By Augustine Anthony
There are those who subscribe to the principle that to live is everything and by this they believe that we are all here to survive and in order to survive we just have to be practical (realism). On the other hand there are others who subscribe to the principle that a life without idealism is devoid of greatness thus such existence means little. Both are acceptable principles depending on the tint of the glass through which we look at things.
Idealism
The greatest of the leaders who have had captivated and captured the imagination of any movement or nation with their idealism are people with an aura of simplicity of life and a complexity of mind. In these leaders idealism manifested in all the greatness and glorious honesty to the point where people were passionately attracted to and magnetically drawn to these leaders to wholeheartedly support their cause even to the point of great cost to the personal well being of people .
But in our country today, what kind of leaders are we blessed or cursed with? Far from the simplicity of life and complexity of mind, these leaders manifest the blemished opposite which is a caustic complexity of life and simplicity of mind where superfluous needs takes center stage.
The fact is, many of these leaders are children in grown up bodies. It is for this reason we can see that they so willingly trade their ideals for bangles, beads and baubles. Throw the cry babies a toy and savor the serenity of their silence, such has become the cynical riposte. Toys remain toys whether it is Barbie dolls and lightsabers for children or the latest and the newest sports cars, limousines, expensive show off watches, private yachts, private jets or the second holiday villa amassed through ill gotten gains.
To maintain these unnecessary needs at the expense of great sufferings to the people, the leaders particularly the politicians (except for a few notable and dedicated ones in service to our nation) , are prepared to be glib tongued imposters, violence inciting mobsters and messengers of hate who do not seem to understand that a nation without common idealism is like a ship that drifts in uncharted waters without continuity of purpose and direction.
These selfish politicians are very “practical” people. They are masters in the art of personal survival albeit a survival without a legacy for the future generations to put on a pedestal. Their existence is without idealism. They rarely ask themselves the personal question of how they wish to be remembered. In death their memories will be instantly forgotten.
Practicality for them provides instant intoxication but conveniently forgetting that idealism is the heartbeat of our soul that breaks new thresholds in every field. An embryo in gestation within the womb of idealism will in birth reveal men/women in grace who will die for a cause.
A national idealism that can draw everyone to a common platform is a must. Every nation and every discovery and every field that had been touched by the force of idealism had propelled all of them to greatness beyond the imagination of most intelligent practical thinkers.
History is witness to every conquest that was only possible through idealism.
Idealism is Sports
For more than a century in the field of athletic prowess, no man could break the record of running below 4 minutes in the one mile race. In fact all practical sports experts, analysts and commentators were of the conclusion that it is humanly impossible to do under 4 minutes in the one mile race.
Roger Bannister an athlete just like any other but with ideals of doing what others could not do. He thought beyond the practicality of just winning the race. He had the idealism of being the first man to do under 4 minutes. In May 1956 Roger Bannister broke the meet record and clocked 3.59.04 and simultaneously broke the human mental block. And within less than 2 months another athlete broke the under 4 minute’s impossibility. Then under 4 minutes was being achieved more frequently the ever. If today an athlete cannot do under 4 minutes, he better not compete because college students are easily achieving it. All it took was one man with ideals to triumph over the mental block brought about by the practicality of a mere winning of the race.
In later life Roger Bannister went on to accomplish many great things in the medicinal field of neurology.
In a video recording, a young and very poor 13 year old boy from a shanty town was asked, what his dreams were and he answered, firstly to play for his country and secondly to carry the Football (FIFA) World Cup. That poor boy with idealism went on, not only to play for his country and carry the Copa Mondial but also became the greatest footballer with the greatest solo goal ever. Diego Armando Maradona! He may die one day but because of his ideals, football will live.
Idealism in Science
Bedtime stories for children of mermaids diving the depths of the Ocean yet able to breathe fresh air by the beach and Peter Pan flying in the sky like a bird yet walk like any other boy were not acceptable thoughts in a real world then and were dismissed by ‘intelligent practical thinkers’ as humanly impossible. They argued that only demented children could entertain such thoughts that existed in story books.
But relentless scientific discovery firmly footed on the foundation of idealism now witness seafaring and ocean floor discoveries of organisms of various species that are changing our understanding of life on this planet. Submarines are cruising under water like giant monsters ever so often and divers with new diving gear are doing better, far better than mermaids.
