The Best of Bersih
ART HARUN
In so far as Bersih is concerned, I am done lecturing on the concept of fundamental liberties and the rights of the people. I am done writing about the true concept of social contract and the duties of the State. Because, really, knock, knock, knock, and there’s nobody home.
So today I am going to do what I have not done in the past, namely, I would post links to the websites which, I think, depicts the best of Bersih. In fact, they depict the best of Malaysia, really (it proves that one does not have to engage a super high powered Jewish company and pay them millions to sell a concept such as 1Malaysia. Bersih proves that when there is a unity of purpose, the people will unite).
Let me begin with part of the lyrics of Guns & Roses’ song, “Civil War”:
“What we’ve got here is failure to communicate.
Some men you just can’t reach…
So, you get what we had here last week,
which is the way he wants it!
Well, he gets it!…
Look at the shoes your filling
Look at the blood we’re spilling
Look at the world we’re killing
The way we’ve always done before
Look in the doubt we’ve wallowed
Look at the leaders we’ve followed
Look at the lies we’ve swallowed
And I don’t want to hear no more”
We have read so many accounts of the Bersih rally. The best among which, to me, are:
i) My Bersih 2.0 Experience, by Marina Mahathir (guess what, she was there. Eat your heart our Tun DrM!);
ii) Someone Did Win on July 9th, by one Charis Ding (she had ice cream with the FRUs!); and,
iii) BERSIH 2.0 – Was it worth it?, a note on Facebook by my facebook friend, one Abdul Haleem (telling us, among others, about the true kindness of Malaysians, super cool policemen and FRUs who made fun of his disability).
The most endearing story is of course about Auntie Anne, the Lady of Liberty, a 65 year old lady who took a bus alone, and walked all the way from the General Hospital to the rally centre. She took the prize for the best quote as well:
“Why do we have to feel so scared (and threatened) in our own home land.. and by own countrymen?”
The most enduring pictures of the Bersih rally, which would still adorn the Malaysian museum of liberty 100 years from now are:
