53 years ago,
We gathered in the Kuala Lumpur Independence Stadium,
Our Father of Independence, Tunku Abdul Rahman led us all,
Proclaiming our freedom 7 times.
We each believed that we were truly free.
53 years later,
We still proclaim our freedom.
We announce our success in remaining free for the last 53 years,
Young as this country is, we still proudly say:
"We are free!"
Before you start thinking that this is yet another post about patriotism,
Let's stop for a bit.
From precisely 12AM onwards,
My friends began shouting "Selamat Hari Kemerdekaan!" (Happy Independence Day!),
In Facebook and Twitter.
I'm pretty sure the blogs are going to start having those patriotic posts pretty soon.
But I'm not going to wish a Happy Independence Day just yet.
A few days back, there was an issue on racism.
A Malay principal (Siti Inshah) told some Chinese students to "go back to China, if you don't like it here."
An uproar was caused.
People spoke out against it.
Some maniacs supported it.
And this is just one example.
In our History books,
We were told that the British agreed to give us our freedom,
On one condition. (I think there were many others but I can't remember them all)
And that condition was:
If, and only IF, our multiple races could live in harmony.
Then they would set us free.
So we managed to prove it to them.
53 years later,
We Chinese are being chased to go back to China.
Some have even stated that the Indians should go back to India as well.
And now I ask,
Is this living in harmony?
We were introduced to the whole 1Malaysia concept.
Meaning that we Malaysians should live as one.
Are we?
I am young,
I may not know much,
So I might be wrong.
But I'm pretty sure I was brought up to accept those of a difference race.
No discrimination.
That's what our Moral books say.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but is this not a form of discrimination?
If the British back then, saw how we are right now,
Do you honestly believe that they would have signed the Declaration?
People from foreign countries have applauded us,
Saying how stunned they are to see so many races in one country living in harmony.
Are we truly living up to their praise?
There are many reasons as to why we are still considered a third world country.
And this, is one of it.
We speak and hope for progress.
But what exactly are we, the Malaysians doing about it?
Can we truly say that we are free?
Because the last time I checked,
This attitude - the unwillingness of our people to accept each other, isn't part of feeling free.
This isn't progress.
If anything, this barbaric nature is a sign of moving backwards.
Now I'm not saying everyone is racist here.
I myself, a Chinese, along with a lot of people that I know, live in harmony with other races.
We do have Malay, Indian, Iban, Kadazan, etc. friends.
And we do not discriminate each other.
What I'm talking about are those small minded people,
The ones who refuse to accept.
After 53 years,
These people still so underdeveloped that their minds are still unable to compute the very fact that they need to be more civilised.
Are we not educated enough?
Will there ever be a day, where all races unite as one,
And truly call this country our own?
I can honestly say that I love my country.
I'm proud being a Malaysian.
After all, this is who I am.
This is my home.
But it is issues such as this that make me question,
Are we really merdeka (free)?
I'm not about to pretend that everything's all fine and rosy.
Because it simply isn't true.
I'm not sure if what I say here is going to make any difference,
But if this gets through to at least one person,
Then this would be worth it.
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