Youtube comments are always very scary. Always full of swearing and people hurling insults at each other. Both sides have their reasons to do so. Both sides feel so strongly that they have to swear and use ugly words to express their anger and frustration.
This is freedom of speech. Freedom of speech. Freedom of speech. Only on the internet where people can avoid using their own names, where people are not afraid of getting caught and punished.
It gets scary. It gets people riled up. It gets people agitated. It sets people thinking. It sets off the itch for self-expression. It can hurt - hurt a lot - hurt the relations between people who don't even know each other. It can
As a fellow Malaysian, I empathize with many of the problems brought up by Namewee. However I do not condone all of the ways he expressed those problems. Nevertheless, I think it pretty much sums up what many Malaysians think of Malaysia - yes, with all the swear words and politically incorrect statements. It is not the voice of a lone individual whom you can shut up with authority. It represents the voice of many frustrated Malaysians.
There is a reason why Namewee made this video. I can't remember exactly what was reported in the press, but I believe he said that he loves Malaysia and wants to come back. Does that make sense to you? Let me rephrase that. Someone going through all that trouble to make a video complaining about issues in his country and who puts himself at risk of angering certain groups powerful enough to strip him of his citizenship. What for? Perhaps he did not expect the reaction to be that big. Perhaps he did not expect that his video would get spread out so widely. But he must have made that video for a reason other than "for fun". One can see that he really put in a lot of thinking in making that video.
Let me rephrase that. Someone who loves his country who critiques issues in his country. Doesn't that sound familiar? Like artists, writers, journalists, political leaders all over the world...risking their reputation, livelihood, and life itself. Including our own leaders who helped bring around the independence of our country. The intention of critiquing issues is, I believe, to spur a change in the people's mindset, to make aware and put forth white elephants for people to talk about and debate about, and result in a change. A change for the better.
I talk this way because I've been studying artists in the history of art in the era of modernism and modernisation - when countries were in turmoil most of the time and certain people wanted to change the situation. At that time some artists believed that art could be a weapon to change the world. They were serious about their art and their goal. And they were often extremely loyal to their own country. Many continued to paint although the state did not recognize their works. Many continued to push forward their ideals although it would not bring them any money or fame. Many suffered for their choices. Many were in exile. But because of them, we have today's wealth of art that is a testament to their passion.
People who love their country and choose to live in it naturally want the country to change for the better and not for worse. Well, some people may have different ideas on what means better and what means worse.
I don't exactly think Namewee was really intending to offend the religion of Islam - it's just a certain practice that he has issues with. And yet he still expresses some fondness for it - he says without it it's not Malaysia. I don't think that's enough to tell him to go pack his bags and leave the country. Ask yourself if you would feel the same if you were in his place. However, his stereotyping of tudung-clad-females-takign their own sweet time to cross the road is racist and inappropriate, I feel, since everybody regardless of race must have done something like that at some point.
I encourage the people offended by Namewee's video to look beyond the things that offend and hurt you - open your heart and mind to hear the frustrations of a fellow countryman - and think, what is it that led him to make this video? What is it that led him to use such strong language until he hurt you? Why is it that you feel hurt by his remarks on the issues he brought up? What other emotions you felt when watching this? Have you ever felt the same way as he did?
As I try to put myself into the shoes of the person who is offended by this video, so should the offended person try to put himself in the shoes of Namewee. Challenge yourself with free speech which hurts.
