The recent Merdeka Parade at Dataran Merdeka was the biggest official celebration since COVID-19 pandemic. Many also express patriotism outwardly in the form of national flags hanging and waving, singing or humming patriotic songs. There is nothing wrong with showing the love for your country, nor anything wrong with not explicitly displaying the love in such a way. That does not mean that one does not love the country, just like there is no need to carry your lover’s picture and draw a heart shape to show that you indeed love the person.
Samuel Johnson once said “patriotism is the last refuge for a scoundrel”, but it does not have to be this way. It is true that for some people who might have stolen the nation’s treasure and sold the country, they still could be seen on the podium waving the flag, singing the national anthem and proclaiming their patriot credentials. Thus, we have to judge the substance more often than the form, actions really should speak louder than words, to show who are the real patriots.
Pertinent questions are, what does one really love and care about the country? What did the person actually do to showcase that?
In Mandarin language, ‘Guo Jia’ these two words are the direct translation to ‘country’ but literally it has two components: ‘Guo’ (country) and ‘Jia’ (home). So, the interpretation is that a country is made up of many homes. What is the meaning of a country if not for the people who make the place their home? Thus, when one loves the country, one should love and care for the people and communities who stay there. If one really loves their home, one should also care about their home surroundings, to protect and preserve their beauty, order and functions.
“Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country” famously said by the United States President John F. Kennedy in his inaugural speech in 1961. In fact, there are plenty of things a patriot can do for one's own country.
1) Be a law-abiding citizen: though bad law one should not just follow blindly but protest or disobey. Many laws are basic and necessary for upholding social justice, order and security. For example, traffic offences such as speeding or running at red light would not only put oneself but others in great risk.
2) Be a tax-paying citizen: one should fulfill social obligation as a taxpayer (if qualified) when they reach the age of employment, this allows the government to redistribute the public resources catering for the needs of communities and development of the country. Tax evasion would be floundering the law, going against the first point.
3) Care for the people: especially the vulnerable and needy communities, and being inclusive treating people from different ethnic, religion, language, culture, age and gender alike with courtesy and respect. Probably this shares the spirit like the second great commandment of Jesus: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’. Brotherhood and kinship feelings should be mutual for each other, therefore one should not exploit, take advantage or have ill intention of other fellow residents. Instead you would care about social welfare, if you truly love the country and the people.
4) Contribute one’s best talent and effort: for nation building, make the people and country proud. Whether it is about winning the Badminton World Championships or Olympics medal, or producing a scientific achievement at an institution abroad, no matter if the person carries the direct representation in the name of country or merely quietly brilliant as a Malaysian, all these would count. Some contributions might not be at the top level like winning awards, but valuable and meaningful service for the community, these efforts should be recognised and commended as acts of a patriot with a golden heart.
5) Concern about the country's future: criticizing the country’s current sociopolitical systems is not because one is asking ‘what the country can do for oneself’, but striving to make Malaysia a better nation. This should not be seen as an act of ‘tarnishing the country’s image’ especially if one’s intention is to be constructive and helpful at improving the current situation. Therefore, if one truly cares for the country, even the person staying overseas would also keep abreast with the current affairs and latest development in the country via various means. Patriots would not give up easily on their own country and desert their fellow people even if things go tough with them on a personal level.
Hope these five points would add dimensions to
think about the meaning of patriotism, instead of judging oneself by the
display of national symbols. Because love is a feeling, there are many ways to
express it.
No comments:
Post a Comment