have you flown your flag today?

Heard this from the radio this morning: “Why aren’t there enough Malaysians fly the national flag on their vehicles?” (or something like that).

Thought it’d be interesting for me to answer that myself - Why haven’t I displayed a flag on my car before?

There’s only one reason to that - I couldn’t be bothered. So what if it’s National Day? The only thing that I acknowledge about National Day, is that it’s a day where I don’t have to work and don’t have to contend with those Down Syndromish people at my workplace. That’s the only thing that matters to me.

If you’re thinking that this sticking flag business is all about patriotism, well, you’re damn wrong. The truth is, it’s all about parting the money off your wallet here. Like, a few bucks for a crudely made plastic flag. What a rip off. It used to cost about 20 cents a flag, and even that comes with candies inside the hollow (& transparent) tubular flag holder.

I ain’t paying my hard earned money for a grossly overpriced flag, which aren’t going to benefit me in any way. This is akin to squandering for things that I don’t need. After paying for all the taxes, bills, loans, traffic summonses and other expenditures, I don’t have much left to ’squander’ about. Definitely not for a good-for-nothing plastic flag. (Yes, I can afford an overpriced car, but not an overpriced plastic flag. Call me a miser if you want, not that I care anyway).

Like I’ve said before, I’m not a patriotic person. I was born at a post war era, at a time when it was already peaceful, where freedom was a way of life and also where my country doesn’t require me to die for ‘her’. In the world I was brought up (I don’t know about your’s), it’s all about moolah. Moolah to feed your family. Moolah to reimburse your innocence (traffic summonses, fines, lawyer fees). Moolah to feel better (medical fees, insurance, etc). Moolah to get yourself literate. Moolah to even up the inflation. Moolah to live your life. The list goes on.

As you can see, I have little room left to be patriotic. I appreciate this country, terribly much, yes… but I’m not patriotic to it. I have other priorities than being patriotic. If I were to be patriotic, I’m gonna ‘patriotize’ my ass to the one and only thing that gives me EVERYTHING I need to survive in this life. Moolah. Money. Sorry my country, I love you, but not much enough to be called a ‘patriot’. If you happen to become rotten with corrupted politicians one day and were to ever come to a juncture where living happily is practically impossible, I’m gonna have to move to a better place for the sake of my own family and myself. There won’t be any qualms.

But however, if flying flags is that important for you, well, perhaps you can change things around a bit with money. Waive someone off the taxes and improve his standard of living, I bet that person would be more than happy enough to fly a thousand flags for you. He can even be a patriot too, if you want, for a price of course.

But I’d rather fly a kite, at least it’s way more fun.

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related entry : patriot or not?