Patriotism – the last refuge of scoundrels?

TK Chua

Reading Mikha Chan’s piece “Decrying Isma’s warped version of patriotism” reminded me of a piece I wrote some years back – November 11, 2010, to be precise, as published in The Star. The title was “We are all patriotic civilians”.

I wrote that piece in response to a minister labelling non-Malays as unpatriotic because many have refused to join the armed forces.

Over the years, we have used race, religion and royalty to cause fissures among the people. Now, with their endless wickedness and craftiness, they have found a new dimension to divide the people – patriotism. Who is patriotic and who is not?

But was it not Samuel Johnson who said that “patriotism was the last refuge of a scoundrel”? Although we do not know the context in which the remark was made, I am sure Johnson was not indicting patriotism in general, only false patriotism.

So I guess only the scoundrels and crooks will hide behind fake patriotism as the last resort to protect and salvage remnants of their vested interests.

We can define and manifest patriotism in many ways. Certainly it is not just confined to hoisting flags and reading pledges. Certainly it is not just about wearing pompous official uniforms or singing patriotic songs.

Simple devotion or loyalty to the country without preconditions is patriotism to me. To put it simply, wanting to see that this country is successful, peaceful and happy is patriotism.

We must appreciate that each of us has different needs and talents and that we demonstrate our patriotism in different ways.

At the most basic level, being a hardworking citizen while paying taxes diligently and honestly is patriotism. If you are running a business, not short-changing your customers is patriotism.

If you are a professional, discharging your profession ethically and honestly to ensure the well-being of your fellow citizens is patriotism and if you are a corporate bigwig, ensuring the continued competitiveness of the Malaysian economy, creating employment and being fair and ethical to all stakeholders is also patriotism.

If you are a civil servant, being impartial and serving the public in line with the 1Malaysia concept is patriotism and, finally, if you are a patriotic politician, you owe Malaysians the general well-being of this country – a country that is prudently managed, peaceful, secure and economically vibrant and competitive.

We, therefore, can be patriotic in whatever profession we are in or whatever endeavour we embark on.

On the flip side, we can be very unpatriotic no matter how noble the professions or positions we hold.

When we are lazy, incompetent and inept, that is being unpatriotic.

When religious scholars and officials spew distortions and hatred, that is being unpatriotic and sinful.

When those entrusted with responsibility waste money by spending lavishly on unnecessary projects, that too is being unpatriotic.

When civil servants are corrupt, resulting in substandard or incomplete projects, that is also being unpatriotic. I ask again, when can citizens use the Shah Alam hospital? Why is it that there is no outrage over this? Are we unpatriotic?

And when politicians divide citizens into different categories and instigate them to go against each other, that is un-patriotism to the core!