So. Garfield says that Mondays suck. He's not always right :D Hahaha it wasn't as bad as I expected, let's just say.
Anweiz. Tonight we had a National Day dinner at Cabot. Just to be together for this special occasion. It was nice. So. What are you all feeling so nationalistic about today? Is it the fact that you are currently in a foreign land that makes you appreciate your homeland? That is completely legit, actually. You live away from home and start to adapt to a different lifestyle and culture ofcourse it makes you think back the kind of life and culture we were accustomed to. So yeah that's fine. Or maybe it is the fact that it reminds you of the past that we were once a larger territory that extended to the Sulu Islands (I think this is right, not quite sure, but I'm almost certain) and is now reduced to 4 districts? The one story that I still remember, being told by one of my History teachers, was how our previous Kings fought although almost futile, to keep our country from shrinking during the time James Brooke started placing his nose where it didn't belong! I don't quite remember this quote from the king which captured the sadness of the situation of that time, which is unfortunate cos it was so aching. Something about him rather eating grass rather than his country being stripped off to branches of a tree.
Your reason(s) for nationalism or patriotism might be contemporary in nature; in the sense that what is happening around you today contributes to your nationalist feelings or so. Or maybe your nationalistic feelings are derived from a sense of national unity, a form of civil society that builds around you. But my personal reason has to be history. What I have learnt and heard about this kingdom takes me to review where it has brought us today. And maybe this sounds typical, but it still has to count! The hardship that our older generations suffered through in the pinnacle era of colonialism and their effort in preserving the land for us today. Things could have gone better in the past, yes, but you say Alhamdulillah to what has been granted to you. Also, the Japanese Occupation in WW2; I only read in books and heard through stories of those who lived that regime and I still cannot understand what they went through.
I do believe our country has a long way to go in terms of development and meh, let's not ruin this post with any pessimistic comment. So I shall just say Happy National Day to Brunei and I pray that Allah always protect our ruler and his people under His guidance. May we continue to preserve peace and prosperity. Amin.
Anweiz. Tonight we had a National Day dinner at Cabot. Just to be together for this special occasion. It was nice. So. What are you all feeling so nationalistic about today? Is it the fact that you are currently in a foreign land that makes you appreciate your homeland? That is completely legit, actually. You live away from home and start to adapt to a different lifestyle and culture ofcourse it makes you think back the kind of life and culture we were accustomed to. So yeah that's fine. Or maybe it is the fact that it reminds you of the past that we were once a larger territory that extended to the Sulu Islands (I think this is right, not quite sure, but I'm almost certain) and is now reduced to 4 districts? The one story that I still remember, being told by one of my History teachers, was how our previous Kings fought although almost futile, to keep our country from shrinking during the time James Brooke started placing his nose where it didn't belong! I don't quite remember this quote from the king which captured the sadness of the situation of that time, which is unfortunate cos it was so aching. Something about him rather eating grass rather than his country being stripped off to branches of a tree.
Your reason(s) for nationalism or patriotism might be contemporary in nature; in the sense that what is happening around you today contributes to your nationalist feelings or so. Or maybe your nationalistic feelings are derived from a sense of national unity, a form of civil society that builds around you. But my personal reason has to be history. What I have learnt and heard about this kingdom takes me to review where it has brought us today. And maybe this sounds typical, but it still has to count! The hardship that our older generations suffered through in the pinnacle era of colonialism and their effort in preserving the land for us today. Things could have gone better in the past, yes, but you say Alhamdulillah to what has been granted to you. Also, the Japanese Occupation in WW2; I only read in books and heard through stories of those who lived that regime and I still cannot understand what they went through.
I do believe our country has a long way to go in terms of development and meh, let's not ruin this post with any pessimistic comment. So I shall just say Happy National Day to Brunei and I pray that Allah always protect our ruler and his people under His guidance. May we continue to preserve peace and prosperity. Amin.