The story of flying Peter Pan is no longer impossible for those who dare to dream a dream. Planes breaking the speed of sound, skydiving in marvelous and mind boggling formations and paragliding spectacles are now common occurrences and heart stoppers no longer. Only the mediocre practical thinkers with their mental block now remain a stumbling block to what people and a nation can achieve as a whole.
Idealism In Religion
Dead men cannot die again. It is not real and not a practical thought. But perhaps not for the Christians who believe in the idealism spread by Jesus Christ. Christians not only believe that the dead can be brought to life through resurrection but human beings are a creation that could live forever.
This belief is so unshakeable that early Christians were prepared to die for it in the most gruesome ways. Christian women and children were tossed into the Roman Coliseum and while the helpless believers were devoured by hungry lions to the toxic cheers of spectators intoxicated by the madness of entertainment, idealism firmly footed on faith was the only sustenance for these dying ones who believed that there is a second and a more meaningful life that await them. And that idealism was written for future Christians to bear witness in the Gospel of Matthew.
That idealism saw young Christian men and women, giving away their possessions, emptying their pockets for their faith, crossing oceans, trekking mountains and vast lands to spread the message of idealism. In their endeavors many died in the oceans, of deadly diseases and through violence but their deaths were not in vain.
Christians believe that they may not have seen God in visible form but his work is seen all around. One example is the education system through mission schools that was spread around the world by these idealists. Many without educational opportunities were given the most important gift of knowledge through structured education. Knowledge based society based on sound education is the real work of God, some Christians argue.
The successful spread of other religions like Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism are also through idealism.
Idealism In Philosophy
The French Revolution did not attain success just because peasants became hungry and planned the overthrow of the then unworkable system of governance of a medieval absolute and tyrannical monarchy.
The people were convinced and were able to immerse themselves in the idealism of the philosophy of Voltaire, Rousseau and Montesquieu. Within these philosophies they saw an ideal system of good governance. These Philosophies revealed the tyranny of absolute monarchy and offered a viable solution in the relationship between the State and its citizen through a power balance mechanism. Today, the world over people are talking and pursuing the ideal power separation policies. These ideals have not given in to practical survival. Not yet and never will.
Idealism In Politics and Nation Building
Nelson Mandela spent 28 years in prison for what he believed in. In the book “Long Walk To Freedom” it was apparent that the Apartheid Regime incessantly persuaded him to be a practical man and give up his cause. The terrible cruelty he suffered in the hands of his tormentors, one cannot describe in words. That idealism saw his comrades blazed with conviction in pursuit of the noble cause to free their country from unjust minority rule that saw it fit that some were more equal than others.
Walter Sisulu suffered so much for Mandela’s beliefs. Oliver Thambo went into exile for 30 years, so far from his home to rally support from around the world, that apartheid has no place in any principled governance that believed in common decency.
There are other exemplary characters whose pursuits were fueled by nothing other than idealism. Such is the greatness of leaders like Bhagat Singh in India, Dr. Sun Yat Sen in China, Aung Sang Su Kyi in Burma. And in Malaysia, the late Abdul Razak (Tun), whose National Economic Policy if properly implemented would have remarkably reduced the inequality between the poor and the rich but sadly his intentions were hijacked by other competing interests and the political party that he once helmed has now lost its soul.
Idealism in Human Rights/ Civil Rights Movement
The Proclamation of Emancipation that declared freedom for slaves did little to save the Negro slaves held by the curse of captivity until the birth of sons and daughters of Negro slaves who believed in the idealism that free men /women are no man’s slaves. (The word Negro is intentionally used here)
The Negro slaves who believed in the idealism of freemen and freedom suffered terrible consequences. They were imprisoned in tiny boxes for days, tortured and lynched, their daughters raped, their sons starved but as the siren of idealism stayed, the bells of freedom rang across the country.
So when Martin Luther King Jr. said that “I have a dream”, it was not the words of Martin Luther King Jr. alone that reverberated at Lincoln’s Memorial but the Idealism of the sons and daughters of Negro slaves that one day the evils of racial discriminations will evaporate and sons of slaves and sons of slave owners will be able to sit down together at a table of brotherhood.
That idealism gave birth to an American dream from entertainment to sports, national defense and politics in the persona of Michael Jackson, Tiger Woods, General Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice and now the ultimate realization of that dream in Barack Hussein Obama.
