It is always interesting to stop and think as to what our priorities are. Do we celebrate something close to home when a catastrophe is going on in another part of the world? Lets just say that Malaysia's National Day celebration coincides with a major war going on in another part of the world to fight for sovereignty, do we still continue with our celebration or do we tone it down in respect of the other sufferers? How you answer this question would depend on your ethical and philosophical framework.
When a developed nation like US (though its distribution of wealth is highly irregular as well) faces a major natural disaster akin to the tsunami that hit other mostly third world nations on Boxing Day of 2004, should we extend help to them in terms of financial? Or should we let the country that hosts some of the world richest people to handle the problem themselves? Of course they would have a better organised rescue operation in comparison to the poorer countries, but does this mean that just because the Big Brother is a superpower, therefore, we should not be too bothered that millions of its citizens might have just been made homeless? It is a lonely position on top.
Talking about the National Day celebration in Malaysia, with its Blogging in the Malay Language campaign (I speak and write in the language pretty regularly so did not feel the special need to engage in it just for a particular day), I did not actually participate in it actively as a celebrant, other than when I walked the streets of an entertainment hotspot in Kuala Lumpur in the wee hours of the morning, coming out from somewhere where I had some business to attend to, and seeing the revellers gathering about coffee shops and cafes having their early morning meal before heading home. All dressed in their party clothings (casual or otherwise). To a majority of those celebrating, it is merely another occasion to party bigtime. I am not too sure if the actual significance of this particular day, with all its political implication, is looming much in their mind as they shout "Merdeka" and wish each other on the streets and clubs.
And today, I begin the celebration of a new chapter in my life. (:
