HAPPY MERDEKA DAY ! Free ourselves from ...

"To whom much is given, much is required.

Every now and then my attitude of gratitude strongly kicks in and I begin to think of the incredible blessings that are showered upon even the poorest of (citizens of xxxxx country). Yes, we have a long way to go, many challenges to face, but we are so very fortunate. So much of the world still lives in poverty and for so very long in human history, justice, liberty, and peace were the aberration, not the norm.

Most (citizens of xxxxxx country) are but a 911 call away from a standard of care and response that the majority of the world has never known and will never see. Our standard of living has jumped incredibly in the last 100 years as has our life expectancy. Now the greatest threats to our health are self inflicted: overeating, lack of exercise, smoking, alcohol or drug abuse, related with suicide rated as a top ten killer in many age categories. We have met the enemy and he is us.

Not only has our life expectancy greatly increased, the quality of that life has increased as well: xxx years ago many people lived with debilitating chronic illnesses or pains that now are treatable or curable.

To whom much is given, much is expected.

We have been given so much, we are so fortunate. But are we worthy?
I think much is required of us, as individuals and as a society. And I wonder how well we are fulfilling that responsibility..... "

When I read this post on Nathan S. Collier's blog http://www.nscblog.com/?p=1057 about Americans & the lack of gratitude & appreciation for what they already have & wanting more, I think this is universal for people of countries that have already achieved a certain level of progress. Some consider it the price to pay for progress - how sad!

My reminder to myself & my fellow Malaysians, when enjoying this long Independence Day weekend, is to Merdeka (be independent of, set free) the 'shackles' that still bind us :

• We all want to be fit & healthy, but still hide behind excuses & carry on with ways of living that are detrimental to our health & well-being - not enough rest/sleep, no proper exercise regime, indiscriminate eating, ...
  
  
• We complain of inferior local products & services & glorify imported good, but we are part of that 'production' chain, not only factory floor but up to accounts, advertising, admin, sales, etc. Are we giving our best at our jobs? Are we serving our customers (internal & external) the quality justifiable to the product? If we see any thing that should be corrected (even if it incurs the wrath of immediate superiors) are we brave enough to stand up for what is right & proper or just complain at the mamak stall & go about business as usual the next day ? Imagine where we will be if our fore fathers had not stood up to communists, colonial masters ...
  
  
• We are appalled at the extend of social ills among the young, but when they were younger & pliable did we take the time to each them respect for others? When the bus comes, do you tell your child to shove & push to quickly get a seat? When the young child accidentally knocks down a display in the department store, do you tell him to help put back the display or pretend nothing happened & quickly leave the scene? When your kid unintentionally bumps into an adult, do you reprimand him & ask him to say sorry to uncle /auntie or just call to the child to come to you & not wander there? When a child's ice-cream drips on the house floor, you immediately wipe it up yourself or teach the kid that he is responsible for what he does (even if it is by accident) and gives him the cloth to wipe the spot. The hand that rocks the cradle (both parents nowadays) rules the world!
  

We have come far, as a nation & as a person. Let us not be egoistic enough to be believe that our successful life is due to our own efforts only. We, in a society, owe our good life today to efforts of many from peasant farmers, estate workers, construction workers & engineers, teachers & educators, police & military,... right up to our politicians & Bapa Malaysia.

My dad joined the police force during the communist threat & risks his life every day going into the jungle, wading through muddy waters, protecting the villagers & seeking out communists. One day in camp, he over slept & his platoon went out on regular patrol leaving him behind. He awoke to the news that his whole platoon was wiped out by an ambush that morning!! Feelings of shock, horror, guilt, anguish for a young man not yet turned 20 was what my dad experienced and had to overcome...

Dad, I am grateful to you and all who have helped us reach our 52th year or independence.

MERDEKA! MERDEKA! MERDEKA!