Idealism In War
The Persian Army under Emperor Xerxes I son Darius the Great mounted a campaign to expand its empire to the autonomous Greek city states. The Greeks particularly the Spartans were people who believed in the ideals of free Greeks and were not willing to live in submission to the Persian Empire. In what will go down as the most famous battle of ancient European history, the battle at Thermopylae saw the Spartan King Leonidas leading a small army numbering less than 10 thousand men against Xerxes I who was commanding almost 300 ,000 men (some put the figure beyond a million). Practical war strategy would have seen the necessity of total withdrawal but King Leonidas was not a practical man.
A few days of fighting saw the Greek army losing about 2,500 freemen and the Persian war casualties more than 20,000. But on the last day of battle, King Leonidas having ordered the retreat of rest of the Greek army remained in the battle field with 300 Spartans and a few hundred other Greek soldiers to take on the mighty Persian army.
King Leonidas believing in the ideals of freemen of ancient Greece saw certainty of death with no chance of success but that ideal spread to all corners of Greece and in less than one year in the battle at Plataea, the Greek army numbering 40,000 led by the Spartans won decisively against the Persian army of 120,000 men and effectively ended the Persian threats of Greek invasion.
Doomed heroism of bold King Leonidas and the brave 300 more than 2,400 years ago remains till today as an inspirational theme for freemen.
Conclusion
A national idealism drawn from the inspiration of a common certainty of purpose could conquer the odds of impossibilities against a global threat to enslave our nation but we continue to struggle with basic questions that still bamboozle the nation.
We still wonder why the roads are generously spread with potholes, why buildings collapse, why bridges crack, why the huge financial losses and scandals, why the deepening of racial and religious differences, why our education policies continue to be flipped, see it flop and await another flip in a matter of few years with parents disappointed and children raised with feelings of dejection and many other failings that could be easily avoided.
And to the burning question of why after all these years many politicians still remain con men, incite hatred and sow conflicts amongst the races, we disappointedly go home with an irresistible conclusion that practical survival for a short term gain (an more importantly pecuniary gain) by these selfish people far outweighs shaping a nation on the principle of idealism for a long term greatness.
To these mediocre politicians and leaders, I can only quote that “the glory and memory of men will always belong to the ones who followed their great visions”…….. (Quote from the Movie Alexander)
“the glory and memory of men will always belong to the ones who followed their great visions”…….. (Quote from the Movie Alexander)
Agreed.
But so far, does Najib have any far-sighted visions that have been effectively conveyed to us through a simple, precise and concise language that is easy for us to comprehend? I only have gotten a big “NO” as the right answer (THE ANSWER) from the very bottom of my heart!
UMNO BARU Idealism is to use stolen money to buy up the people and country.
Once Mahathir hinted to UMNO politicians…..it is so cheap to buy up a country like Malaysia.
18 years under him…..took root the idea into actions….establishing “UMNO is corrupted to the core”…which is actually UMNO BARU….and not UMNO….two entirely political parties.
Because UMNO members are mostly racists…..those who left and formed Semagat45 went back….for one thing and one ting only…Mahathir knows how to find a formula that all can become multi millionaires…..legally..as long as some money stolen are given to the UMNO BARU.
We need not keep talking idealism with a band of robbers and thieves.
These are not politicians. These are actors ..con men/women….dressed u in style to fool Malaysians…..using the most successful bait….MONEY.
It is almost 100% cocksure…everyone want to sell their souls for money.
We are dealing with the devil’s deciples…and for more than 30 years….the devil reincarnated is very influential….with the adopted son in control.
Yes..these UMNO BARU politicians are no politicians…only in name .
In spirit and in reality…they are so greedy and corrupted….you can see….how special Malaysia hve become to be..under this devilish government….the one and only country in the world with so many false titles….and every UMNO minister is filthy rich….through their relatives and friends…we call cronies .sons and daughters…to make sure…these ministers do live much better than the royalties.
Even some royalties are afraid of UMNO BARU.
Now….tell me…is not Mahathir the greatest of all crooks in Malaysia?
a true politician who is worth his or her salt would say idealism is good but would also say idealism alone is no good. What the rakyat want is not more idealism but more ideas to push forth ones idealism. Most would want less govt interference in their lives giving them a free hand to make a decent living with no strings attached except their GOD and conscience. Most would be willing to give back to society leaving a legacy his or her children would proudly show the world. Where are we as Malaysian? What can we show the world as a true legacy worthy of the blessings our beloved nation has given us ?
