Are we at war?

Looking at the pictures of the youth gathering, and the shouting lead by PM to ” defend Putrajaya”, I can’t help but ask myself this: Is Malaysia under attack from any external threat? are we fighting a war against any invasion?

The answer is of course No.

Then why mobilise the youth as if a war is coming.

This thing happens only in third world countries where people are more gullible.

In most democratic countries, changing of government in elections are common.

Why treat the opposition parties as someone who is your enemies? Why are people so partisan? Parties are set up because of differing ideologies; they have differing ideas on how to run the country; or certain of their policies are different. One may be more liberal, others may be more conservative  like those in UK, or USA.

In elections, parties should sell on their ideologies and manifestos, not on scandals or giving out misinformation. They should never treat their oponents as if the opponents are external threat to the country. They must know that both have roles to play; the ruling as well the opposition. They are not external enemies like the Japanese in the Second Word War.

Sell your ideas and the your track record of governing and let people decide. There is absolutely no need to classify your counterparts in the opposition as if they are external threats.

Winning or losing government positions are not the end of the world; unless of course there is a corrupt culture to protect!!

When will all these manipulators stop manipulating?

……………………………..

Contrast with this:

At the darkest hour during World War 2, when the Nazis overran France in just a couple of weeks, and British Epeditionary Force (BEF) were  encircled leading to the miraculour retreat at Dunkirk,  one man came forward and urged the country ”  We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender”.

This man was Sir Winston Churchill. When everything seemed lost, he had unwavering faith in the British people, and his speeches ralliedd the British to fight a war against all odds and in the end defeated Germany’s mighty airforce in the Battle of britain.

That was a Statesman extraordinary. After the war, when the British people chose to dump him for another Prime Minister, he just retired.

He never called  his people to defend 10 Downing Street against the Labour party in the 1945 election, in which he lost the Premiership to Clement Attlee of the Labour party.

What a contrast !