A New "Religion" of the New Leadership.

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"Religion is more than life.
Remember that his own religion is the truest to every man
even if it stands low in the scales of philosophical comparison."
~Gandhi

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This time I start with a quote on religion - actually, I've just been going through some "Gandhiisms".
The above quote, I believe has much room to be misunderstood- I believe that Gandhi didn't actually refer to "religion" as in "God's Word". He was probably just referring to the belief systems which people adhere to out of ignorance or tyranny, for the sake of "fitting in" to the rigid societies, controlled by politicians and despots. But of course - "God" has become the convenient tool in the grand scheme of things.

Today, in Malaysia, we have a new "belief system" epitomized by one organization - which I'd rather leave unmentioned. It lives on the legacy of the bygone era of pre-Mahathirism, with which it has little in common. And today, it thrives through it's thuggery and threats of violence, against the very minorities that make it an apparently viable political force in the country.

The organization is some sort of a patriarchal society where women are their "second class" members, and have less of a say in most matters. The "matriarch" has to go through an "election process" within it's own membership, and the patriarch is chosen almost in an "apostolic succession" of sorts, which perpetuates the feudal system within. It has almost become a "religion" in itself, wherein the underlings are forbidden to query the "elders" - much like some religions we know of today.

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It is better to be violent, if there is violence in our hearts,
than to put on the cloak of nonviolence to cover impotence.

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As a result of this system of "feudal succession" determines by the nobles, the ideals which it stood for in the "old days", are but grandmother stories which are mouthed at every election. What is left of it, is a shell of an organization, which is kept alive by the racist attitude which in turn seeks to propagate fascistic ideas of "supremacy".

The organization is today under siege - the ideas it holds on to are bankrupt, and its ideals irrelevant. It is today a ship sailing without its compass in the high seas. This has led to the development of a siege mindset, in which everything is perceived as a threat to its very existence. It has today sought refuge in primitive ideas that promote thuggery, repression, hatred and bigotry.

However, that fascism and apartheid are the hallmarks of this group today, is lost on them - which prompted a party "stalwart warlord" to "blast" a political adversary lately of trying to stir up "racial tensions" (which happens to be their mantra for anything and everything).

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In matters of conscience, the law of the majority has no place.

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The only way they address ideological challenges posed to them is through the harrassments subjected to those who pose them. The instruments of state are used to justify their actions that border on humiliating their perceived adversaries, rather than treating them as partners in nation building. These instruments of state are used to protect pirates who plunder the nation, from the people - instead of vice versa.

The idea of democracy and rule of law which brought them their popularity in the hey days, is today an alien concept unfathomable to the current generation. The law, devoid of justice, is manipulated in such a way as to subjugate the minorities. The minorities are to live by the dictates of the majority, even if these dictates violate the very precepts upon which the oppressors are granted legitimacy.
The law to the oppressor, is what is convenient, what they see fit and what would protect them from the masses who "voted" them in. Righteousness, morality, conscience and justice have no place in this "new order" dictated by the pirates.
Today, there is only one law in Malaysia - the law of the jungle - where might is right. Reading RPK's "Sham Trials and Kangaroo Courts" will tell you the truth in this. So much so, RPK said, "This whole thing stinks to the high heavens. I smell a fix every step of the way. I am not on trial. I am being crucified. Is there any purpose in continuing with this farce?".

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It has always been a mystery to me
how men can feel themselves honoured
by the humiliation of their fellow beings.

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The Constitution - the document upon with the destiny of the nation lies, is interpreted literally and out of context, and no longer the spirit in which it was formulated. Amendment upon amendment is introduced so as to render it a rag meant to be trampled upon - as an instrument to perpetuate a feudal and fascist state.
To serve the nation today means - to serve the pirate masters. Anything or anybody who seeks to protect the masses who "voted" them in to power, is deemed "a threat to national security". Justice today, means having the accused proving his innocence, rather than the prosecution proving the guilt of the accused.

There is an increasing level of intolerance toward peaceful expression of dissent - the hallmark of any democracy. Defenseless citizens are persecuted through numerous actions taken through the "law". Writers and civil activists are subjected to stressful sham trials, the outcome of which are predetermined. Peaceful vigils on private land are broken up using "security services". Those wishing to lodge police reports peacefully are harassed and brutalized. Bloggers have their computers seized, and are subjected to "investigations" for the sake of "national security". Peaceful citizens are "criminalized" even before they know it - in the name of "national security" and "peace".

Strangely though, when dissent is shown as a means of supporting these oppressors, it appears to be acceptable to the law. If the transgression is truly severe, these perpetrators are allowed to get away with the proverbial slap on the wrist. What this indicates is nothing more than the corruption that has been institutionalized over the years.
Unless you are "connected", any dissent which is deemed "hard hitting" and against the powers that be, may be considered a "threat". Injustice based on racist or fascistic ideas espoused by this organization cannot be criticized, as it apparently would create "racial tensions" - which are more often than not, "staged".

This then, is the "New Religion" of our "New Leadership".

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Intolerance betrays want of faith in one's cause.
It is itself a form of violence
and an obstacle to the growth of a true democratic spirit.
~Mohandas Gandhi
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