Some like to think that they are being practical and therefore are more in touch with reality. They would scoff at people who expound philosophies and call them “useless idealist.” But then again labeling a path as idealistic or practical really depends on the state of mind of the observer.
For instance to the people who think practical and therefore successful. What may we ask is their yardstick to measure this “success”. Earning five figure salary and driving big cars? On the other extreme, a monk or a spiritual guru will tell you that living a simple and happy life is being successful.
Therefore I do not think it is appropriate to label a person as idealist or realist (practical).
A government that has the welfare of her people at heart is a government that takes the path with a heart. I cannot see the present government as taking the path with a heart as there are too many contradictions and lack of sincerity in our leaders.
If we are looking for a leader who is simple and yet complex in mind I have my utmost respect in Nik Aziz, menteri besar of Kelantan. If we are prepared to give him a chance I have no doubt that he can galvanize PR into a formidable foe to BN whose leaders are so simple minded that they think mere slogans can convince us to believe in them. If PR fails to make it to Putra Jaya in the next GE, I suspect we have too many people who think that they are realist or practical and therefore vote for the practical convenience of materialistic comfort without regard to whether the administration is taking us in the path with a heart.
It is NOT TOO LATE for PR to wake these people from their complacency… Show them that taking the correct path will mean a better future for us and our children for many generations to come.
sorry… error:
//… For instance to the people who think that they are practical and therefore…//
Want a Baby Najid or a Baby Osame in your crib? Get the DVD from Walt Disney Co.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/24/education/24baby.html?em
The writer has singled out Christianity to make his comments but has left out Islam which preaches the same. If he has any courage he would not have left out Islam and Judaism the first monotheistic religion.
NR’s 1M’sia
Inspired by Abraham Lincoln’s “government: of the people, by the people, for the people”
“The greatest of the leaders who have had captivated and captured the imagination of any movement or nation with their idealism are people with an aura of simplicity of life and a complexity of mind.”
Mahatma Gandhi, yes, he is.
Mahathir Mohamad, hahaha.
Abdullah Badawi, kekeke.
There cannot be a ‘national idealism drawn from the inspiration of a common certainty of purpose’ because 50 years plus time span since independence has not proven sufficient to evolve a ‘common certainty of purpose’ due to racial/religious/cultural diversity of the country. What we witness as a result of different races laying respective claims to rights under the Malaysian Sun is a tendency towards racial competition, actual or perceived, revolving around the same recurrent theme that without special privileges and Ketuanan the majority race will lose out to the other races. What has evolved is principally a political ethnocracy which is based on Malay dominance/Ketuanan (amid limited democracy), which other races are not in agreement. So where is that ‘national idealism drawn from the inspiration of a common certainty of purpose’ when there is no ‘common certainty of purpose’? Here I assume the expression “national idealism” as used by writer Augustine Anthony is a reference to common purpose of nation forged from unity of all Malaysians, which can only be drawn from a premise of equality for all under the Malaysian Sun. Baba Malaysia Tunku Abdul Rahman was a leader for all but the May 13 incident gave a then little known UMNO back bencher the opportunity to publicly criticize the Tunku for giving in too much to the Chinese, causing tension and hence was responsible for the outbreak of racial violence. That backbencher was sacked from UMNO, his book was banned, but he was later rehabilitated by Tunku’s successor Tun Razak and that back bencher thereafter had a meteoric rise in his political career ending up as paramount leader for the next 22 years, entrenching ethnocracy/NEP even deeper in every aspect (social and economic) of national life. YB Lim Kit Siang is an outstanding politician who fought for all to have an equal place under the Malaysian Sun and was rewarded for his efforts by being sent to Kamunting twice under ISA! Even today a non politician like Raja Petra Kamaruddin (“RPK”) has to be on the run for speaking truth to power!
The conditions and realties in the country punish idealistic leaders (idealistic in Augustine Anthony’s terms) and reward the mediocre and the opportunistic. Until Anwar coalesced PR together and showed a measure of success in 308 based on inclusivist theme, nearly every other politician ascended the political ladder flashing the racial or religious card, which made the ex paramount leader observed in his blog that somehow majority of people tend to hold race and religious issues as still important and tended to give their support to leaders upholding race issue. King Leonidas (cited by the writer) inspired as he led a homogenous Greek against Persians. Mandela & Martin Luther (cited by the writer) fought for dignity/equality for one oppressed race and might have a problem if purporting to fight for all different races in a place like here.
