2011年7月9日星期六

黄花遍地开

长女说:"让我与翠珊代你去吧."
她说得有点花木兰代父从军的味儿,翠珊 也劝我别去冒这个险.她们知道我蠢蠢欲动 ,但是外子带着黃衣带着遗憾去了寮国,她们不是害怕什么,而是不相信我们的执法者.她们要我乖乖留在家里,不过早上我还是穿着黃衣去公园运动.
我知道我无法随着除污大队展现力量,可是我穿上黃衣,这是我唯一能做到的.心中的愤怒,在黃衣下掩盖不住,坐在电脑前收听榴莲台的现场直播,热血几番沸腾,从远处传来那一声声砰砰响,太令人震撼了!
Douglas传来第一通短讯:"开始了!....."让我有开战的感觉,这是一场改革的黃花之役,不管日后前方有多少障碍与关卡,起码这是第一步,这是一个好的开始.
其实在Adelaide的翠珊刚遭遇车祸,前几天还依赖拐杖走动,不知今天她是否仍一拐一拐地去举布条请愿?她说现在适遭假期,许多大马学生都返马了,她一定要去支持这项请愿行动,跛脚也去!她让我感动,也让我汗颜.
当我国警方向请愿者大发水炮催泪弹大逮捕时,翠珊把在Adelaide和平请愿的照片电邮过来."和平"两个字是多么的珍贵啊!




我很开心,因为在悉尼的长女实实在在的上了民主的一课.这是花钱也上不到的一堂课.我让她把她的所见所闻记录下来,原谅她用的是英文,她说有些话实在无法完美翻译.
请阅:



I went primarily to snap some photos for my parents, whom I knew would want to see what was happening, and of course, I was curious; but as a Malaysian, I felt compelled to go.

People were talking to one another, initiating conversations, shaking hands and introducing themselves. Volunteers gave out flyers, song lyrics, banners, place cards... There were businessmen, families, students; people from all walks of life, but everyone shared the same ideology. Everyone was there for the same reason- to support the Bersih 2.0 Sydney rally.

I reached early, and was immediately spoken to by strangers clad in yellow. I was acquainted with Dean Johns, renowned Malaysiakini columnist. Upon introducing myself as a UNSW student, I was asked,

"Did you know that the two people who started Malaysiakini were from UNSW?"


I didn't. I never even knew there were so many Malaysian students in the university to begin with.

I was surprised to know that the main person organizing this rally in Sydney was a student from UNSW as well. Perhaps the government should think about stopping people from attending this university.


"...It is sad to be told, 'one day you will leave the country, for a better life.' That is why I am here today, studying for and working towards a better life. Spending our parents hard-earned money, cent by cent. I'm sure many of you here are here for the same reason."

Those were the words that hit me the strongest this afternoon. I could relate completely. I've been told, one too many times, to go overseas and never come back. I was told that there was no practical reason to. Now, studying a professional degree that receives no recognition back home, I could see where the rationale comes from. Many people say that we study overseas because we lack patriotism; some leer at our supposed ambition to be 'Westerners'. But is the grass really greener on the other side?

I am thankful for the opportunity to study overseas, and I try my best to be able to support myself as much as I can. I may not speak for all Malaysians studying overseas, but I certainly did not think of coming overseas to spend my evenings at wild parties. I did not once think of coming so that I could apply for permanent residency. I came with the intention to see, to experience, to learn. I came hoping to meet new people, to listen to novel ideas, to be exposed to a different environment altogether. Back home, education is fixed, actions and speech limited, and potential often disregarded. However, my home is still in Malaysia. After more than a year here, I miss home every single day. I have no intention to stay here after my tertiary education. It just doesn't feel like... Home.



The organizer gave a special thanks to all the students who were attending the rally, addressing the warning posted on the Malaysian Students Department Australia website, which turned out to be an embarassing lie. Did I feel afraid of being present? No. In fact, oddly, I felt proud.

Person after person went up to give short speeches. Every now and then someone announced the latest updates about the chaos back home. The crowd actively boo-ed at every detainment, and cheered at every attempt to proceed.

