Overwhelmed from the excitement of a new addition to the family, a little 3 year old pulled a blank stare when asked what the baby’s name was. A few seconds later, the little girl dramatically slapped her forehead, frowned and said “Haiyoh, I’m such an old lady, I forgot!” I wanted to burst our laughing at this tiny little young thing who was obviously having a senior moment.
Forgetting is a very common thing that sometimes is assumed comes with age. My 91 year old grandmother always tells me that she’s old and forgetting things, and I sheepishly say to her that I too forget things very often. And after this little girl’s exclamation I’m convinced forgetting is not age or race biased and definitely not discriminate of social standing or political sway.
In saying that though, I’ve noticed in certain situations and professions, forgetting is a part of the requirements, it provides a good alibi, a great excuse, a big full stop, a fine reason and sometimes even part of policy. It’s a good way to end an argument, after all how does one argue with “I can’t remember?” or “I forgot”. It’s pretty darn hard to do.
Forgetting is all the rage these days in the political scene - a sudden memory lapse or amnesia of sorts and before you know it, even the people have forgotten. Sometimes it’s not forgotten, just hidden. Perhaps you’ve noticed that there is an unwritten list of things that we are not to address, discuss, bring up, blog or write about, and most definitely print?
It seems there are so many matters that get filed under classified information that we are not to question or speak about let alone be informed about. But what is it you ask? Sorry but I’m not at liberty to say because I myself don’t really know.
It’s classified remember, though the recent news of past classified Selangor land deals supposedly benefiting lower income groups has left most people with a yucky aftertaste upon declassification. But the ones that made the deals are all mum about it. Did they forget about the deals? Or did we forget? I’m sure the people of Bukit Botak didn’t forget.
I must say, forgetting doesn’t mean that it didn’t happen. It just means that one person forgot or a cluster of like-minded people forgot. It doesn’t mean everyone forgot. We can’t all forget events, facts, situations at the same time, though sometimes I do believe in ‘out of sight out of mind’. So if you’re not allowed to print, talk or even think about it, eventually it gets forgotten.
But the human mind is a complex mass that never really forgets. All it takes is one little thing, a smell, situation, song, person or word to jog your memory.
So what have we forgotten and how do we improve our memory to ensure we don’t forget again?
Forgetting is a very common thing that sometimes is assumed comes with age. My 91 year old grandmother always tells me that she’s old and forgetting things, and I sheepishly say to her that I too forget things very often. And after this little girl’s exclamation I’m convinced forgetting is not age or race biased and definitely not discriminate of social standing or political sway.
In saying that though, I’ve noticed in certain situations and professions, forgetting is a part of the requirements, it provides a good alibi, a great excuse, a big full stop, a fine reason and sometimes even part of policy. It’s a good way to end an argument, after all how does one argue with “I can’t remember?” or “I forgot”. It’s pretty darn hard to do.
Forgetting is all the rage these days in the political scene - a sudden memory lapse or amnesia of sorts and before you know it, even the people have forgotten. Sometimes it’s not forgotten, just hidden. Perhaps you’ve noticed that there is an unwritten list of things that we are not to address, discuss, bring up, blog or write about, and most definitely print?
It seems there are so many matters that get filed under classified information that we are not to question or speak about let alone be informed about. But what is it you ask? Sorry but I’m not at liberty to say because I myself don’t really know.
It’s classified remember, though the recent news of past classified Selangor land deals supposedly benefiting lower income groups has left most people with a yucky aftertaste upon declassification. But the ones that made the deals are all mum about it. Did they forget about the deals? Or did we forget? I’m sure the people of Bukit Botak didn’t forget.
I must say, forgetting doesn’t mean that it didn’t happen. It just means that one person forgot or a cluster of like-minded people forgot. It doesn’t mean everyone forgot. We can’t all forget events, facts, situations at the same time, though sometimes I do believe in ‘out of sight out of mind’. So if you’re not allowed to print, talk or even think about it, eventually it gets forgotten.
But the human mind is a complex mass that never really forgets. All it takes is one little thing, a smell, situation, song, person or word to jog your memory.
So what have we forgotten and how do we improve our memory to ensure we don’t forget again?
Perhaps you’ve played the game of recall. I’ll call out a word and you tell me what comes to mind. Lets play that and perhaps words like September 16, jumping ship, cow head, private investigator, tree assembly, Port Klang, foreign workers, political aide, March 8th, Royal Commission, protests, AG’s report, judge-fixing, police lock- up, submarines, corruption, Kamunting, might jog your memory.
Do you remember? I hope you do because we need to remember. We need to remember what we’ve been put through, we need to remember what’s been taken away from us as a nation and we need to remember what has happened so that we don’t make the same mistakes we did by forgetting and keeping quiet.
At a time where people around the world are wearing red poppy pins, the banner “Lest We Forget” resonates here at home. Lest we forget what has happened, lest we forget why so many have sacrificed their lives, fought for justice, peace, unity for a country they love - a country you and I love and call home.
The next time we sing the words Negaraku let us not forget what we are fighting for and let us have the courage to remember.
Do you remember? I hope you do because we need to remember. We need to remember what we’ve been put through, we need to remember what’s been taken away from us as a nation and we need to remember what has happened so that we don’t make the same mistakes we did by forgetting and keeping quiet.
At a time where people around the world are wearing red poppy pins, the banner “Lest We Forget” resonates here at home. Lest we forget what has happened, lest we forget why so many have sacrificed their lives, fought for justice, peace, unity for a country they love - a country you and I love and call home.
The next time we sing the words Negaraku let us not forget what we are fighting for and let us have the courage to remember.
Natalie has just finished a box of blueberries because she read that blueberries help improve memory.
Comments: letters@thesundaily.com