For the majority of politicians on both sides of the political divide, it seems practical to be… hmm…practical in approach preferring, in light of existing conditions, to embrace political realism over political idealism. They would think, why break one’s head bashing against a brick wall? To feather their own nest via political route, to make money through power for well being and security of one self and family is afterall a normal survival instinct especially in this harsh environment where to be a “hero” like Zaid is to be forced to leave the party controlling the gravy train or worse still, if like RPK, means to be on the run, exacting a toll on wife and children…. They don’t inspire us – in fact they depress – but one can understand their rationale.
It is an exceptional man who will put aside self-interest to fight for everyone of his other countrymen’s interests when it is uncertain whether his countrymen will by majority appreciate his sacrifice and will reciprocate to fight for him when he is thrown to jail.
Sorry typo error – “BaPa (not Baba) Malaysia Tunku Abdul Rahman”
Nix Aziz is simply too old…”ikt-56″ writer…and if PR guys offer him the Premiership….he will decline…being unselfish and practical.
Actually…there are few that can be excellent PMs from PR group.
Dealing with UMNO crooks…it is useless to talk Idealism. Nothing is ideal to majority Malaysians….concerning UMNO.
Vote them out…..end of story.
Vote then in again…..live with it and stop complaining.
Voters are to be complimented or blamed.
However UMNO never play fair at all…applying one sided advertising and propaganda…day in day out. Under UMNO…never dream of democracy.
Is that what you want?….to succeed based on who you know and not what you know?
If so…why persue for degrees in universities?
Close all up…and all can compete who is best in getting UMNO to like them….as one of their puppets.
monsterball,
Nik Aziz may be too old but he is wise and level headed. We have seen how he managed Kelantan. Kelantan may not be the richest state but the people are happy under his leadership. That said it does not really matter he is offered the PM post, what is more important is that his wisdom and experience is tapped before he is gone forever.
Not many Malaysians dare to dream of a Malaysia that will really transcend narrow values communalism. But a leader with charisma to fire up their imagination WILL inspire us to dare to make that dream come true. The current administration has been very effective in stealing the thunder (emulating their call for a colour blind society) from the PR coalition and to date PR has yet to find an effective response. And that response, I believe, lies first and foremost in a leadership with charisma and second in a sincere leader who truly will take us down the road towards becoming a caring nation of people with high moral values.
Back on the theme on why it is so difficult for a truly wise sincere and capable leader of sincerity and charisma to emerge to take the centre stage to galvanise the whole country to ascend to next higner stage of organisation of political, social and economic affairs – it is very much due to difficulties and complexities of a racially, religious and culturally diverse society like ours that makes acceptance by all near impossible.
Nik Aziz mentioned by lkt-56 is good example. He is “level headed” and wise, shuns ostentatious acqusition and display of wealth, respected for sincerity of his principles, and had this been a all Muslim country, he might be acceptable to all but not so because the country is not all Muslims!
His ‘sincere’ views that recent spate of violent crimes directed at women (including young girls and children) was caused by images of women with exposed body parts whether in women’s dressing or portrayed in films and media have caused titillation and male sexual anxiety, thereby arousing lust – his reported so called “whispering” to his officers who conducted interviews to recruit the less beautiful because pretty women need not work as they could get rich husbands but those not endowed with good looks must look after themselves – all these could not even command acceptance from certain sectors of the Muslim community especially the modern and educated women…
Even Najib with all his economic advisers in the National Advisory Economic Council including Andrew Sheng & Prof Dr Danny Quah, head of ecomomics department, London School of Economics) is perceived better equipped to comprehend and manage the complexities of a modern economy than Nik Aziz.
Idealism does not exist in this world. It only exists in our mind. All of us has an idea of how an ideal wife/husband should be. But to find that ideal spouse is next to impossible.
But when we found them, we will surely treasure it and rejoice over it. And when we looked back over the years, we would say, we had a good life although not rich as some, but it was wholesome.
