Sacrificing for a Cause
I've just discovered that Mervyn has a grand uncle who is a national Sabahan hero! Apparently he (Mervyn's uncle, not Mervyn) sacrificed his life to save a Sabahan village from massacre by marauding Japanese soldiers during World War II. Just how cool is that?
John F. Kennedy once said, "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country". When I was in my early teens, I used to think that the most glorious thing that could ever happen to me was to sacrifice my life for my country. In those days, I had just finished reading Romance of the Three Kingdoms (三國演義), a tale about the Three Kingdoms period in China (AD 220 - AD 265).
Just a digression - whoever came up with the word "Romance" in the title must be gay. Why not name it something like Epic of the Three Kingdoms, or Tale of the Three Kingdoms? Instead somebody had to give it a gay name like "Romance". One could hardly be faulted for thinking it is a new addition to Mills & Boon, some sort of menage a trois between individuals from three different countries (which surely must involve some element of homosexuality, if you think about it).
I was heavily influenced by the notion of honour (in other words, loyalty to your ruler, and death over surrender) that existed amongst the personalities of that era. Then, phrases like sacrificing my body to overcome my country's danger, death is just like returning home (捐軀赴國難，視死忽如歸) meant a lot to me.
It was only when I grew older when I realized that perhaps I will not be one of the personalities named in the book. With so many great people out there, I'd probably only be a foot soldier if I ever lived in those times. A foot soldier is hardly ever going to be remembered, and he usually ends his life as a statistic (for example, the 830,000 soldiers who died in a major naval battle in 208 AD when their ships were burnt).
Now, I shall qualify the statement of sacrificing one's life for country -- it is only worthwhile dying for a cause if you are remembered in history. Not on the plaques where you are just one name out of a million others who have died, but if you are remembered, say, the way William Wallace, Horatio Nelson or even Erwin Rommel is remembered. Even to this day, their names are remembered by millions, and their lives have been translated into theatrical works and even the silver screen.
Hear ye, all prospective nations! If you want me to die for you, you know what to do.
John F. Kennedy once said, "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country". When I was in my early teens, I used to think that the most glorious thing that could ever happen to me was to sacrifice my life for my country. In those days, I had just finished reading Romance of the Three Kingdoms (三國演義), a tale about the Three Kingdoms period in China (AD 220 - AD 265).
Just a digression - whoever came up with the word "Romance" in the title must be gay. Why not name it something like Epic of the Three Kingdoms, or Tale of the Three Kingdoms? Instead somebody had to give it a gay name like "Romance". One could hardly be faulted for thinking it is a new addition to Mills & Boon, some sort of menage a trois between individuals from three different countries (which surely must involve some element of homosexuality, if you think about it).
I was heavily influenced by the notion of honour (in other words, loyalty to your ruler, and death over surrender) that existed amongst the personalities of that era. Then, phrases like sacrificing my body to overcome my country's danger, death is just like returning home (捐軀赴國難，視死忽如歸) meant a lot to me.
It was only when I grew older when I realized that perhaps I will not be one of the personalities named in the book. With so many great people out there, I'd probably only be a foot soldier if I ever lived in those times. A foot soldier is hardly ever going to be remembered, and he usually ends his life as a statistic (for example, the 830,000 soldiers who died in a major naval battle in 208 AD when their ships were burnt).
Now, I shall qualify the statement of sacrificing one's life for country -- it is only worthwhile dying for a cause if you are remembered in history. Not on the plaques where you are just one name out of a million others who have died, but if you are remembered, say, the way William Wallace, Horatio Nelson or even Erwin Rommel is remembered. Even to this day, their names are remembered by millions, and their lives have been translated into theatrical works and even the silver screen.
Hear ye, all prospective nations! If you want me to die for you, you know what to do.
