According to Wikipedia, the term was popularized (though not first used) by U.S. President Richard Nixon in a November 3, 1969 speech, where it referred to those Americans who did not join in the large demonstrations against the Vietnam War at the time and who did not enthusiastically participate in public discourse or the media.
Currently, Malaysians are faced with an unending and depressing list of controversial issues which contribute to the escalating mood of alienation and dismal hopelessness. The layman is bombarded with statements and protests being fired earnestly from both sides. At the back of our minds, we all wonder who is telling the truth but as more and more ludicrous events and tragedies unfold before us, it is not that difficult to see who is the bad guy in this tragic drama.
Both sides are equally intent in dishing out rhetoric that stem from selfish motivations to forward their respective agenda. Malaysians have the unenviable task of deciphering fact from fiction; truth from falsehood.
But many still choose to remain the silent majority! Wake up! Lies are roosting in our nest!!! Time to do some soul-searching and to ferret out those slanted spin yarns and replace them with hard truths which we need so badly! (I have listed some questions at the end of the post which you might like to consider.)
Why are we the silent majority? Have we lost our voices in this ongoing battle which we thought we had won in March 2008? The way things are moving and NOT moving, especially with regards to the many internal conflicts within the Opposition as a whole and the fact that the ruling regime is planting landmines all over the place has stymied the enthusiasm and political zest that steered us to victory in March 2008. The time has come for us to regain and release a new burst of political fervor which we lost along the way this year.
Actions or the lack of action from certain quarters show they are disinterested in an open debate of the issue and are instead, more interested in ramming down THEIR version of truth. Information is not freely available for the average person to make informed rational decisions. As such, we are akin to clueless sheep being led by our noses.
Do you realize that we have evil sycophants who are practising demagoguery to intentionally mislead us?
A sycophant is a servile person who, acting in his or her own self-interest, attempts to win favor by flattering one or more influential persons, or by saying lies against fellow citizens to gain some kind of profit. These actions are executed at the cost of his or her own integrity, personal pride, principles, and peer respect. (Extracted from HERE)
Demagogy (also demagoguery) is a strategy for gaining political power by appealing to the prejudices, emotions, fears and expectations of the public — typically via impassioned rhetoric and propaganda, and often using nationalist, populist or religious themes. (Extracted from HERE)
Dear Malaysians, we cannot afford to be the silent majority anymore!
History is replete with examples of inaction. Our forefathers who fought and lobbied for independence were faced with such a choice but their brave decision and actions resulted in the attainment of independence for our beloved Malaysia.
We can either quietly stand by and watch our nation fall to ruins or stand and fight for that which is the birthright of every citizen - a just, honest, transparent government that truly cares for the rakyat.
This is a clarion call for a peaceful uprising of ideals and civic duty. The current regime will face their Waterloo the next time we go to the polls.
However, we need to act now to EDUCATE and to MOBILIZE other Malaysians to share the same vision . Otherwise, our future generations will continue to face an unjust and evil government!!!
Political action stemming from our anger against corruption and injustice is very powerful if and when managed effectively and collectively. It empowers us rather than paralyzes us. Like-minded Malaysians MUST gather and actively protest against the orientation of the current administration. Together, we can give each other support and educate ourselves politically, and feel empowered to express ourselves openly.
The time has come for us to find constructive outlets for expressing and redirecting our outrage instead of keeping quiet or grumbling amongst ourselves or suppressing our emotions by being the silent majority.
Can we live with our conscience if we realize that our silence condones and perpetuates many unsavory and questionable practices?
In our respective communities, we should participate in political action or support groups where we can feel free to express our feelings and beliefs, and empowered to act upon them.
Once we take that first step, we are likely to find that the support, energy and motivation of others enables us to overcome many obstacles which are in our midst.
We MUST kick out leaders who insult our intelligence while furthering their personal and commercial interests - all these actions take away money from our pockets and weakens our ringgit!
Please do not remain the silent majority anymore!!! Let us make a difference!! We do not even have to become political activists. The first step is to register to vote or to persuade and help everyone else to do so. We need to educate ourselves on the candidates and issues before elections.
