What I really think about Merdeka

Merdeka is here. Call me cynical and non patriotic, but the only thing I like about it is that its a public holiday. And this year its on a monday, which makes it better.

So why don’t I get into all the Merdeka hype? My post back in 2007 explains it :

About this merdeka thingy, dont you think its rather overrated? no actually overrated is not the word. Its more like ‘pretentious’.

I mean, ok you love your country yea? So at the end of august – Merdeka week – you stick a hundred flags on your car, put a huge flag on your hood (of the car), hang a flag in your front gate (if you stay in a house) or outside your window (if u stay in a flat), you go down to the dataran merdeka and scream and shout and wave the little flags, you sing along to songs like “Tanggal 31″ and “Jalur Gemilang” when it plays on the radio and TV and you do all sorts of patriotic things.

Then, 2-3 days later, everything goes back to normal. Then all sorts of complaints/talks come out:

* In the jam – “why cant they build better roads/highways/tolls/tunnels”
* When fuel/toll/commodities prices go up – “why the govnt only want to take our money?”
* While reading political scandals in the paper – “oh so and so is mmg like that..did you know that he/she *gossip gossip* “
* More examples which I dont even hv to mention

What happened to the “I love malaysia”? What happen to the “im proud to be malaysian”? What happened to the “negaraku, tanah tumpahnya darahku” – my country, the place where I would willingly spill my blood i.e. strive for, fight for.

What really happens during the other 51 weeks in the year?

Anyway, Happy birthday Malaysia (tho its actually supposed to be 16 Sept)