29 October 2008

Of Stockholm (Sweden), Lima (Peru) and Malaysia

This question had been playing around in my mind for a very long time. I’ve been wondering why some keep voting and supporting and hailing, election after election, the very same people who get into noticeable scandals, who are conspicuously suspected of thievery, who easily fall into the clutches of lust, who are most likely to abuse their positions and worst of all, pretend to be innocent and blameless.

Could some of these people be suffering from some form of the Stockholm syndrome? I wonder again. There doesn’t seem to be any other logical explanation. Is it at all possible that there are no other avenues for them except the same downtrodden path?

Is this akin to the Stockholm syndrome? Theoretically speaking, some show signs of loyalty to their captors (read leaders), regardless of the peril (could read as risk) to mental, physical and financial health, that they are forced into. Hypothetically, they have become attached to their captors, feel a sense of mistaken loyalty, and cannot see any other way out. It’s like being in quicksand, in this case “slowsand”. I just made up that word :). There appears to be no escape from the definitive bleak outcome and yet, they cannot help but repeat the same mistakes. Some have even loyally defended the system. They do not seem to want to break out of the pretend cocoon of security escorting them to deliberate calamity. Could some of them be, somehow, afflicted by this disorder?

Why do we keep falling back to the stereotyped form of governance since way back when? Are we unable to break away from this "syndrome" that is, I believe, until today not a recognized medical subject heading (MeSH)?

Wouldn’t it be interesting if we accepted this diagnosis of our id? Wouldn’t it be even more interesting if we became acquainted with the Lima Syndrome, the reverse of the Stockholm syndrome? This is when the captors begin to feel sympathy for their victims, maybe even remorse and turn the tables around. Isn’t this the solution that we are so in need of at this moment? Shouldn’t our captors take a step back, stop to think and do what is best, right, and just? Dare we hope for it?

I use the word "captors" loosely because, undoubtedly, we are all, in some way, their hostages. We need to shake free from this bondage. We need to invalidate the inertia towards the trend of racial discrimination. We have to nullify the false sense of respect for the current mechanism. We have to quash the reverence for any form of superiority. We need to overturn the draconian I.S.A. We have to invent a new syndrome.

We deserve to recreate a new spirit of Malaysia that is just, united, dignified, peaceful, true, and responsible. After 51 years, we have surely earned it.

Could we call it the Malaysia Syndrome? I wonder.

18 comments:

Jarod said...

Malaysia is falling back. no doubt about it. yet, our Malaysian ruling Gov don't really see it. they dare to say malaysia are improving... duh..

Moral values d gone case!

SFGEMS said...

Jarod: Thanks for your very early in the morning comment. :)

Donplaypuks® said...

It's not the Stockholm Syndrome. A whole nation cannot fall victim to such psychological disorder.

Its materialism, GREED and the erosion of spiritualism (I do not mean Religion!). The ruling class, by embracing brutality, has cowed the people in M'sia, S'pore, Burma, China etc.

The only way out, and sorry for the cliche, is 'The Power of One.'

We need fearless leaders to stand up to these tyrants and dictators. And that is beginning to happen!
http://donplaypuks.blogspot.com

SFGEMS said...

donplaypuks: Thanks for your input. I do agree with your comment but I did say "some people".

Good to know your views.

:)

TheWhisperer said...

Better move aside.. Here she comes!!

Estrelita Unleashes!!

Azrin said...

Hello..

I prefer to believe that the undoing of malaysia is a product of corruption over the last 50 years.

For instance, A is a corrupt high ranking government officer, B is a private contractor. A and B has been doing business together for a long time. A is going for election, so B would definitely vote for A, because if A is removed from office and a clean guy comes in, not only the business opportunity is lost, 90% chance is that the new government is going to look for A and B altogether. So neither them nor their family are safe.

Thats also why some politicians fight to the teeth to stay in power. Because once they lose it, they will never be safe again.

SFGEMS said...

TheWhisperer: Hee Hee Hee I find your comment very cheeky and humourous.

Thanks for the thumbs up. And you are the one that got me going, you know!

:)

SFGEMS said...

Azrin: Thanks for your visit and comment. What you say is true as well. There are always many sides to any story.

Yours, mine are just the manifold aspects of what is going down.

:)

SFGEMS said...

From Zorro: Lita....we meet again but always fleeting. Promise next vigil, we talk longer. Hoping to meet the significant other too. Stay safe.

Hi Zorro: I don't know how but I think I accidentally deleted your comment.

Anyway, thanks for your visit. I am, indeed honoured, kind Sir.

Yeah, it would be nice to sit and talk longer. I am sure an opportunity will present itself one day.

:)

Anonymous said...

Hi dear sister,

Great post from one who thinks far and deep. Time to step out and take part in some NGO/political party support work ya? ;) Am sure you will be making inroads there with your valuable contributions :)

Take care...and blessings to you and yours.

Cruzeiro said...

Oh yeah - Stockholm Syndrome it is.
The reason is becos these captors are masters at sabotage when they see a potential threat.
The people are prevented from having a choice.

The sad part is, while the people have begun to open their eyes, they don't know their rights anymore. They'd rather give up their children's future in this nation, than go with an empty belly for a couple of days.
Either that or they have such low self esteem that they don't feel the need to fight for it - but they'll fight for the first freebie that's dished out by their captors .....

Otherwise they plan to migrate as an escape route.
Malaysians are still blind .... and chicken.
Thank God we have some patriots like RPK around.

SFGEMS said...

masterwordsmith: Thanks for your continuous support always.

Only time will tell where destiny will lead me. :)

Take care, dear. God bless.

:)

SFGEMS said...

Cruzeiro: Nice of you to agree and to expand the idea further.

Thanks for dropping by. Appreciate your comment very much.

:)

Jarod said...

:) I am a "morning" person! hahaah!

Starmandala said...

Missed this one last year. Glad you linked it from your latest post. Always inspiring to read your thoughts, Lita. What an extraordinary being you are!

SFGEMS said...

My dear Antares,

Always with a kind word and I just love you for it.

I think you should do this too. You have such treasures from way back when. It would be too time-consuming to plough through all of them. Hence, a link helps people to take a quick peek and decide if they want to go there or not.

In your case, you can have more than one link. You can have "a year ago", "two years ago" etc.

Think about it, darling!

Muahhhhhhhh!

Pat said...

And how sad that it is all still true today! That's not cool at all!

SFGEMS said...

Pat, Out of all the terrible things we see and hear each day (and you are right that nothing much has changed), but out of it all, I got to know some really great and grand folks.

What would my cyberworld be, without you in it? :)