Abolish ISA

During times like this, we are tempted to use many words to present our feelings, arguments and suggestions.  There was much already said and repeated with much vigor and clarity which does not need repeating.  Media Rakyat’s post Forum: Abolish ISA has three clips.

For me, one moment stood our during the Abolish ISA Forum last night.  I struggled to hold back my tears when everyone in the all gave a standing ovation when Raja Petra’s wife Marina Lee stepped on to the stage. 

Later as she shared heart to heart with the attentive audience what is on her mind, it was hard to remain numb and unmoved. The call to re-look at our humanity first, rather than the rhetoric of national security, shouts right in front of us through the feeble and yet firm voice of those who are left behind.  The reaction from the crowd was loud and clear.

I received an email last night reminding me of the words of the courageous Lutheran Pastor Martin Niemöller (1892–1984) who is attributed for penning the poem "First they came…".  As we walk through the comforts of the pictures below, and we consider the various actions each of us may choose to take and converge for truth, justice, peace and healing in days to come, his words strongly impress upon us apathy can no longer be an option.

They came first for the Communists,

and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist.

Then they came for the Jews,

and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew.

Then they came for the trade unionists,

and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Catholics,

and I didn’t speak up because I was a Protestant.

Then they came for me,

and by that time no one was left to speak up.

Sivin Kit