Why and How to Celebrate Malaysia Independence Day?

Happy Independence Day to All Malaysians!

Wow, time flew so fast I didn't realize it's 31 August today!

Yeah, I'm a bad Malaysian but I honestly don't know how to.. you know.. gain a sense of nationhood (semangat kenegaraan).

I dislike reading unless it's smutty or funny and short, I dislike travelling so I could careless about the hot spots in Malaysia, I don't watch news because I don't watch television, I don't read news because I don't buy newspaper, I don't read news online because I don't even know why should I care about things I don't understand (politic, people, social problems).

Hmm... I guess I just found out the root of my problems.

Anyway, I'm glad Malaysia has finally gain our freedom, I'm glad our leaders love Malaysia and its people very much, I'm glad our leaders are capable to maintain our freedom. But I wonder, what does this freedom means? I had never think about it before.

All I know, during Independence Day people install Jalur Gemilang (nickname for Malaysia flag) on their house roofs and cars. And then, there will be a major celebration at the central that we can watch on television. There are fireworks, marching bands, artists singing national songs, and oh, everyone involved will be wearing great costumes that shows the wide varieties of people that live in Malaysia.

It is kind of superficial so I always stay away from those activities even during my childhood. I just don't see the point. I didn't even realized what great costumes they were wearing during the concert, I guess that proves that my sense of fashion has always been that bad haha :D

Anyway, to celebrate something, you must know the reason for the celebration. It cannot be superficial because then it wouldn't feel like a celebration. The reason has to come from within.

So, I tried to come up with at least 1 good reason to celebrate Malaysia Independence Day but I can't come up with any. Oh, sure I could say because the colonial is gone and we've gain our freedom but why is it good that the colonial is gone and what kind of freedom do we gain? I can come up with vague ideas but I'm not even sure if they are valid at all.

I have to reread my history lessons.

It's not strange that my memory is that bad. Even though my scores were above average in most subjects including History, I never manage to remember much of what I've learnt in class. It's like my only goal was to pass the exam. After that, all the knowledge I've gained became obsolete and so it was purged from my memory automatically.

And so I wonder, what about those students who never come up to class, who never read, and just plain fail the History test? Do they celebrate Malaysia Independence Day at all? Do they realize the significance behind this event?

I keep hearing about how people these days don't have strong sense of nationhood (semangat kenegaraan). It sure doesn't feel like anyone is celebrating Malaysia Independence Day today so that could be the truth or people just can't celebrate much because they're fasting (lol too tired to do anything).

I know I'm a bad citizen. I tried to do better these days but it's a slow process.

So what about you?

1. Are you a good Malaysian?
2. Do you know why you celebrate Malaysia Independence Day?
3. How do you celebrate Malaysia Independence Day?

Here are some interesting answers to above questions from Malaysian Youth:

How you guys celebrate this year National day?

Youth 1:
just staring in front of lappy, watching movies, gaming, and doing tons of lab reports. urgh. btw, happy happy National Day. Malaysia is surely not proud of me.

Youth 2:
g shopping...ada sale...tp, mat2 rempit memekak jew keje nyer...bingit tinge...

Youth 3:
stayed in my room, listening to avenged sevenfold new album and usha-ing this posted;
Hishamuddin Rais - Negara(MALAYSIA) Ciplak
http://tukartiub.blogspot.com/2010/08/anak-muda-bangun-melawan.html

Source: YouthSays.com Malaysia Community

I want to say I am glad that I am not the only one... but... that is kind of cruel because that means what they say about today's youth's ignorance is true!

“A man only becomes wise when he begins to calculate the approximate depth of his ignorance.”
Gian Carlo Menotti quotes

Source: ThinkExist.com