Saturday 31 August 2013

Foreigners and their Stories About Us

This morning I had a bit of a giggle over Annie's response to Reuters' attempt to give credence to the pronouncements of a certain irrelevant political personality.

I am now seriously doubting the credibility of these foreign news agencies based on the kind of opposition-slanted stories they choose to write about Malaysia, which make me think that those other reports they carry about other countries are also just that, biased and judgmental stories.

Obviously they have no idea of the realities on the ground, (or purposely have no wish to impart the realities as they can't possibly be that ignorant) about what is relevant to Malaysians, not just the opinions of the self-proclaimed "educated classy urbanites" of certain parts of Klang Valley and Pulau Pinang.

More obvious is that they probably think "uneducated low-class ruralites" like me do not understand English, or they probably don't care that we think they are silly or that our opinions are not important compared to that of the "educated", "classy" and loud "urbanites".

I wonder what will they write after witnessing the obvious pledges of loyalty to the King by our security forces on this years National Day Parade with every "Daulat Tuanku" and "Menjunjung Kasih Tuanku", including the sight of our drummer boys in full battle gear?

Do they even understand the meaning of those pledges by our warriors to our King at this point in time?

You think those pledges were only directed against Suluk lunatics and external aggressors?

Are they truly ignorant of the subtleties of the Malay culture and language that loud voices, coarse language and insulting acts directed at our leaders and national symbols of sovereignty currently in fashion among the "educated classy urbanites" translate to the single word "biadap"?

Do they understand the depth of contempt that can be expressed in that single word?

For that matter, do they even bother to understand the cultural differences between Malaysia's loud "educated urbanites" and the majority "low-class ruralites", their differing aspirations, priorities and lifestyles, and that the few English-speaking "educated urbanites" they talk to do not represent the majority rural dwellers who choose to retain their cultural identities and values?


Do they really understand the meaning of "balik kampung" and why it is "balik kampung" instead of "balik bandar" even if your  family base is in KL or JB?


Do they think that everyone would readily abandon the values that define our cultural identity for ages and replace them with the hybrid urban culture and lingo that has been promoted endlessly on television, social networks and various other forums as the in-trend characteristics of "educated classy urbanite" lifestyle?

Or will the values and customs of our forefathers be relegated into the realms of cultural shows and museums and only practiced by antiquated individuals largely considered as loonies?

5 comments:

  1. "I am now seriously doubting the credibility of these foreign news agencies based on the kind of opposition-slanted stories they choose to write about Malaysia, which make me think that those other reports they carry about other countries are also just that, biased and judgmental stories."

    Prior to GE13 when I read BBC News I never once doubt that they are reporting facts. But after reading what they wrote about Malaysia during GE13, I know for a fact that they are very bias and out of touch.

    Now whenever I read news about "Arab Spring" which is no longer springing, I no longer believe them. They are media after all. A propaganda machinery first, money making second, professional journalism last.

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  2. It is true, once you read what they are writing about our own country and how far from the truth it is, you start doubting the news being reported in other countries. Is Egypt and Syria really as reported. It might not be or it might be worse. The sad part of it where to get the actual news? Facebook? Blogs? Those are even worse than the news. Ask an actual Egyptian? you'll get two separate stories depending on which side the Egyptian is on.

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  3. Remember how CNN portrayed Saddam Hussein?How CNN fed the viewers with its "Saddam's hidden gigantic mass destruction weapons"?

    Now CNN is giving us the same on Syria.Chemical weapons?Next Obama will bomb Syria with or without real evidence.Bush had showed the way.

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  4. What there was National Day ? Bila ?

    ReplyDelete