non-perfect living environment and this must be treasured alway no matter what.

Let's join Tunku Abdul Rahman's shout for "Merdeka" seven times before this special day pass like any other days wholeheartedly, and before we forget the goodness we are given without demanding for repayment ...

Let's not think of anything but the imbuement of feelings of being free ....

Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka!

You are lucky. I wish terrorist would have left us alone, and I mean truly alone and not just what happened on 9/11, but all of those other times as well. I am thankful for those who serve in place of myself and others who don't.
» Katrina on 2007-08-31 10:18:11

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