But the same cannot be said of umno. It is a bad spouse maybe not in the beginning but as time goes by he behaves like the world is owing him a living. He steals, he lies, he murders, he tortures the family members just to exert his authority by instilling fear, forced control and subserviency.
His love for the family members was transformed into the love for money. Money has replaced his god. Money has replaced his soul. And the worse, with his lust, he rapes his spouse.
You see, there is no love in this family. Yes, he has money, but no soul. It is artificial to the core. There is no pursuing of idealism and dreams anymore.
But there is always hope….
Having said the above it becomes debateable whether Nik Aziz’s calling for an extraordinary general meeting for PAS to weed out the likes of PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, Selangor PAS Commissioner Datuk Dr Hasan Ali or may be even Nasharuddin Mat Isa and senior leader Datuk Mustafa Ali is an example of Political Idealism or Political Realism.
It is both idealism and realism as it is move to bring PAS closer to platform of PR – and to block moves of rapprochement of the others with UMNO via unity talks – based on the assumption that unless all 3 component parties are united and sincere in common purpose, winning Federal power from BN won’t be easy as Bagan Pinang by election showed.
The other side that he wants to rid off probably also focuses on Political Realism
upon premises that PAS’s route to power to attain ultimate goals (whether the party’s agenda of theocratic state or, since they’re getting old and can’t wait, personal positions/power) is better and faster achieved via cooperation with UMNO. Implicit is the assumption that for long time to come UMNO’s agenda of ethnocracy based on Malay dominance/rights/Ketuanan coupled with Najib’s leadership and vast resources – will still hold sway and prevail amongst majority voters than the inclusivist policies of the other PR’s partners.
When such an EGM really takes place it is nothing short of cataclysmic.
First if Nik Aziz’s will prevails, then the other side removed will straightway move over to UMNO/BN to strengthen, for now, the latter.
However if Nik Aziz miscalculates – and suffers the fate of Ong Tee Kiat being played out at the 11th hour by so called fair weather supporters – what would happen : an EGM by counter party to remove Nik Aziz and supporters? Maybe not even necessary – Nik Aziz unlike OTK may straightway resign!
In a intra-party conflict of epic proportion promising to tear it asunder Tee Kiat at least could resort to UMNO chief as arbiter to resolve and impose discipline and by extension a peace, albeit an uneasy temporary truce, between the warring factions by virtue of the UMNO’s chief leverage on all patronage positions…
However in an intra-party PAS fight with no overwhelming clear winner, PR’s leader Anwar Ibrahim is not in parallel position in terms of power to impose discipline/truce like Nik Aziz! He also has got his own sodomy case to handle at the same time!
That is why Nik Aziz’s move has to be evaluated – is it both political idealism or political realism or neither?
The opposing faction in PAS led by Hadi will also ask – even if Nik Aziz’s move were successful, to bring PAS closer on all fours with the rest of PR’s component parties’s agenda, how far this can go? The institutional structures of PAS is Islamic: for example, power and decision making lies with Majlis Syura Ulama or the Religious Scholars Consultative Council. Will these members see eye to eye with DAP’s pluralistic secular world view and both PKR/DAP’s so called inclusivist approaches away from ethnocracy and theocracy???? Nik Aziz may have a strong influence on members of this institution due to respect or personal loyalty but how long as Nik Aziz is already advance in age?
As it is often said, we live in interesting times.
Undertaker 888, interesting your analogy of UMNO being a bad spouse, I can see from it you’re experienced man, gone through life and learnt its lessons!
Talking about hopes and spouse, here there are also many who will tolerate (as much as they could take) an abusive and cheating spouse because of the money status and position that the latter confers. One is unhappy but at leat languishes amid luxurious environment and if the money can’t buy happiness it can at least buy substitutes – like luxuries whether ornaments, properties, cars and travel. Sometimes its not even self gratification. It may be for some “honourable purpose” as an abused wife needs the money from the abusive patron to finance education of her siblings and to repay gratitude to her parents to give them a better life in the best tradition of Confucian filial piety!
There are of course choices but are they exercisable? Leaving abusive spouse is not that easy if you have committed wrongs with that spouse who is in the position to destroy you if not happy with your severance. Also outside is a harsh world to fend for oneself without patronage and protection from the abusive spouse.
“But there is always hope….” Yeah maybe hope that the abusive spouse, by the grace of Almighty, dies.
