8/24/2009

Political dissidents turned heroes

The South Koreans said farewell to one of their most loved leader, Kim Dae Jung, or Mr Sunshine. Kim Dae Jung is also hailed as the Nelson Mandela of Asia. He was demonised, turned into a villain and imprisoned by the political masters of his time. He spent many years behind bars, endured torture and death threats, but survived to be elected as South Korea's President in 1998. And history was rewritten. Kim Dae Jung was not the only one that went from dissident to national hero. Xanana Gusmao of East Timor is another example of the kind of treachery and political corruption in Asian countries even today. The abuses of political power to destroy political opponents is nothing new and hardly any Asian country can stand up to tell the world that they are free from such persecutions and bullyings of the losing party. The latest victims are Thaksin and Aung San Ssu Kyi of Thailand and Myanmar. Very likely they will have their stories rewritten someday. Malaysia is seeing Anwar Ibrahim making his come back and could be the next Nelson Mandela from Asia. The stories of Kim Dae Jung, Gusmao, Mandela and many more to come, are testimonies of the stinking political games that are being played by politicians, when innocent political contenders were painted blacker than black. We are so lucky to witness how these dirty political games are played for all to see. But would the masses be able to see the real from the unreal, the truth from the untruth? Or joining the winning side and enjoying the buffet is what counts and the 'villians' shall be villains for the day, until history favours them and turn them into another Mandela?

7 comments:

Wally Buffet said...

Politicians are in the same category as used car salesmen, insurance and property agents, high falutin' bloggers, misbehaving priests and monks, rogue lawyers, incompetent doctors and not forgetting the two idiots from the national parks who chased me away from my lovely waterfront tent abode.

Heroes? I wouldn't give a rat's ass.

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

hi wally, not all politicians are rats. there are exceptions. and nelson mandela is one. and kim dae jung is another. and gusmao is the third. and i believe aung san ssu kyi will be another exception.

Anonymous said...

Redbean:

Singaporeans have had Chia Thye Poh, Late JB Jeyaretnam and the present Francis Seow, Tang Liang Hong, Chee Soon Juan. Maybe few more on their ways.

But what happened ? They were/are not supported by their fellow citizens !

And

all are out down and out.

Just a few Names for the History of SIN.

patriot

IMAGOD said...

Every country in the world was forged by processes of conquest, corruption, violence, back-stabbing, law-breaking, land-grabbing, lying, cheating, betraying peoples confidence, and stealing.

This is why those dreamers (like patriot) who believe that "democracy" is peaceful or the proponents of democracy are somehow "nobel" need to go back and re-visit their history books.

I don't hold up any politician as a "hero". But I do acknowledge that they do as they (think they) have to do. Just like all of us.

Politics is better than organised crime because you can lie, cheat, steal, murder and run extortion gangs completely LEGALLY.

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

there are real heroes and hype heroes and fictitious heroes. and there are selfless people who give more than they take.

Anonymous said...

Dear IMAGOD:

must admit that dreaming is when and where i get my solace and consolation.

The Human World is too complex and i am making some make-believe ideals to escape from the sophistry
of survival and intricacy of human existence.

I am sad that i have to depend more on dreams than reality to be happy. And i am awared that without sadness and disappointment there is nothing to define(relect) happiness. I suppose the Latters certainly must be neccessary evils.

Just love to be a dreamer, dreaming to be a god one day too.

Yourstruly: patriot

Anonymous said...

Dear All:

my apology!

(relect) should read as (reflect).

patriot