NegaraKu: Tug of Love
Topic du jour: Compelling Love
It is hard to imagine any human endeavor that does not benefit from having sympathetic strains of music to accompany and encourage it. It's a moving force, a gathering force. Music's appeal is not only to the intellect, but to our emotions and spirit.
Music as hymns, national anthems, love songs, or political protest songs may provoke feelings of religiosity, patriotism, romance. Equally, in the case of a undesired and undesirable lover’s serenade, evoke revolt.
Youthful subcultures use music to cement their group identity. Likewise, our government now attempts to stamp the NegaraKu into a marker of patriotism and love for homeland.
But why is it, I am reminded of the hugely, hugely famous Beatles’ number Can’t Buy Me Love from the 60s rock era?
The government looks dead serious about promoting pariotism. They're being very compelling in how we express our love and loyalty for our beloved country. In fact, they’re tugging at our heartstrings, moving us to STAND UP (!) and be counted. Failing which, they’ll yank at our purse strings instead. You see, they're dead serious about instilling it.
"Even when Government representatives are not present, organisers of public and private functions are encouraged to play the Negaraku."
It is hard to imagine any human endeavor that does not benefit from having sympathetic strains of music to accompany and encourage it. It's a moving force, a gathering force. Music's appeal is not only to the intellect, but to our emotions and spirit.
Music as hymns, national anthems, love songs, or political protest songs may provoke feelings of religiosity, patriotism, romance. Equally, in the case of a undesired and undesirable lover’s serenade, evoke revolt.
Youthful subcultures use music to cement their group identity. Likewise, our government now attempts to stamp the NegaraKu into a marker of patriotism and love for homeland.
But why is it, I am reminded of the hugely, hugely famous Beatles’ number Can’t Buy Me Love from the 60s rock era?
The government looks dead serious about promoting pariotism. They're being very compelling in how we express our love and loyalty for our beloved country. In fact, they’re tugging at our heartstrings, moving us to STAND UP (!) and be counted. Failing which, they’ll yank at our purse strings instead. You see, they're dead serious about instilling it.
"Even when Government representatives are not present, organisers of public and private functions are encouraged to play the Negaraku."
Will NegaraKu be played at the PPS 2nd Anniversary Bash? If not, will it mean PPS bloggers are a bunch of samsengs?
By the way, what is the meaning and origin of the word 'samseng'? Here's one version.
I've always been proud of the tolerance we have for each other in this country. I hope that tolerance is not narrowing. I would like to think there remains a place in our public life for Malaysians who don't feel a need to stand on ceremony whenever they gather together for a good makan together. Or when they join forces bergotong-royong to search and rescue missing youngsters in Frasers Hill. Malays, Chinese, Indians, Eurasian dan lain lain. Sultan and commoner alike.
The strains of *Muhhibah will tug more seductively at Malaysian hearts, I think. It's hard to imagine how any endeavour at instilling love for nation will not benefit from more spontaneous Muhhibah-like expressions of love that come from the heart. Naturally, from bottom of warm and sincere hearts.
Some related stories/links:
Living in cukoo land
Patriotism: an alternative view
*Malaysian word meaning unity
*Malaysian word meaning unity
posted by percolator | 2:46 PM
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