Patriotism is not about the National song or Flying the Flag
Is a patriot " someone who loves his country" ?
Patriotism is one of those words which have been politically abused for a long time.It has become a badge like "Anti Rasuah" . Wearing it and still continue doing otherwise.
It has now become a word, anyone who says he does not like something about his country, might very easily be labeled as "unpatriotic". In worst case scenario he might even get hauled off to the jail on charges of treason or Sedation.
Patriotism is the last refuge of scoundrels, who label every infamy and abomination as patriotism. Here are some of them:
Ruthlessly destroying the forests.
Promoting racism as a means of winning elections.
Cutting away at civil rights.
Lying about every question of the public good.
Poisoning the atmosphere with auto emission and pollution and acid rain.
Spending our wealth on "sure to fail" projects while our cities crumble, our infrastructure disintegrates .
Doing the justice only for the family & friends of People in Power.
Fooling the emotional public by pulling them into the illusion that they are benefiting (NEP) while the actual benefactors are the Cronies of the people in Power.
What they call patriotism down here stinks to high heaven of brainlessness, racism, greed, fear and hatred of the common people.
Patriotism, however, as a word, applies to true love of one's country and a code of conduct that echoes such love.
Ends.
Vineeth Menon
vineeith@yahoo.com
2 comments:
Hear, hear Vineeth. I'm so sick of hearing any and all criticism of the country being hysterically decried as "unpatriotic".
Patriotism isn't about turning a blind eye on the nation's problems and pretending everything is hunky dory. It's about taking a stand and making things better, no matter how painful the truth or the process. If there's a problem, face up to it and fix it. That's patriotism.
I may not be fond of the government but dammit, I want the best for the country and its people.
To the Ministers and Politicians
"Patriotism means going for medical treatment overseas"
"Patriotism means going for holidays overseas"
"Patriotism means driving in their huge tinted imported luxury sedans"
"Patriotism means sending their children overseas for education"
While the true Patriots the common man of Malaysia :
"not finding even sitting space and waiting for hours in the General Hospital for medical treatment is Patriotism"
"being able to afford only the local made motorcycle and waiting for hours for public transport is patriotism"
"not being able to even afford to go for holidays locally and working on 2 jobs to make ends meet is Patriotism"
"not being able to secure a seat in the local university is Patriotism"
If selfserving Civil Service and Policy Makers were to realise that they are indeed the guardians of Public Interest, that would be Patriotism.
When understanding dawns upon them that their purpose is to serve the Rakyat and not earn millions for themselves and their families through ill gotten gains, knowing that this tantamounts to cheating the Rakyat then that would be Patriotism.
When commissions, bribes and nepotism is rampant in the administration - could the word Patriotism be even mentioned?
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