1. Patriots are you, me, and thousands of others like us standing firm for
our country — William McGinnis
Being thankful and appreciative of the peace and freedom we enjoy in
this country each day, is also a form of patriotism.
Patriotism is a love and devotion to one's country. Patriotism can be
compared to the structure of a building. It keeps the building standing
tall and strong. Without it the building would crumble. When I think of
patriotism I think of Malaysian. As one part from the society in
Malaysia, I agreed that we all should always show loyalty and gratitude
to our country. Based on the facts in Malaysia, newspapers and
television news broadcasts have been full of calls by government
ministers and officials for greater patriotism in the country. So, what is
patriotism?
They talk about the broad matters, about revolutionary heroes, about
Merdeka Day parades, about soldiers, about politics – but they don’t
talk about what’s going on inside them – the feeling they have for this
country, the loyalty they ascribe to, the pride they take in being
Malaysians, or, what they would be willing to do for their country.
A patriotic act is “any selfless act that directly benefits the nation”,
according to Word.IQ.com.
It states that displaying the national flag, singing the national anthem,
participating in a mass rally, placing a patriotic bumper sticker on one’s
vehicle, or publicly proclaiming one’s allegiance to the nation in any
appropriate way, are all acts of patriotism.
Just like the Smart Schools project, The National Service is based on a
half-baked philosophy of teaching and learning.
The National Service is based on the philosophy of anti-humanism; a
philosophy governing the government’s attempt to engineer the

2. human mind. This is an example of how “education becomes a hotly
contested terrain,” and how the young, creative minds are being
endangered by those in power who lack the understanding of what
education should mean.

3. I am the most famous icon on earth,
on display all over the world...
standing guard at majestic official buildings,
in courtrooms, churches,
and even on the moon.
I fly from the houses
of families who revere the country,
and snap in the breeze on parade.
I stand for freedom, honor, justice,
service, prosperity and power.
My stars and stripes—my red, white and blue,
evoke respect and admiration from the good,
apprehension and fear from the evil.
Sometimes soiled and tattered,
even bloodstained,
I survived the grinding toil of wars,
urging my weary warriors to fight on.
I lie precisely folded,
held by mothers of fallen soldiers
as their fingertips caress me
for comfort and strength.
I am invincible.
I have been burned, spat upon,
trampled and cursed,
but I overcome all
to unfurl, soar, and inspire again.
I am the Malaysian Flag,
a symbol of freedom, forever.