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Monday 29 September 2008

Walking The Talk

I happened to be browsing. One thing led to another, and I found myself in this blog, As Zewt As It Gets.

There was a post in there with which I completely identified with, regarding collective action.

You know what's wrong with us Malaysians? We talk a lot.

And these days, the jaw-lubricating action has been translated to typing. Heck, Malaysia Today receives over a million hits, and you and I know how many comments are posted every single day.

It's immense. Monstrous. Unbelievable.

But what is even more unbelievable is that we are quite capable of saying one thing and doing another. We wax lyrical about how the government's actions are unacceptable and unreasonable, and earnestly pledge to oppose it in anyway possible.

So what exactly are we doing? Not much I'd say. Zewt gives an example:

Then there was a time when MT was distributing car stickers for a particular reason and comments flooded in to ask where people can get it and how many claimed they will put it up in support of MT.

Until today, I have yet to see a single car with MT car sticker. Heck, I don’t even know how it looks like!

I know what he's talking about. As far as I can see, I'm the only dudette proudly and defiantly displaying the sticker on my car.

My parents have frowned with disapproval. They warned me that my nifty little Toyota Vios was going to get vandalised by pro-government hooligans.

Folks. That sticker has been up for a year, and nothing has happened.

I still remain the solitary display car modelling Malaysia Today. Like Zewt observes, I haven't seen anyone else having it on.

Seriously, folks. What else do we need to motivate us to walk our talk?

The goddamn Pussycat Dolls in a saree???



6 comments:

Anonymous said...

I click to the link you provided and read both the article and the comments. I am not sadden, frustrated or even angry, because

1. The 2000 or so who went out last Saturday on a peaceful candle vigil was heart warming.
2. My heroine and Subang State Assembly woman was there too.
3. You are a brave gal to have pasted the MT car sticker.
4. Zewt, who wore the yellow T-shirt, was charming.
5. Lastly, the millions who moved their fingers on the keyboard everyday in support of RPK; even if it is only sedentary support, it still matters.

It doesn’t take a million to make the difference. Usually it takes only a dozen of faithful and loyal idealists to change the fate of a nation. RPK has made more than a dozen. DSAI was not ‘rescued’ by the mob fighting against the FRU. In fact, the same mob soon forgot about him and PKR. TDM knew the human nature very well and used it to his advantage by allowing the street demonstration. Our present PM, however, was not a scholar in the human history. DSAI is today because he has a dozen or so people who never left him. You probably can guess who they are. Large number is not always a good indicator. So come on lah….cheer up, it is only one day to Hari Raya.


'I began revolution with 82 men. If I had to do it again, I do it with 10 or 15 and absolute faith. It does not matter how small you are if you have faith and plan of action.'
Fidel Castro

whispering9

Jarod said...

most of them could be NATO men and women... No Action, Talk Only...

We have to accept it. until they really wake up and know that they need to do something for this country and for themselves.

zewt said...

hey crankshaft... take a photo of the car-sticker...

not that i dont believe you... just that i really wanna see how it looks like :)

Pat said...

Greetings Crankster!

There is no other way to see it. Jarod is right: NATO rules here! Hahaha.

But not funny at all, ya? I'm really put off by all that 'I'm with you, bro' and 'Rock ON, RPK! crap. Because it really is just that - talk.

I have honestly said that I am not the walk-to-bukit-aman-in-protest type. I am more the light-a-candle-in-my-home-as-a-sign-of-solidarity type. I am more the 'hartal' type than the 'run in the streets mad', type.

So, kena shot down by someone in Haris's blog once. The fler acused me of not signing the free-RPK petition. I had. Am no 2613, I think. Gave the fool my full name so he could go check!

But the thing is this: Can't we say we've not got the balls for this? Not all of us are gung ho like Zorro, whom I admire. Or Haris.

But by NOT saying that, and by pretending 'see you there' and then not show up - that's wrong lah.

I admire the fact that you've got that sticker up. I'd have liked to, too.

Pat

ps

Go read
Magick River
. I really have respect for this guy. Balls of steel, I think ;)

Crankster said...

You have a smooth tongue, whispering9. :)

Jarod, it annoys me when people say one thing and do another. I don't think I'm going to accept it though. I'm going to keep writing stuff to bug them out of their stupor, if this works.

Zewt, one photo coming right up.

Pat, you bring up a very succint point. Not all of us are born to do the street-walking and radical activism. And it's okay.

Perfectly ok. I'm convinced that at some point, it's all about inner conviction.

But I really get upset by the pretence of showing up only to find the crowd is dismal.

Crankster said...

Zewt, as requested - the photo.