Merdeka: The old, Young and The Future.
Independence day in Malaysia was celebrated decently by Malaysian. No matter which one do you went, Bersih 4.0 rally or Merdeka Day celebration, or both, you are still a Malaysian and nobody can look down on your patriotism without your consent.
In the television, newspaper, article on the internet, people start debating about the true meaning of Merdeka or Independence. Most of them (in the TV) were saying that younger generation do not know what Merdeka means. Relating the issue to the street rally held recently, those people are forcing younger generation to admit that Merdeka means what they think it should means. Leading to a conclusion that the younger generations are not so free to choose what they want to think. What is the meaning of independence then?
For the old, independence must have mean something related to how those countrymen struggle to gain this country independence in 1957. Their hard work and their experience on living in a country where British Colony restrict their freedom, or whatsoever, need to be highlighted and need to be remembered until forever. This is the classical way of looking at independence day. This is history and history must be written and not forgotten.
For the younger generation, most of us born after this country gained independence, thus, that history does not affect our definition of independence like the old think it is. For us, independence means to be in a country free from coloniser and to keep it that way forever. At the same time, the young tend to relate independence to the freedom of speech, democracy, economy and their right to be a Malaysian. The young seems to define independence with more complexity rather than just free from British Colony.
Both the old and the young have their own justification of the definition of independence. Both are not wrong, both are Malaysian who love their country and do not want to be controlled again by coloniser/
It seems that the enemy nowadays are not simple as The British colony. Our country enemies now is walking among us. Corruption, bribery, power seeker, human right oppressor. This more complex enemy shape the way we think about freedom and independence today.
What about the future...? One think I do not like is when the old start to force the young to believe the same way they believed. Some even call the young a traitor, bastard, etc just to make those younger generation bow down on their argument. That is clearly wrong. We should not do that. So for the future, for me, just let them decide on how to define independence because they are living in an independence country. If I told them what they should believe, what is the difference between me and the British coloniser in 1957?
Let them be. We will not live forever, those younger generation, the future generation, will take over this country thus no point on telling them what to do. A better education and learning process will make them realise by themselves - what Independence really means...
In the television, newspaper, article on the internet, people start debating about the true meaning of Merdeka or Independence. Most of them (in the TV) were saying that younger generation do not know what Merdeka means. Relating the issue to the street rally held recently, those people are forcing younger generation to admit that Merdeka means what they think it should means. Leading to a conclusion that the younger generations are not so free to choose what they want to think. What is the meaning of independence then?
For the old, independence must have mean something related to how those countrymen struggle to gain this country independence in 1957. Their hard work and their experience on living in a country where British Colony restrict their freedom, or whatsoever, need to be highlighted and need to be remembered until forever. This is the classical way of looking at independence day. This is history and history must be written and not forgotten.
For the younger generation, most of us born after this country gained independence, thus, that history does not affect our definition of independence like the old think it is. For us, independence means to be in a country free from coloniser and to keep it that way forever. At the same time, the young tend to relate independence to the freedom of speech, democracy, economy and their right to be a Malaysian. The young seems to define independence with more complexity rather than just free from British Colony.
Both the old and the young have their own justification of the definition of independence. Both are not wrong, both are Malaysian who love their country and do not want to be controlled again by coloniser/
It seems that the enemy nowadays are not simple as The British colony. Our country enemies now is walking among us. Corruption, bribery, power seeker, human right oppressor. This more complex enemy shape the way we think about freedom and independence today.
What about the future...? One think I do not like is when the old start to force the young to believe the same way they believed. Some even call the young a traitor, bastard, etc just to make those younger generation bow down on their argument. That is clearly wrong. We should not do that. So for the future, for me, just let them decide on how to define independence because they are living in an independence country. If I told them what they should believe, what is the difference between me and the British coloniser in 1957?
Let them be. We will not live forever, those younger generation, the future generation, will take over this country thus no point on telling them what to do. A better education and learning process will make them realise by themselves - what Independence really means...
Comments
Post a Comment
Please leave your comment below.