By Jeffrey:
why it is so difficult for a truly wise sincere and capable leader of sincerity and charisma to emerge… it is very much due to difficulties and complexities of a racially, religious and culturally diverse society like ours…
Jeffrey:
Wisdom transcends cultures, creeds, and time (all enduring).
A wise leader is also human therefore is fallible like all of us. His views on women based on his Islamic beliefs may not be in line with our times but personally I can accept and accommodate views that are different from mine for the sake of the greater good of society. To expect perfection is: please allow me to use the uncomfortable word, “unrealistic”.
-Nik Aziz rejects communalism based on his Islamic beliefs.
-He wholeheartedly embraces PR for he recognises the evil that the current administration has descended to.
-In spite of his strict adherence to Islamic morality he is prepared to restrict it to muslim majority controlled areas only. This is the mark of a wise leader: able to transcend his creed for the sake of the greater good of Malaysia
-He sees PAS as totally different from UMNO which is secular and embraces “Ketuanan Melayu” and of late made a decision to once for all remove such leaders who are straying from PAS’ path of taking the path of heart with his Pakatan brothers.
If we are blind to such a man of principle and do not support him how are we to be able to rid ourselves from the current system of communalism, elitism, arrogance, corruption, etc.?
We talk of our PM being more qualified to handle complex economic matters. But what better qualification can a leader have than the possession of wisdom? Limitation of technical know how can be overcome by use of advisers. What matters is that ultimate decisions taken are based on wisdom.
Taking into consideration existing realities there is political pragmatism in lkt-56’s statement that PR will need a pragmatic Nik Aziz leadership of PAS to work with the other 2 parties towards wrestling Federal Power from BN in a general election. That’s much is conceded.
However the fact that Nik Aziz has the so called “wisdom” to stand as icon against “communalism, elitism, arrogance, corruption” does not mean he has the “wisdom” to lead a country of diverse race, religions and cultures like Malaysia.
lkt-56, take for example your statement – “In spite of his strict adherence to Islamic morality he is prepared to restrict it to muslim majority controlled areas only. This is the mark of a wise leader: able to transcend his creed for the sake of the greater good of Malaysia”.
I respecfully disagree.
If Nik Aziz transcends “his creed for the sake of the greater good of Malaysia” (as you said) would he still restrict Islamic morality to muslim majority controlled areas? Where’s the freedom of choice even for other Muslims who may not agree to private morality be actively enforced by morality police?
In what way would Nik Aziz’s stance be different (in principle) from that of Selangor PAS Commissioner Datuk Dr Hasan Ali who said it was OK to ban sale of alcohol from outlets like 7-11 in muslim majority controlled areas like Shah Alam?
Even if the qualification “muslim majority controlled areas” shows a kind of compromise in deference to the existing demographic reality of many non muslim minorities staying in these areas, how does such a policy reflect transcendence of “his creed for the sake of the greater good of Malaysia” a pluralistic country without adherence to the principle of ‘live and let live’ and freedom of personal choice????
Sorry – “existing demographic reality of many non muslim minorities staying in these areas” should read existing demographic reality of many non muslim minorities staying in the country…”
Jeff, I am using analogy because many people reading this blog have a family and would be easier to comprehend and link it to their daily encounters. It is more realistic as oppose to idealistic doctrines.
Agreed, so abused spouse like MCA, why it does not want to leave the BN marriage.
//Limitation of technical know how can be overcome by use of advisers.//
No lah. To navigate a modern nation amid economic challenges (global and domestic) one, as a leader/PM must have basic to understand and evaluate competing options and advices given by experts and advisers (and not go to sleep half way and using a dart to choose which one of it is right). If not the Minister or 2nd Minister of Finance and bureaucrats in that Ministry or Bank Negara will soon run over his head and implement policies favourable to their own interest.
Jeffrey says:
…does not mean he has the “wisdom” to lead a country of diverse race, religions and cultures like Malaysia….
Jeffrey, WISDOM transcend culture…
Jeffrey says:
Where’s the freedom of choice even for other Muslims who may not agree to private morality be actively enforced by morality police?
Life is about making choices. Here we have areas subject to Islamic Laws and areas not in its jurisdiction.
Jeffrey says:
Even if the qualification “muslim majority controlled areas” shows a kind of compromise in deference to the existing demographic reality of many non muslim minorities staying in the the country, how does such a policy reflect transcendence of “his creed for the sake of the greater good of Malaysia” a pluralistic country without adherence to the principle of ‘live and let live’ and freedom of personal choice????
