Natalie Shobana Ambrose (26 February 2009 – theSun)
There was a period in my childhood when I remember the long coffee table in the living room was home to thousands of tiny jigsaw puzzle pieces. Each time anyone of us walked pass, we'd be tempted to stop and find a fit. I very clearly remember one of my first jigsaw puzzles. It was purple, with panda bears going berserk and it was called 'pandamonium'. For a kid who couldn't pronounce the letter 'w' for the longest time, any word with more that 5 alphabets was just beyond my understanding at that age. But here I am today, after assessing all that's happened during the week, thinking what a state of pandemonium we are in. The country seems to be in a state of crazy… nuts…going bananas.
If the first thing you pick up to read in the morning is a newspaper, it would be tough to stay positive the rest of the day. It has been a seriously depressing week - from the 3 murdered UNCHR refugees, nude photos, sex tapes, more on the Perak situation, Manoharan, RPK and ISA appeals, the Malaysian girl pimped by her father in Sulawesi, the serial rapist cab driver, inhuman killing of stray dogs, KL City hall demolishing stalls without notice, no justice for Bukit Antarabangsa residents, maid jailed 5 years for killing baby, MBs suing each other over cows, cars, the long awaited admission that Malaysia will not make the 3% growth target, police brutality….. should I go on?
A rather scary - and/or sorry - state of affairs, isnt it? Quite the pandemonium even ..... But, then, who's accountable for it all?
It seems no one is.
The very people who did their best to rally the support of the people by holding press conferences and 'ceramahs' and promising to take care of the people's needs don't seem to be accountable for much. Maybe I'm being harsh....?
Somehow, I tend to judge those in power more severely. I expect high standards, I expect them to do the right thing, I expect them to know the Constitution and to interpret it accurately. I expect that they would put people first and be responsible. I expect that they will take pride in their role and lead justly. I expect them to be ethical, wise and respectful. Maybe I expect them to be a little superhuman. Like the Kung Fu Panda.
It's natural to judge those in power more harshly that we do our selves. We place a huge amount of hope that, as leaders, they will carry our burdens and solve our problems. That through their leading we will have a better place to live. A heavy load, but we've given them something precious - our hopes and our trust. And rightfully so. But when trust is lost and promises are repeatedly broken, is it any wonder why we are in such a state of pandemonium?
Every institution that is set up to fight corruption, advocate integrity, fight for justice and uphold peace seems to be swayed. Everyone seems to want their 5 seconds of fame, and some hog it even for 30 years. I notice we are quick to unearth 'hangat' news, but we are so slow in getting answers… so slow that often-times, things slip into silence till forgotten.
Maybe it's my fault that I want accountability and place leaders on a pedestal. Maybe I've had unrealistic expectations of our leaders. But shouldn't I have high expectations of those who, voluntarily, took an oath to serve?
In a recap of his Last Lecture, Randy Pausch was asked what he'd like his infant daughter to know about dating - and he said, "Believe nothing a man tells you and everything he shows you". Perhaps that's what we should do - believe nothing of the great speeches delivered and the promises given to us. Rather, observe the actions and decisions of our leaders to know where their loyalties lie.
I wonder what today's news will look like - are we going to remain in a state of pandemonium? Or, is the chaos coming to an end. If you haven't already lost your breakfast or gone insane from the first 8 pages in today's newspapers, maybe there's still hope. I supposed I should not wonder why people go crazy, I should wonder why we don't!
Natalie believes that we are accountable for what we do and what we fail to do.
There was a period in my childhood when I remember the long coffee table in the living room was home to thousands of tiny jigsaw puzzle pieces. Each time anyone of us walked pass, we'd be tempted to stop and find a fit. I very clearly remember one of my first jigsaw puzzles. It was purple, with panda bears going berserk and it was called 'pandamonium'. For a kid who couldn't pronounce the letter 'w' for the longest time, any word with more that 5 alphabets was just beyond my understanding at that age. But here I am today, after assessing all that's happened during the week, thinking what a state of pandemonium we are in. The country seems to be in a state of crazy… nuts…going bananas.
If the first thing you pick up to read in the morning is a newspaper, it would be tough to stay positive the rest of the day. It has been a seriously depressing week - from the 3 murdered UNCHR refugees, nude photos, sex tapes, more on the Perak situation, Manoharan, RPK and ISA appeals, the Malaysian girl pimped by her father in Sulawesi, the serial rapist cab driver, inhuman killing of stray dogs, KL City hall demolishing stalls without notice, no justice for Bukit Antarabangsa residents, maid jailed 5 years for killing baby, MBs suing each other over cows, cars, the long awaited admission that Malaysia will not make the 3% growth target, police brutality….. should I go on?
A rather scary - and/or sorry - state of affairs, isnt it? Quite the pandemonium even ..... But, then, who's accountable for it all?
It seems no one is.
The very people who did their best to rally the support of the people by holding press conferences and 'ceramahs' and promising to take care of the people's needs don't seem to be accountable for much. Maybe I'm being harsh....?
Somehow, I tend to judge those in power more severely. I expect high standards, I expect them to do the right thing, I expect them to know the Constitution and to interpret it accurately. I expect that they would put people first and be responsible. I expect that they will take pride in their role and lead justly. I expect them to be ethical, wise and respectful. Maybe I expect them to be a little superhuman. Like the Kung Fu Panda.
It's natural to judge those in power more harshly that we do our selves. We place a huge amount of hope that, as leaders, they will carry our burdens and solve our problems. That through their leading we will have a better place to live. A heavy load, but we've given them something precious - our hopes and our trust. And rightfully so. But when trust is lost and promises are repeatedly broken, is it any wonder why we are in such a state of pandemonium?
Every institution that is set up to fight corruption, advocate integrity, fight for justice and uphold peace seems to be swayed. Everyone seems to want their 5 seconds of fame, and some hog it even for 30 years. I notice we are quick to unearth 'hangat' news, but we are so slow in getting answers… so slow that often-times, things slip into silence till forgotten.
Maybe it's my fault that I want accountability and place leaders on a pedestal. Maybe I've had unrealistic expectations of our leaders. But shouldn't I have high expectations of those who, voluntarily, took an oath to serve?
In a recap of his Last Lecture, Randy Pausch was asked what he'd like his infant daughter to know about dating - and he said, "Believe nothing a man tells you and everything he shows you". Perhaps that's what we should do - believe nothing of the great speeches delivered and the promises given to us. Rather, observe the actions and decisions of our leaders to know where their loyalties lie.
I wonder what today's news will look like - are we going to remain in a state of pandemonium? Or, is the chaos coming to an end. If you haven't already lost your breakfast or gone insane from the first 8 pages in today's newspapers, maybe there's still hope. I supposed I should not wonder why people go crazy, I should wonder why we don't!
Natalie believes that we are accountable for what we do and what we fail to do.
Comment: letters@thesundaily.com
