That
is a good question. How do you teach kids that some kids cannot do
certain things as “equal” citizens of this country? How do you teach
kids that other kids have special privileges that cannot be questioned?
How
do you teach kids that they are barred from certain educational
institutions? How do you teach kids that there are quotas for their
educational aspirations?
How do you teach kids that their
religious beliefs are open to demonisation even though laws that
prohibit that kind of behaviour are enforced against them if they are
perceived to step out of line, but not against others?
How do you
teach kids that there are political parties that cater for a specific
race or that political operatives will say that it is their duty to
defend a specific race and religion even though everyone is supposed to
be equal before the national flag?
So,
when it comes to symbols, the ideas behind those symbols are important.
Whether you choose to imbue those symbols with power is entirely up to
the individual, but the reality is that only the state has any power
when it comes to enforcing ideas behind the symbol.
Enforcing
“respect” towards a symbol has always seemed fascist to me. After all,
if you have to force people to respect symbols, what does this tell you
of the “need” of some people to disrespect what is supposed to be a
symbol which represents all that we are supposed to believe in?
Here
is another thing about patriotism. It is about people and not
allegiances to totems. And in this country, mired in the toxic politics
of race and religion, can the Education Ministry define patriotism that
would make sense to children who are living in a polarised world?
Here
is a great example of how patriotism is about people. In fact, this
letter is a blueprint as to what defines patriotism and how the state
has trampled on egalitarian sentiments that used to define patriotism in
the military and, yes, in this country.
Close to a decade ago, Persatuan Patriot Kebangsaan (PPK), under the aegis of Arshad Raji released a statement on the enrolment of non-Malays in the military.
Here are five important parts:
(1)
For such fighting men of valour to function, there has to be genuine
love and care between the commanders and personnel. Everyone has to feel
needed and important. The accomplishment of the mission is the
ultimatum.
(2) The government’s affirmative policies of the 1980s
had seeped into the military administration. Strange sayings like “orang
kita” (our people) have crept into the minds of military commanders.
Slowly and surely, the commanders saw some of those under their command
as half-brothers or stepsons, unlike the “all are equal” mindset of
previous years.
(3) Yearning for a merit-based promotion system,
the non-Malays would not mind if their Malay subordinates were promoted
if they were really deserving. Perceived as incapable by many non-Malay
officers, there had been a haphazard promotion of officers very much
undeserving of their roles and ranks.
(4) Needless to say, a
mediocre officer given promotion and command would breed mediocrity and
substandard results. Further, numerous deserving Malay officers of merit
were also adversely affected. Malay officers who were promoted based on
their merits earned an endearment of loyalty and respect from the
non-Malays.
(5) Starting from the late 1980s, the military had
become increasingly religious-centric, and non-Malays felt ever more
alienated. The officers’ mess life and the lives of soldiers became very
much dictated by religious sensitivity. This eventually affected esprit
de corps and comradeship negatively in multi-racial military units.
So
what can we learn from this letter? Patriotism is about one’s empathy
for his or her brethren regardless of race and religion. Equality
encourages such sentiments. Politics, race, and religion nullify such
sentiments and create a toxic environment.
Does anyone really think that a flag on a badge is going to create a sense of simpatico amongst kids?
Well, as the prime minister says, it is free, so just wear it. That is how much Madani thinks the Jalur Gemilang is worth.
