listen to us

Ever since people started blog, we have been using it as a tool to express our thoughts; whether it is to rant about something we disapprove of, or to rave about something we love. Then we started to blog about everyday issues whether to let others see things from our perspective or to confer with others who have the same opinions. Take the most recent hoo-ha for example; the near-cancellation of punk-rocker, Avril Lavigne’s concert. I by no means is Avril’s number one fan. But I was incredulous and angered (an understatement) that our leaders had opted to cancel the concert just because it was apparently too close to our National Day and it might distract us and affect our mood for the celebrations this year. So like any youths, I had to feed the virtual mainstream by venting my frustrations about our Government’s decision. The good news is that the show will go on and everybody is happy.

So when the dust of ‘war’ settled, us bloggers would like to think that we had played a part in ‘persuading’ the Government into changing their minds. It shows that if each of us youths can share a common interest and goal, we can exert our power to blog about what we want and what we believed in. People and most importantly the youths have realized that our voices hold the power in our democratic country. Another issue which stirred the online community to work together was the fuel price hike. Friends in Facebook invite each other to join a group to show our displeasure in the extreme price hike. It is like a petition in other words which sparks awareness in others, not only within the country but outside as well. By having so many people joined the group, we proved that so many of us are disappointed with this decision. And yet again, the Government ‘responded’. Our Prime Minister, Dato’ Seri Ahmad Badawi recently announced the reduction of fuel price; not by a large margin for a celebration but we are substantially please with that outcome. Most importantly, it shows the Government are listening to us, mainly the youths. With empathetic ears, they will always try their best to accommodate to our whims and ideas. And with that, I too am satisfied.

So as members of the younger generation, we have to comprehend with the idea that the Government has entrusted us with this amount of power. We can use it in the nation-building of our community in every aspect including politics-wise. I have a lot of friends who are politics savvy. Back in school, apart from talking about football or girls, we used to fill each other up with the latest news happening in and around our country. Some may say ignorance is bliss but we were incessantly reading up about the state of country. We would then sit in groups discussing our leaders’ policies and then voicing out our own opinions. Even though many of us stand indifferent about our country’s politics, we agreed that our needs should be met and we weren’t even afraid to discuss about them with our teachers; though they were noticeably careful in choosing their words. However, there were some who either threw caution into the wind or accidentally let their thoughts slipped of their tongue.

Also by logging on to the internet, we are more inclined to know about what other countries think about us. Some news aren’t braved to be written in our newspaper columns. It can be so shocking and controversial by hearing the statements made by others. It is like listening to a gossip about ourselves from a third party. Sometimes the words are so explicit and embarrassing that one has to be faceless to ignore it. But us youths understand where they are coming at. And through that we are more open-minded. We are more receptive to others’ opinions. But no shorter than to just sit back and not challenge their ideas. However, there were some good from that. We can take their opinions as constructive criticism and then make it into direct suggestions to our incumbents. Besides that, we are also more aware about issues involving other nations like wars and internal conflicts there. We will feel instigated to play a role as a citizen of the world to advocate against those acts of crime. At the same time, we will develop a much more patriotic love for our country.

So far, I am really please with the changes of the mindset of the people in Malaysia. There is a growing sense of realisation that if we believe in a change, we can play an active role in showing our discontentment. Although, we may never be as liberal as some other nations, this are small steps towards the idea that conflicting ideas can be resolved by understanding discussions from all parties including us youths. Therefore, I would like to reiterate that having access to the Internet is like having a huge megaphone in our hands to shout out our thoughts. And if all of us can use this ‘megaphone’ and share our ideas collectively, coherently and harmoniously as a unit, then without a doubt, it will give our leaders more than one reason to perk their ears and listen attentively.

Happy 51st Merdeka (31st Aug 2008), Folks!