I have a dream Pt 2

This is the second part of my article on how Martin Luther King Jr’s speech titled ‘I have a dream’ can be juxtaposed to Malaysia’s present political scene. King speaks about Afro-Americans and their place in America.

Is it Malaysia’s kairos to define a new paradigm and mindset? We had 1000 persons at Hindraf’s birth in Putrajaya, 2000 lawyers later marching for justice, all this building to the swelling multitudes at Bersih and Hindraf demonstrations on the street. Plus the Article 11 Coalition’s initiatives. The 12th General Elections was a culmination of these marches.

The four times I visited parliament for the new session I can sense the air of excitement. Tunku Abdul Rahman would have been proud of these developments.

As a sixth-former at the RMC I first sat in the public gallery, 40 years ago. An 18 year old transfixed by the lawmaking process.

Let me continue with King’s speech and re-render it for Malaysians to reflect. It might help us wade through our own present issues and challenges.

\’Whirlwinds of revolt\’

(King’s speech in italics, my localisation in non-italics)

It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the Negro\’s legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. Those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.

But there is something that I must say to my people who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice. In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.

It would be fatal for our nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the poor and ordinary Malaysian’s legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. It is a battle begun and will be fought till the end. March 8th 2008 is not an end, but a beginning. Those who hope that the poor Malaysians’ simply needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. There will be neither rest nor tranquility in Malaysia until every poor Malaysian is granted his or her full and legitimate rights. That is human dignity expressed at its best. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.

But there is something that I must say to all the reform-minded Malaysians who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice. In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We fought for change but the process of change must follow the rule of law.

We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force. The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realise that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. They have come to realise that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone.

We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force. This marvelous new courage that has engulfed the ordinary and poor Malaysians must not lead us to distrust all people of different ethnic colours, for many of ‘them are actually part of us’ today. They too have come to realise their destiny is tied up with our destiny and dignity. They have come to realise that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone.

May God Bless Malaysia.