"... People are squeezing through small alleys and lanes! The roadblocks can stop the cars and buses, but they cannot stop the minds and will of the people!"

"... I have been living here for 50 years... I have been enjoying the democracy, the liberation, the freedom of speech. If Malaysia can achieve this, we can be the strongest democratic country in the world."

"... You know it's getting ridiculous. When the government is afraid of a colour, you know that they are getting desperate."

"...In fact, the government should be joining us here today. Why are they saying no to a clean and fair election?"

"...Register as a voter; if not, gathering here ten times wouldn't make a practical difference. I've registered myself as a voter, although it took six months and three complaint letters. I will fly back whenever the next chance comes. I'm working here part-time to achieve that, but I will."

At some point, some policemen approached one of the men in yellow. I was told that "They just wanted to know what 'bersih' meant".
"And they just left?" I asked. The man smiled and said, "This is Australia! That is the difference."


The student who organized this rally added, "All I had to do was to send an email. I didn't even have to apply for a permit. They just wanted to know when, where and how people people would attend. It's that simple."

How a true democratic country should be. Demonstrations and protests are part of everyday life here (there were four other demonstrations held before and after this one at the same venue just today). Policemen are on standby, in case anything unlawful happened. Otherwise, they are happy to not intrude, stand at a distance and watch. A public demonstration in Malaysia, on the other hand, is unheard of.


Since as young as I could remember, I was perplexed at how everyone talked of obvious conspiracies, evident lies and machinated plots- if everyone knew they were lies, why could the people responsible still get away with everything? It never made sense. Perhaps it's time for the people to speak out; to express their dissatisfaction, to show that we are not as compliant and tolerant of unreasonable deception as they thought.

It was an eye-opener. Despite the chilly weather, the crowd's enthusiasm did not seem to die down. This rally showed just how united our people can be, regardless of where in the world we are.





















Perhaps there is still hope for Malaysia.

31 条评论:

波波 说...

你有值得引以為榮的女兒。真好。
今天,不管是因為催淚彈或者是因為感動,我們滴下的眼淚,都值得。

非一凡 说...

好!!!!!!

黄思安 说...

我比较关心710,711,712.....

yoyo 说...

赞!!!!!

園丁 说...

我也看了澳洲有關的照片,與他們相比,我們犹如野蠻的國家...

leejiajia 说...

其实我们都是和平爱好者,只是有人滥权

薰衣草夫人 说...

波波:这算是个醒觉运动吗?我想是的,至少许多人已从睡梦中醒来,否则再这样下去,死路一条!

非一凡:黄花赞!黃花好!

居安思危:必有后续的,看肥佬的瞎话即知.

薰衣草夫人 说...

yoyo:赞所有扫污先锋队!

小园丁:羞于比较呀!

leejiajia:佩服你们的勇敢,明知道山有虎.....

说...

不能去参与,只好把黄色留在心里,这是我们唯一能做到的。
开明的国家,真使人羡慕。我们只有等吧。。。。

啤酒花™_J 说...
此评论已被作者删除。
beer 说...

Kudos to your daughter, to you to all Malaysians, to Bersih 2.0 to the attendees, to 波波, to Douglas etc!

I do feel your daughter! when abroad to further my studies, I was asked about the political issues back in Msia, (the DPM, infamous case of sodomy case) I was embarrassed and shameful...so after years, things still look the same, yet, I see improvements, I see the people now very much aware of their rights!

I have faith, there is always hope! I came back for a reason - cos this is my home, where my parents are, my family is!

BERSIH is now global, its not only in Australia, it has spread globally, where there are Malaysians....you can see BERSIH, from HK, China, London....

I am proud to be Malaysian!

p/s so sorry for not able to express in Mandarin, I am having some Chinese input problems with my laptop.

Beer.

莎莎妈咪 sab 说...

夫人。。。我的泪流了。太多的感概。真的。可以借我分享你的帖子吗?想让更多朋友知道。

玉燕 说...

