I've been sorely tempted to write earlier on the Bersih issue. So many other issues cropped up and sort of threatened to steal the limelight away from Bersih, no?? I think what many people confuse are the fine lines separating the parliament, constitution and of course, the government. So Patrick Henry says, "The constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people. It is an instrument for the people to restrain the government." Wise words, I must say. Who is Patrick Henry, you might ask?? He was (yes was, he died a long time ago. Existed in the time of the "ruins", somewhere between the 17th-18th century) a politician from Virginia, known for his boldness and his courage in leading people towards the light, he promoted human rights along with independence. His other most famous quote was, "give me liberty, or give me death." American students would know him for his "righteous" acts in leading the rebels (opposition) against the government in the Stamp Act along with famous Thomas Paine and of course, Samuel Adams. My American History lecturer would be so "proud" of me :/ I didn't waste her precious breath. LOL.
So anyway, what does Patrick Henry's quotes have to do with a tiny country like Malaysia who has just started taking baby steps toward a revolution/enlightenment??
If you ask me, I'd say we are well on our way to establishing a very rigid dictated authoritarian regime-led government. Egypt and Libya have started with the overthrowing of their leaders. Most people would say, "aahh ungrateful rats." But after all, don't we just strive for a few things in common, transparency, happiness and a less dictated life where we don't have to live in constant fear of the ISA (in Malaysia) or the race card games being thrown against us?? I think the Bersih rally was eye-opening and of course, it puts our current government in fear of an overthrowing. The leaders of UMNO have been quoted, saying, "The opposition has already gotten a few of the states. What more do they want??" I don't think they REALLY get the point of it all. Or maybe they're just good at being the evasive finks they are.
The Bersih rally was never aimed at overthrowing the current government. All the people want is a good, clean, less corrupt round of elections. The whole point of it was to lobby for fair elections. Tell me, is that really wrong?? Why do you think such a huge number of people went for the rally?? It wasn't a fun rave, people were sprayed with tear gas and fired with strong gushes of water from water cannons. The police were being humongous bullies too. Isn't that eye-opening enough?? When such a huge dissatisfaction comes out in the open, isn't that enough to make a statement?? It isn't that the people are being all ratty and whining about the way things are today. It is BECAUSE our leaders have broken our trust in them. They often stray and digress away from all things true.
What they should know is that, when such a huge group of people come together to voice their dissatisfaction, it isn't an anarchy. It isn't a threat to overthrow (it might be but why the paranoia when the government claims in all its self-righteousness that it has done nothing wrong and that everything can be validated??), it isn't an act of the prodigal characteristic in each and every one of us and it certainly isn't an act of rebelliousness.
What the leaders should know that every action has a consequence. They should understand that the severe rippling of dissatisfaction among the general public is in fact a consequence, a butterfly effect of the stones they have been skimming across the water. Lastly, they should reread Newton's second and third laws which are VERY MUCH applicable in a case such as this.
Newton's second and third laws state that:
The acceleration a of a body is parallel and directly proportional to the net force F and inversely proportional to the mass m, i.e., F = ma.: AND
The mutual forces of action and reaction between two bodies are equal, opposite and co linear.
I'll be back for more ;)
-Lishia-
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