Negaraku & the Universal Laws of Love

I hardly ever blog about current affairs, other than the ones that happen in my own family. But this bit of news is a little hard to swallow. If you haven't already heard, our policymakers have decided to have our national anthem, "Negaraku" played at the cinemas. And now they're laying down the law:

Anyone who shows disrespect when the Negaraku is played – either by refusing to stand, sing the anthem or cause a disturbance – can be fined RM100 or jailed up to month. 

Let me give you an analogy. Ever since Jesse was born over nine months ago, Mae and I have been there for him. We feed him, clothe him, we put a roof over his head, and by God we'll break our backs to give him all that. And every so often, we hug him, cuddle him and play with him. Because we love him unconditionally. And even if he never loves us back, we could never love him less.

Try as you might, you can't ever make anyone love you. It doesn't work that way. The best you can do is to create an environment of love around the object of your affection, and hope that he or she reciprocates. This is the Universal Law of Love, as conveyed to you by yours truly. *ahem* The first Universal Law of Love applies everywhere. Parents and babies. Boy and girl. Country and citizen. And even gods and humans.

The second Universal Law of Love states that there ain't nothing as a sure thing. This means that just because you love someone with every ion in your body, doesn't guarantee that they'll love you back. This is a harsh reality of life that applies everywhere. Just because you get 13As doesn't mean you'll get a scholarship. People who fail to understand this are often devastated. They go to the ends of the earth for a girl or a guy only to find out that it didn't make a difference. So please, don't give me your kidneys and expect me to love you. Who needs the grief?

The third Universal Law of Love is perhaps the most important. Forcing it never ever makes it better, it just makes it worse. Think about this for a second. Why do you think rape never caught on? You can't force love.Heh!

The fourth Universal Law of Love is the only hope you have. Love sincerely, and hope for the best. Build a home on love, and perhaps your children will love you. Shower that girl with love, and maybe you'll wear down her defenses. Give good students scholarship, and perhaps they'll feel a little more patriotic.

The final Universal Law of Love is a warning. It is also a solution to the problem of love. Disappointment will lead to resentment. Unrequited love will usually die away. If my wife starts yelling at and beating me up, pretty soon I might be tempted to find love elsewhere. Yes, having your wife beat you up can be disappointing. Hahahha!

This is a long post, I know. And I'm not even close to being done yet. Because love is an important subject. At the risk of sounding like a Hippy or a cheesy Wet Wet Wet song, I'll state my stand: Love is all around. Everything revolves around love. You can love your mother, your wife, your child. You can love your job, your car, your cash. You can love your country. And if you're Big Cheese of the country, you can love your people.

Love your people. By the way, I too, would like a 5% discount on the price of my house. *ahem*

Here's a lovely verse from the bible, taken from 1 Corinthian 13:1-8 in the New International Version:

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

Oh, incidentally, the King James Version of the good book uses the word "Charity" instead of "Love". That too, is worth a thought. As is James' Universal Laws of Love, compiled here for your convenience:

1. You can't ever make anyone love you.
2. In love, there ain't nothing as a sure thing.
3. Forcing love never makes it any better.
4. Love sincerely and hope for the best.
5. Disappointment leads to resentment.

Well, this is where I rack my brains for a memorable ending. A line that will... erm... seal this entry in your minds forever. But even as I do that, I'll be addressing that issue of getting a RM 100 fine or spending a month in jail for not respecting the national anthem. To our policymakers, I have this to say. When you've arrested those guys who didn't stand up for the "Negaraku", please remember this lovely, if overused cliche about love: If you love somebody, set them free. And perhaps then, they might find their way back to you.

Now tell me, ain't love grand?