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OK, now I'm certain my article got edited ==. Here's the orginal. See for yourself. And yes, I am perasan, Nicholas X)

Truly Malaysian

It’s that time of the year again…

You see our very own Jalur Gemilang being hung outside households. You see it fluttering with the course of the wind as the car it’s attached to zooms past. And of course, you see energetic young Malaysians wave the flag excitedly as they usher in our independence. Yes, the sounds, the smells, the sights, the people, all part of the Merdeka Mood.

But wait!

We don’t seem to be getting much of that now this year, do we? Even as Merdeka Day draws near, the atmosphere has yet to catch up with it. By now, we should all be discussing on our trip to Dataran Merdeka, or getting the Jalur Gemilang out as we prepare to fly it once again. The media should be busy reminding everyone of this day with their commercials and shopping outlets would use it as means of promotion for their goods. You could say that, this year, things have been quiet compared to past years. It could be because of the H1N1 epidemic or the weariness Ramadhan has brought to us. Still, that does not mean we do not have the patriotism in us.

Why again do we celebrate Merdeka? It is not just to relish in the extra day off we get, nor to admire the workmanship of floats as they parade past. It is just simply, to celebrate our independence. Remember how past leaders fought to release this land from foreign hands? Remember how the pioneers of freedom took rein of our country from the British? Remember when our people came together not as Malays, Chinese and Indians but as a whole, as Malaysians, to take back what was rightfully ours? Merdeka Day serves as a reminder. It tells us how through, unity, determination and passion, we can achieve anything.

Thus, it does not take much to celebrate Merdeka. You only need you yourself and one more essential thing: your spirit. You don’t need flowery floats, extravagant events or huge posters to show your love for the country. On the contrary, those things do not prove your loyalty to Malaysia. It’s the effort and commitment you put in for your country. Of course, you don’t have to go the length of going into war for it. Just being willing to work for it and to sacrifice for it is enough show your support for it. Even if you’re away in another country, you could still celebrate Merdeka. If your intentions for your country are still there, you are and always will be a true Malaysian.

It does not take only one day for us to celebrate our independence. August 31 may be significant because it was the actual day we had our first grasp of independence, but shouldn’t we be celebrating everyday? Be grateful that we live in an even though imperfect, but free country. Be happy that we wake up to the sounds of cars honking and not bombs exploding. Be proud to see “Made in Malaysia” labeled on the products we purchase. All these are simple things, little actions. Yet, it shows something deeper. It reflects our gratitude towards our ancestors, how their sacrifice brought us our today. You don’t need to chant “Merdeka” to celebrate our independence, you just need to be grateful for it.

Even if celebrations are not as grand as before, it does not mean our love for the country has dwindled. Merdeka day after all is one to celebrate our independence and the course of events that follow after. And if one is grateful for the Malaysian slang we hear everyday, the many varieties of food we savour each day and the colourful people we get to be with, then one is celebrating Independence. Furthermore, then one is truly, proudly a Malaysian.

Happy Independence Day.