Fighting smart against racism – Umno brews massive mischief in lead up to elections

Mischief brews. More so than trouble.

In this atmosphere, I recall a few things.

Countries like America have been accused of having a military-industrial complex. Put simply, war is extremely good for business. It is so multi-trillian dollar good that when so much money is put into creating a gargantuan war machine, people start to look pretty stupid if there are no wars to fight.

Looking stupid is one thing, but getting less money fed into said complex because of enduring peace is another.

Some (‘conspiracy theorists?’) use this explanation for wars like Iraq.

In Malaysia, our military-industrial complex is racial fear mongering.

For as long as most of us alive can remember, BN sells one message above all: vote for us, or the inherent racial hatreds will spill over, along with a whole lot of blood, onto the streets (ie, May13,May13,May13)

They sold it then, they sell it now, and I feel they want to sell it some more.

Now, just as in the example above, the thing about this is that if there’s no blood actually being spilled, one starts to look pretty stupid.

Looking stupid is one thing, getting voted out of power is another.

Do you believe George Bush rubbed his hands in glee at the prospect of finishing his dad’s Iraq war? Do you believe he even helped start it? Tenuous to non-existent relationship to Al-Qaeda aside?

Ban Hindraf, write violent short stories of hate, demonise component party members, arrest reporters, use the ISA liberally, make up stories about people being anti-azan…

Sounds like someone’s itching for a war.

Also note, and this is important, that we are entering what has historically been one of the worst seasons in Malaysian politics: the Umno elections.

Nothing short of the head of state position (present and future) is at stake; and how do the contenders traditionally score points? By being ultra-racial of course.

(Although, I think even here they are being stupid. My personal feeling is that Umno aspirants would get better mileage focusing on buying people off and being a more charismatic leader).

This is the backdrop against which I view recent developments. And I think we should expect it to get worse.

As I said before, we must not fall for the trap.

(platitudes ahead) Whoever fights fire with fire will just get everyone burnt ever more badly; time to fight smart, not just fight hard; no time to get mad, time to get even.

Victory always requires sacrifice, and it requires very tactical thinking.

If we, the anti-BN side, keep going on about non-Malay rights and silly stuff like that, we will play right into their hands, and win a battle or two while instantly losing the war.

It is not only Umno but many other politicians and some activists who are stuck in the old, decaying mould of race politics. If the rest of us don’t up our game, we will be set back decades.

Hindraf, all ye feisty women politicians in the spotlight of late, and all concerned Malaysians – I pray you take heed of this golden opportunity.

In this highly charged battleground, we must not expose any flank, or leave any move – no matter how well intentioned – open to the slightest hint of racism, small-mindedness, and lack of truly universal compassion. Watch our mouths, bite our tounges and choose our words well; whatever the cost, we must not yield a single inch of moral high ground.

The fearmongerers and mischief makers will not be undeterred from their evil; we cannot control their actions, but we can control ours. Let’s fight smart, and hit them – using the hands of love, wisdom and compaasion – only where it will truly make a difference.