OpinionHeh, itulah dia patriotisme. Sekarang, yang dikempenkan, taat kepada negara bererti taat kepada parti... dan jadilah sifir, parti = kerajaan, sampai habis pening marhaen nak bezakan yang mana satu... maka jadilah wargaparti eh silap, warganegara...
Wednesday August 15, 2007
What it means to be patriotic
I REFER to ‘Ong: Don’t question patriotism’ (The Star,
Aug 13). We must understand patriotism, before we can
question it.
As we near the 50th anniversary of independence, the
word patriotism is being bandied about flippantly. It
is regularly highlighted in the mass media and in
political speeches as one of the main ingredients of a
united Malaysia.
Patriotism originates from the Greek word, patrida
meaning fatherland and equates with love and loyalty
to one’s country. The antonym of patriotism is
treachery.
There is a distinct difference between country and
government. Confusion arises when loyalty to country
is mistakenly equated with loyalty to the government.
Thus any dissent or criticism of the workings of the
government is mistakenly interpreted as lack of
patriotism.
Love of the country is not the same as love for the
government. Governments come and go but the country
remains.
The oath of allegiance is a duty a citizen
acknowledges to the country and sovereign only. This
is ingrained in our Rukunegara, Kesetiaan Kepada Raja
dan Negara i.e. Loyalty to King and Country.
Former USA President Theodore Roosevelt once said,
“Patriotism means to stand by the country and not by
the President or any other public official. It is
patriotic to support him insofar as he efficiently
serves the country.
It is unpatriotic not to oppose him to the extent that
by inefficiency or otherwise he fails in his duty to
stand by the country.”
As patriotism is nebulous in definition and comes in
many guises, what kind of patriotism are we seeking to
instil in Malaysians?
Blind patriotism calls for unconditional loyalty, is
rigid and inflexible, intolerant of criticisms and
adherents, and will support the country at whatever
cost.
Symbolic patriotism relies heavily on ceremonial
content, mass rallies, singing of patriotic songs and
flying of flags and other ways of proclaiming
allegiance to the nation.
Constructive patriotism believes that the best way to
love one’s country is with constructive criticism,
enhanced transparency and good governance.
The motive for this is a sincere desire for positive
change. To stand up and speak your mind is not a
challenge to patriotism but the heart and soul of it.
Often, these forms of patriotism overlap.
No matter how hard we try, there is no ‘Patriotism
Index’ to gauge a citizen’s loyalty to his country.
Patriotism is in the individual’s heart and is an
ongoing process.
It starts at home, continues in the institutions of
education and religion, the work place, daily living
and ultimately to our graves.
DR F.S. MALHI,
Ipoh, Perak.
Hmmm... dalam RM85 harganya, amat berpatutan!
Malaysia: A Pictorial History 1400-2004
Author: Wendy Khadijah Moore
Publisher: Archipelago Press
Review by Elizabeth Ng
THE next time you snap a picture with your ultra-slim, ultra-light, multifunctional digital camera, take a moment to remember how things were like for a 19th century photographer.
Back then, photographers in Malaya had to carry an entire laboratory with them so they could develop their photos on the spot. Everywhere they went, they lugged about flasks of chemicals, a darkroom tent, basins, glass plates, distilled water, tripod and camera, which in itself weighed about 10 kilograms!
Also, if you've noticed, pictures from that period are usually of eerily empty streets and portraits where the subjects pose rather stiffly. There's a technical reason for that. The cameras then had long exposure times (of about several seconds) and any moving objects would appear either blurred or invisible.
The interesting facts above are part and parcel of this wonderful book entitled Malaysia: A Pictorial History 1400-2004. Apart from its concise history on Malaysia and photography, the book is packed with over 1,200 images of our country as we journey from the 15th to the 21st century.
The images are made up of faded pencil sketches, subtle watercolours, engravings and photographs from artists and photographers alike. It includes the first views of Malaysia produced by 19th century professional photographers, studio portraits, experiments of early amateurs as well as unpublished rarities.
The book is divided into six chapters, each highlighting a significant period in Malaysia's history such as the birth of the Malacca Sultanate; the arrival of the Colonial era; the Japanese Occupation and surrender; Independence and the creation of Malaysia; and the nation's emergence from the end of the Emergency to what it is today.
This wealth of material brings Malaysia's history vividly to life, making this one of the more engaging books on history. Although the text isn't comprehensive, it is informative enough and nicely complements the images - which are, after all, the heart and main thrust of the book.
The changing times are noted through changes in the images' tone, colour and type. Early engravings give way to sketches and watercolour pieces of the idyllic and pristine beauty of our country.
Later, sepia-toned and black & white images of a simpler and less cluttered past come to life before they are replaced with the rich hues of modern-day photography.
The book inspires a sense of wonder and appreciation for our nation's rich culture and society.
It doesn't matter whether you're reading it for the nuggets on the development of photography or the history of Malaysia because both topics are beautifully tied together by the glossy images, making Malaysia: A Pictorial History 1400-2004 a good choice to have sitting on your bookshelf.
