Refleksi Minda

Independence. Merdeka. So often has the word been banded around the country, especially when 31st August comes around. Politicians talk of ‘defending’ our kemerdekaan, to appreciate what our forefathers have gone through to achieve this sacred thing called independence. We’re told to wave our flags and we’re told to sing patriotic songs on top our voices, as if by not doing these things, we’re not patriotic.

But underneath the merah, putih, kuning and biru, have we ever truly wondered what is the true meaning of this merdeka that we so covet? Surely it must be more than gaining an independence from the British. Surely it’s more that loving and appreciating the country. And I definitely know that merdeka is more than covering one’s house or car with the jalur gemilang. What, then, is it?

Truth be told, as hard as we try, a large portion of the current generation will not be able to truly appreciate what our predecessors have done to achieve independence, for the simple fact that we did not live in those trying times. We do not know, and hopefully will never know, what it feels like to be under the rule of the penjajahs. Yes, we can try to appreciate, and we must certainly be grateful, but if we’re told that merdeka is being free from the British, I, for one, will not be able to truly understand what this gift my predecessors gave means.

In my opinion, therefore, merdeka must be something that is here and now. Something that my generation can relate to, something real to us and not only reside in really old men and history textbooks.  So to me, my appreciation of our independence comes from the simple fact that I am able to do the things that I do now.

I am merdeka, thus I am able to write this blog.

I am merdeka because I am able to choose to become a lawyer, and not just another Malay fisherman or farmer.

I am merdeka because I am able to watch countless amounts of Japanese anime.

I am merdeka because I am able to say that I do not think Mawi is the best thing since sliced bread.

Merdeka to me is being able to watch football with my Indian friends, or go karaoke with my Chinese friends. I can eat char kuey teow  and I can try to learn bits of Tamil so that I can speak to the nasi kandar waiters. Merdeka means I can talk about religion with a Christian or a Hindu or a Buddhist or even an atheist. I am merdeka because I am able to mingle around with anyone, no longer confined to just living with those of my own race. Because of merdeka, I can accept other Malaysians as my people, regardless of their race or religion.

My mind is merdeka therefore I do not accept blindly everything that politicians tell me. I am able to reject the UMNO Youth Leader using the name of my race to further his own ambitions by trying to revive the NEP because I am merdeka. And for the same reason, I am able to appreciate what our Prime Minister is doing to combat corruption.

Therefore, to me, merdeka is being able be both indivualistic, for example deciding things on my own, and also collective, in the fact that I am able to love and appreciate other cultures, other religions, other ethnicity of this country of mine. It is this freedom that to me, constitutes independence. And I believe it is this that will be able to ensure that every 31st August is celebrated with gratitude, this appreciation for what we have and what we are free to do. Such things do not erode with time.

As I said in my previous post, I am a big believer in NOT forcing patriotism, but letting it nurture subtly by providing the correct environment.

This country is not the most perfect country in the world. I am sure that each of us have our own grievances that we’d like the country to change. Yet, we cannot escape the fact that Malaysia is home. And we share this home with each other, so let’s us work together for the best. Don’t give up on it, this country has yet to see its best moments. Let’s not waste the fact that we’re children of merdeka.

Selamat Hari Kebangsaan.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 30th, 2005 at 10:58 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.