I can't type Chinese today, forgive me. I've been reading
News on yahoo and worrying about people. Hopefully, no one gets injured.

Douglas 说...

夫人,已经安全平安回到家了。

衷心感谢你的关心。

谢谢。

名师安娣 说...

如果,709还不能让那群牛鬼蛇神醒觉,人民还不敢用手上的票表达不满,这个番薯国就真的中番薯了!看到那边的情况,我很感动,不管身在何处,我们都是爱国的!

鄭惠心 说...

全世界开满了黄花~

蒲公英 说...

国人在国外的爱国情操感动了我。很感慨,一场相同的请愿,两个截然不同的结果,原因是:一个是在完全民主的国度举行,而一个是在假民主的国度举行。相信我们都开了眼界,手上的“X”是要给谁大家都明白了。

棠子 说...

夫人, 我欣赏你教育小孩的方式! 其实我们教育下一代,不是要一味的让他们读好书,做个以和为贵的好人。 我们需要引导他们,让他们开阔视野,懂得独立思考。 自己分辨对与错。做一个勇敢有见识的人。 请代我向你女儿说, 她写得很好, 也感谢她的参与。

anakmalaysia 说...

When you are away from home, you realized our country really needed change.

薰衣草夫人 说...

翠:希望不必等太久....

beer:希望这次的请愿游行,能唤醒更多在沉睡中的人.我们爱这片土地,誓必让黃花灿烂缤放.

莎莎妈咪:谢谢你愿意与朋友分享这篇贴文,把泪水拭干,我们还要再凝聚力量!

玉燕:大家很守规矩,只是警方先动手而已;其实我守在电脑前也很紧张.

薰衣草夫人 说...

Douglas:平安就好.

名师安娣:仍有许多人活在醉生梦死中的,但团结就是力量,清醒的一定不可放弃.

郑惠心:希望黄花不凋.

蒲公英:一场请愿,反而让我们看到了一些人的真面目,大家心中有数的.

薰衣草夫人 说...

棠子:谢谢你的夸奖.我长女也是出国后才开始注意时事,这件事其实给予她很大的冲击,也激发她对自己国家的情怀.某个程度上,她懂得分辩是非,也是好事.

anakmalaysia:站在别人的国度,的确看得更清楚.

草草聊事 说...

昨天在电视和电脑前由早坐到晚,现在肩膀和颈部还有点酸酸的。全程有不愤、感动、泪水,也有无奈。愤怒人民被粗暴对待,为全世界都一条心的我国人民感动流泪,为我们的主流报章感到无奈(被施压)。

黄思安 说...

幸好你的孩子不需要政府奖学金。
我担心各国的“金手指”会记录参与活动的留学生。秋后算账!
做好事是对的。有人拿拐杖也去。可是要小心。21岁没?手中神圣一票记得投下!

蓝天白云 说...

不管是和平的还是不和平的...看到大家联合在一起的出席这一场黄色行动...就感觉特别良好...赞!

薰衣草夫人 说...

草草聊事:后续领袖和警方的谈话,更是令人恨得咬牙切齿!但在愤怒无奈的当儿,我们应该也清楚自己的位置了.

居安思危:你的担心是有理由的,不过踏出去时,那些学生是不害怕的;怕,就不会去了.我长女才20,不过也很快的有投票权了.

bluecloud:其实只要同一条心,谁也不在乎肤色信仰了.

匿名 说...

proud of ourself....feel proud of all 'real bersih' member....but don leave our country just because of 'some dirty'people.....stay , pls stay.....never forsake our motherland...just like we can never abandon our parents if they r 'tortured' by some sickness.to all chinesemalaysian...stay pls stay......

薰衣草夫人 说...

匿名者:明白你的苦口婆心,但有时候我们也必须了解,留在国外,并非他们不爱国,而是整个大环境迫得他们留在外国生活.只有改革,我们才有希望!

黄思安 说...

假如你是首相,你允许大型的示威活动吗?

citiding 说...

Well done to the photograher and
of course to our fellow Malaysians
overseas.

好现象!

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