Some foreigners might be a little curious or confused with all this talk about the dissolution of Parliament in Malaysia. Why the sudden focus? Isn't it normal for people to vote? Why are there parodies and songs and videos and pictures and all that stuff about voting and exercising your right bla bla bla....?
You see, you don't understand what it is like to be in a game that you are not allowed to win. You are a part of a family that don't consider you a family member. You have not tried staying in a place that considers you an outsider but you have been given permission to be in it. You have not been told that you have the right to speak but told to shut the F up the moment you try to say something. You have not been looking out for opportunities to go overseas or migrate all your life. Maybe in some countries like North Korea and Myanmar (and a few others), the citizens might be able to feel the pain (and more) but for others, you have it good.
But we are not Myanmar. Harlow, my ancestors moved here for a very good reason (and I continue to thank them for making the right, I think, move to Malaysia). We are not North Korea (THANK GOD!). We are Malaysia but still....
Have you experienced the feeling of being considered a stranger in a sea of people you thought were your friends? Well, it is disappointing and it sucks.
Honestly speaking, so far, we have not been given a single chance to make our voice count and most of us have given that up a long time ago. Many of us have resorted to just ignoring the whole fiasco or turn a blind eye because we want to keep hoping for something better somewhere else to turn up. What difference would it make if we vote or don't vote? It is NOT going to make a difference!
I confess to be one of the biggest fence sitters in the Universe. My friends and family know this...I don't want to take sides. Even within my family, if there is an argument, I will sit it out until I am needed. But when forced to take a side, I try not to.
But this is the first time in Malaysia that there is some semblance of hope. There is that tiny little ray of light shining in. Is it possible? Is it now possible for us to say something? Is it possible to make things better? Can we finally be considered as one now?
THAT, my dear foreigners, is what Malaysia is all hyped out about.
That hope. That possibility.
You see, you don't understand what it is like to be in a game that you are not allowed to win. You are a part of a family that don't consider you a family member. You have not tried staying in a place that considers you an outsider but you have been given permission to be in it. You have not been told that you have the right to speak but told to shut the F up the moment you try to say something. You have not been looking out for opportunities to go overseas or migrate all your life. Maybe in some countries like North Korea and Myanmar (and a few others), the citizens might be able to feel the pain (and more) but for others, you have it good.
But we are not Myanmar. Harlow, my ancestors moved here for a very good reason (and I continue to thank them for making the right, I think, move to Malaysia). We are not North Korea (THANK GOD!). We are Malaysia but still....
Have you experienced the feeling of being considered a stranger in a sea of people you thought were your friends? Well, it is disappointing and it sucks.
Honestly speaking, so far, we have not been given a single chance to make our voice count and most of us have given that up a long time ago. Many of us have resorted to just ignoring the whole fiasco or turn a blind eye because we want to keep hoping for something better somewhere else to turn up. What difference would it make if we vote or don't vote? It is NOT going to make a difference!
I confess to be one of the biggest fence sitters in the Universe. My friends and family know this...I don't want to take sides. Even within my family, if there is an argument, I will sit it out until I am needed. But when forced to take a side, I try not to.
But this is the first time in Malaysia that there is some semblance of hope. There is that tiny little ray of light shining in. Is it possible? Is it now possible for us to say something? Is it possible to make things better? Can we finally be considered as one now?
THAT, my dear foreigners, is what Malaysia is all hyped out about.
That hope. That possibility.