Now my friends, I am opposed to the system of society in which we live today, not because I lack the natural equipment to do for myself but because I am not satisfied to make myself comfortable knowing that there are thousands of my fellow men who suffer for the barest necessities of life. We were taught under the old ethic that man's business on this earth was to look out for himself. That was the ethic of the jungle; the ethic of the wild beast. Take care of yourself, no matter what may become of your fellow man. Thousands of years ago the question was asked; ''Am I my brother's keeper?'' That question has never yet been answered in a way that is satisfactory to civilized society.
Yes, I am my brother's keeper. I am under a moral obligation to him that is inspired, not by any maudlin sentimentality but by the higher duty I owe myself. What would you think me if I were capable of seating myself at a table and gorging myself with food and saw about me the children of my fellow beings starving to death.
- Eugene V. Debs
It is a sad day indeed to see that the Malaysian government has now sent political blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin has been sent to the Kamunting detention camp under Malaysia's draconian Internal Security Act, for at least two years without trial just for expressing his views on the internet.
ISA - A Crime Against Humanity
It is indeed sad to see someone like Raja Petra, a role model to all us Malaysians who dared stand up and speak against the government to be so unjustly treated like this.
Why is it that racist politicians who claim that the other races are but mere immigrants and wave the keris, asking for Chinese blood to flow walk free without any consequence? But when a blogger states his case, with evidence to back it all up, the government does all they can to shut him up?
Where will they stop? Will they go after all of us smaller voices who speak up against such injustice next? Will they send ears out to snoop on kopitiam talk to throw dissenters into the deep bowels of ISA detention?
Enough detention without trial!
They just might, looking at how things have been going lately.
Yes, it's easy to complain that we have a useless, corrupt government. It's easy to launch into a tirade of complaints against the government at the neighbourhood kopitiam.
But the government's not the only one to blame for this whole mess.
You out there, reading this, are to blame for this whole situation too.
Yes you! Out there! Have you been sitting down there, comfortable where you are watching this whole farce playing before your eyes as you give your silent consent? Would our politicians be so arrogant to not even consider public opinion and review the draconian ISA if we had severely rebuked their arrogance in the past?
I don't think so. We're to blame too.
I am my brother's keeper, and I simply cannot just sit here and watch this wave of injustice just sweep across my country like that. Doesn't it pain you Malaysians out there to see our politicians do so much damage to the image of our country in the international arena?
Do you know how embarrassing it is for me when my foreign friends comment that Malaysian minsters cannot even speak in proper English, or feel pity for us Malaysians that an UMNO leader labeled all non-Malays immigrants?
It's just way too much.
If you feel as I feel, if you see as I see, and if you seek as I seek - something just has to be done about all this.
If there is one small thing we can do about this whole mess, it's this:
Free RPK!
GO SIGN THE PETITION TO FREE RAJA PETRA NOW.
(or just go to http://www.PetitionOnline.com/
Also, more of us have to have the courage to speak up against the injustices of this country, even though the evildoers are doing what they can to keep us silent.
Have the courage to speak up and say what's right! It is really something that all faiths preach and what truly marks a real man.
I know that in the end, the voice of reason, the voice of justice will prevail. I just hope that it just won't come too late.
2 comments:
Susan Loone have some ideas on the things v can do, in case u have not read it yet :)
p/s; dun read too much kennysia, celebrity wont get u anywhere besides entertainment
Sorry babe, if the government can ignore the public for years, a petition isn't going to do shit.
You want to be your brother's keeper? Then do something more: obviously the government's only going to listen if you present a threat. Wear yellow and rampage the streets, man.
I'm only half-kidding.
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