By agreeing to implement Islamic laws in muslim majority areas. Life is about making choices. There you have it, you can stay in metropolitan KL or in Kelantan.
What is more important to us? Weeding out elitism, communalism, corruption, arrogance, abuse of power, etc. etc. or harping on trivial issues like sale of alcohol, banning of sexy performers etc.
We must have the wisdom not to lose sight of the big picture. When we have a society weaned of communal fears and biases, high standard of morality everything will fall into place.
jeff, like a concubine or mistress, what are they in it for? Money and inheritance. The rakyat is his true spouse. MCA, MIC are his concubines. He will get rid or change them at will. But the rakyat, we are here to stay. We will not tolerate this abusive spouse anymore.
Jeffrey says:
No lah. To navigate a modern nation amid economic challenges (global and domestic) one, as a leader/PM must have basic to understand and evaluate competing options and advices given by experts and advisers (and not go to sleep half way and using a dart to choose which one of it is right). If not the Minister or 2nd Minister of Finance and bureaucrats in that Ministry or Bank Negara will soon run over his head and implement policies favourable to their own interest.
Looks like we need to have a PM who is an economist, finance guru, a doctor, trained army strategist, etc. etc. in order that he may not be hoodwinked.
Jeffrey says:
In what way would Nik Aziz’s stance be different (in principle) from that of Selangor PAS Commissioner Datuk Dr Hasan Ali who said it was OK to ban sale of alcohol from outlets like 7-11 in muslim majority controlled areas like Shah Alam?
Hasan Ali = PAS faction favouring unification with UMNO
Nik Aziz = Favouring walking the path of heart with PR
Regarding the Difference – “Hasan Ali = PAS faction favouring unification with UMNO
whereas Nik Aziz = Favouring walking the path of heart with PR – this difference bears relevance to hopes/chances in fighting “communalism, elitism, arrogance, corruption” of BN but bears no relevance to issue of whether “creed is transcedented for the sake of the greater good of Malaysia” in context of imposing greater Islamic way of life in Muslim Majority areas.
On the other point that a PM being expected to address and grasp a whole range of subjects, of course the PM does not need to study economics like Najib or be a finance guru, a doctor, trained army strategist, etc all in one person (but he must understand and have capability to grasp such issues).
Take the case of the tiny dot South of our Border Lee Kuan Yew himself said that to lead a modern nation the leader must grasp economics / finance but that does not mean he must study economics (as we all know Lee Kuan Yew was trained a barrister and Hsien Loong in mathematics and ballistics).
But that does not mean they (Singaporeans)will agree that a Buddhist Monk/Priest or a Islamic Cleric and Spiritual Adviser to be a PM to helm a modern state having to tackle complex economic issues????
In our case, the last time we had a Malay Studies Graduate which many of you also doubted competence to take the right economic advice and decision in policies – like for example partial/not gradual withdrawal of subsidies causing fuel hike and cost-push inflation all round that never really adjusted to earlier levels even after Oil prices eventually came down.
Seriously talking about “wisdom” is there wisdom in Nik’s ’sincere’ views that women (exposing body parts in dressing) will cause titillation and male sexual anxiety, thereby arousing lust more likely to make a man a rapist?
Or the view that recruitment whould be tilted in favour of the less beautiful because pretty women need not work as they could get rich husbands?
Is there wisdom in that and by whose standards?
There are also many women of good looks who have not married and could not find right partner and less good looking ones married…
Besides its irrelevant because a woman good looking or otherwise is entitled to personal autonomy and if receiving higher education should be given opportunity of career advancement and self actualisation. That’s conventional wisdom of many people in secular modern states but its not Nik Aziz’s brand of wisdom.
So when one says he has wisdom to trimph over all difficulties it is not easy to accept. It also depends on whose benchmark of wisdom. I am sure Nik Aziz’s wisdom is by no means the kind of universal wisdom that many of different religion faith and values system and different world views can just accept as “wisdom” of a leader for all.
This”tearing or even burning” culture is always too much inherited procedure to that uncivilised group or family! Should this be another 1Malaysia example ? Hardly be acceptable by our future generation for those consider “trained” policemen. They should be judged for their good example!