The more we inform ourselves, and engage in taking political action, the greater the difference we will make in shaping the future of Malaysia, own personal futures and that of our descendants.
We want ACCOUNTABILITY!!!
An elected government must be have limited powers over the freedom and liberty of citizens as spelled out in the Constitution, or it will cease to be a government of the people if it becomes one that dictates and controls the people. We have to know and more importantly, to exercise our rights!!!
Things may look pretty bleak now but it does not have to be that way. The embers are still there...burning. It can ignite once again. Be that small spark that is waiting to burst into a big flame of hope.
Things may look pretty bleak now but it does not have to be that way. The embers are still there...burning. It can ignite once again. Be that small spark that is waiting to burst into a big flame of hope.
Your move!
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Some soul-searching questions....
What are our deeper attitudes and feelings about the political situation in our country?
Are we engaged or apathetic?
What are the deeper psychological,interpersonal and/or sociological factors which may have affected our political attitudes?
Are we suppressing our emotions because we do not want to feel discomfort or confusion?
What are the deeper psychological,interpersonal and/or sociological factors which may have affected our political attitudes?
Are we suppressing our emotions because we do not want to feel discomfort or confusion?
Are we filled with so much anger, despair or powerlessness over the bleak situation in our country?
Are we detached from people who are politically concerned because we feel that it is safer to vegetate in our comfort zone rather than to take steps which may threaten our safety and security?
Are we demotivated because we feel there is little support from our community with regard to political awareness and action?
Has the media's biased coverage of political issues and events caused us to slip into passivity?
Or are we reeling in passive-aggressive anger, preferring to remain disengaged and complaining in 'safer' ways rather than taking action to make our country a better place for ourselves and our descendants?
Are we detached from people who are politically concerned because we feel that it is safer to vegetate in our comfort zone rather than to take steps which may threaten our safety and security?
Are we demotivated because we feel there is little support from our community with regard to political awareness and action?
Has the media's biased coverage of political issues and events caused us to slip into passivity?
Or are we reeling in passive-aggressive anger, preferring to remain disengaged and complaining in 'safer' ways rather than taking action to make our country a better place for ourselves and our descendants?
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Have a lovely evening, dear reader! Thanks for reading my post. Do leave a comment to share your thoughts.
nick "Silence is Golden" they say and more so when you have so many of them. In my opinion, we have a very large reserve of this type of "gold" especially in our middle class segment of society. But saying that and being surprised by those majority who still voted BN during the last GE, I came to realize that most of those silent majority may well be against the government all the while BUT during the GE they are bombarded with so much crap and propaganda, most of them are giving the BN the benefit of a doubt so to speak ( our people survive by clinging to hope and they hoped that during the last GE all those slogan and propaganda may come true hence the term hopes spring eternal!). I too came to an understanding that our people ( the golden majority) are as they say "on the fence" ( golongan atas pagar). How they can be so dexterous and literally balance themselves on the pagar is of course another story. BUT the point IS most of the silence majority have fickle mind. They have short term memory in term of politician and it's during the GE that the GOMEN really blasted them with unrelenting propaganda that on the spur of the moment they unconsciously cross the "x" on the dacing and later regretting it. But it's not all their fault! The opposition too made huge blunders... They didn't really stand out for the people to see and to connect with. Our opposition gave the impression that is all wrong. Internal squabbling, concert banning, Selcat issue, Unity Gomen and so many things. The opposition should know that when you're up against UMNO and Bn and all their might and machinery, they need to be seen as flawless and much better..ten times much better! The silent majority " the Gold Reserve" is a very valuable commodity and surely it is reserved for the most deserving side. Until the OPPOSITION start behaving like a true KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR, THE MOST PRIZED MAIDEN WILL NOT GIVE HERSELF TO HIM. NOT YET! SO TO THE OPPOSITION, START COURTING THE FAIREST MAIDEN AND SHOW HER THAT YOU ARE WORTHY OF HER AFFECTION AND YOU WILL BE HER SAVIOR AND PROTECTOR. ACTING LIKE MR BEAN WILL NOT WIN HER HEART!