Merdeka

I am not a patriotic person. Never have been, probably never will be.

This is Malaysia, after all, where the police force are so corrupt that they would actually ask for bribes.

Where our politicians, our so-called leaders bicker in parliament like kindergarteners and live off the people's taxes.

Where there is supposed freedom of speech, but where respected journalists are imprisoned and peaceful demonstrations are dispersed by tear gas and deemed seditious.

Where there is supposed freedom of religion, but where religious leaders feel that their people are so stupid that they can't even discern between their own teachings and teachings of other religions.

Where the education system is such a mess where students are treated as guinea pigs for the governments innovative experiments.

Where there is supposed to be no racial bias but where scholarships are decided mostly by race.

Where there is ISA. Which is why I should stop writing :)

But yet, I still care for Malaysia.

After all, this is the country where its people can somehow converse in several languages in a single conversation.

This is the country where most people of many races and religions mix and get along well. Most of the time.

This is the country where food is uniquely Malaysian and always delicious.

This is the country that produced the no. 1 in squash and badminton.

This is a country where we can still be connected to the rest of the world through the Internet.

This is a country whose people are fairly prosperous and can sleep peacefully in their beds at night.

This is the country where I have almost all of my family and friends.

I am still not a very patriotic person. Malaysia isn't anywhere near perfect. Very, very, very far, actually. But I couldn't imagine my life and home anywhere else.

Happy 52nd Merdeka, everyone!