Patriotism

Reading the local newspaper got my blood boiling like hot soup. A certain undergraduate from the University of Sheffield wrote about patriotism (in Malaysia), and what it means to him, as well as how others should interpret it.

Disgusting.

It's totally cool if you want to express how you feel about your country and if you wanna hang the country's flag at your house throughout the year it's totally up to you. HOWEVER, if you even come within a ten foot pole boundary into the realm of imposing your ideas and self righteousness to me, then, prepare to eat your words served with humble quiche (a more fabulous cousin of humble pie).

'Patriotism', if anything, looks like a subordinate branch under the larger heading of 'loyalty'. It would also equate to flowing emotions of love and respect for a country. Introductions aside, I forward a simple question - Should I love my country even after making me a 'second class citizen'? Yes, I understand the government orchestrates most of the drama happening in the country, and does not seem to rightfully represent a country (the rakyat should be the ones to, this is also another load of political correct horse crap), one must also appreciate the fact that the government is capable of using patriotism as a tool to fetch votes and spreading the 'love for your country' as 'good', otherwise you are someone who doesn't 'appreciate' your country. Wow, what a shallow argument. Here is mine: 

You have to realize the relationship between a country (and the forsaken government residing) with her is not a familial relationship, nor is it a contractual one. If anything, we, the rakyat act somewhat as check and balances (who dont get paid for doing so) who provide feedback to (mostly nonsensical) government policies. Therefore, while a government regulates the country, the absence or the unwillingness of the rakyat to cooperate can lead to a collapse in the government as they would have nothing to rule upon. In this set of facts, a government needs its people and vice versa, which means it is theoretically possible for citizens who express their discontent and topple a government via extortion or other means; the government and rakyat have a somewhat mutual symbiotic relationship akin to a lichen and fungi, one can't possibly live without the other.

Some common reasons to 'love' your country which I will refute:
1) Because I was born here - Understand there is a coined term called 'birth lottery' (google.com is just a click away if you don't undeerstand this term) where you're birth date, race and nationality inter alia are by chance, determined at birth and cannot be changed for all intent and purpose, later in life. Your country gives you your nationality as a legal obligation, not one where they are willing to do.

2) Because we have ethnic diversity here (Malays, Chinese and Indians living in harmony :D) - I'll smack ya face with a red tilapia before I move on if you 're an adult, because I make a very DARING assumption you know what is going around the world. Ethnic diversity is the hallmark of MANY nations, viz. USA, Canada, United Kingdom, Mauritius, United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, India, Philippines, Netherlands, to name a few. Malaysia is not the ONLY country on this planet which practices ethnic diversity  Furthermore, there have been many arguments OPPOSING such diversity as many homogeneous societies exude higher levels of social altruism and many such societies have had high gross domestic products and higher average wealth of citizens.

3) Because we don't have natural disasters - We have had a spike in the number of flash floods resulting of a combination of poor drainage and currents from the South Indian Ocean as well as South China Sea. The country is as prone to floods as other countries are.

4) Because we get benefits! - Say... what..? Oh you mean from corruption, swindling monies from poorly contracted jobs, which funds for these useless coupons for short term gain? If you really care for your country, coupons are an idiotic approach to manage one's finances, if you really care for your rakyat, invest in education and medicine where the less fortunate cannot afford it.

Quoted from 'Adaptive Automaton' from Magic: The Gathering - 'Such loyalty can only be made'. To force someone to be loyal is to be artificial, as loyalty can only spawn from a willing heart, especially towards an exemplary figure/concept where one wishes to be loyal to.

Also, as a Malaysian Chinese, I feel second-classes, when those born out of 'birth lottery', by virtue of the NPE are able to enjoy many privileges I am unable because of my skin colour. Seriously, I can think of no other country which practices favouritism if you are born a particular skin colour which is a rather draconian and archaic policy to maintain. By allowing such preference, you are telling other races to take a hike, that even if other races worked harder, contributed more to the gross income of the nation, they cannot be entitled to such a benefit, as compared to the preferred races who theoretically can laze around, do nothing, and yet get a slice of the cake. All these unnecessary monies poured into this subsidy hampers the economy form better and fairer investment opportunities.

The recent National Day celebration have urged many to be 'patriotic', while some may be able to fabricate that feeling, I'm afraid I cannot do the same. While I was a kid I used to think that loving your country and spirit of patriotism is something each citizen SHOULD have. As an adult of 21 years, I find that you ought to love your country only if you feel you want to; you can't force love. If anything, you can still contribute to the economy directly or indirectly without such feeling called 'patriotism' to bind you.

To the author of the said article, I don't know if you honestly feel 'patriotism' for such a messed up nation or you were brainwashed by our excessive government programs. Given the facts for you to ponder, when a citizen can be second-classed even though he/she was born in the country (akin to the status of a foreigener), do you really love this country as you think you would?