A golden opportunity missed. By so many and by all. This is what I feel when I think about our situation now. A missed very golden opportunity to strengthen and unite our country regardless of race, religion and politics. Throughout history, there have been so many incidences of people making the best of a bad situation and emerging even stronger. From tragedy, disasters and war. Sad to say we wont be one of them. At least for this time. Today our country is soaked in a miasma of negativity. Our politics are based on negative tactics, held up by a strategy of blame. For both sides. And the one who loses are all of us. I am no politician much less a political strategist. But I do know what I as a citizen of this country would have loved to see. Just imagine this. On the day that MH370 was announced missing, DSN gets a visit from DSAI and the message is, Lets put aside our differences for now. A truce if you may call it. Because this is more than just about politics, this is about a tragedy for the nation and for other nations. And both men shake hands on it. And both men hold a press conference and say, Malaysians, let us unite. Let us hope and pray for the safe recovery of this flight and its passengers. Let us all focus our energy, resources and thoughts into making this work. Let us be one in this. Can you imagine the impact of pas and umno leaders holding a joint prayer session at the national mosque? Can you imagine LGE and H2O holding a joint press conference to the world. Both taking turns answering the media? Can you Imagine the impact of DSAI having his hand on DSN shoulders as he made the announcement of the loss of MH370? I dont know about you but It sends a chill down my spine. But a chill of pride. In some ways, this is an opportunity that could have given the opposition great political milage. For so long, many of those who have been against the opposition, rejected their message due to what was perceived as a negative approach. This was one opportunity that could have changed that. I know for me, if this occurred I would have been extremely surprised but I would accorded massive respect to the opposition. It would have shown me that maybe the opposition is maturing. Maybe ready to take over the reigns of leadership. Maybe they are more than just blame. There could have been so many possibilities. But most of all I would have been proud of the leaders for being Malaysian, not by words alone, but through action. It would have softened my heart to their cause. As for the government, this too was a lost opportunity. I do understand that due to the crisis, their focus would have been on the S&R. And this they did admirably. But in the back of my mind, I do wonder if maybe they could have offered an olive branch to the opposition. As an elder brother, asking the younger to return to the fold as part of the family. To face the tragedy together. To swallow pride and ego for the sake of the nation, solidarity and reconciliation . It would have really opened my mind to the wonders our government and country could be. For the rest of us, the common citizens, who would have cast aside our political differences, I cant imagine what changes would come from the softening of hearts and opening of minds. Maybe back to a time when we were ALL proud to be called Malaysian. Maybe a change of belief that we as ONE could be much more whole, than the sum of its parts. But as I said, I am just an ordinary citizen. I dont profess to know more than the politicians and their strategist. But I do know what I would have loved to live in reality. Is it too late and we, too far apart for this to happen?
Posted on: Fri, 28 Mar 2014 17:08:37 +0000
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