Thought no.453

I am starting to feel some pride in Malaysia, but like all good feelings, it never lasts.

We don't own the man, we are proud to call him one of us.
By his own effort and determination, by the grit and strength he has shown us at the Olympics, good show sir, good show.

We should have done more to support him, to give him focus, to give him strength, to allow him every opportunity to shine. We do not deserve his apology, he does deserve our thanks.

As a people, as a nation, we need heroes. People to look up to, to bring us together, that as a fragmented nation in every sense, we NEED, not want, not deserve, not should have, we bloody need people who can inspire and unite our nation.
South Africa managed it (please do watch Invictus for the full, dramatized, version of the story) and they had apartheid.
They managed it by having full governmental support for their sports program. Its not a political agenda, its a national one.

We would not grudge our athletes winning prize money for achievements in sports. What we should be doing is spending that money to train and encourage more athletes to take up sports as a full time profession and to compete at every level.
To instill that belief in the younger generation that if you have a talent, our people and by extension, our government will recognize it and do their damnedest to encourage you and assist you to fulfill your potential and in return, you do your best and you become more than a man, you become a legend, an incorruptible symbol (blatant rip-off, admittedly I do enjoy a good pop-culture reference, thanks Christopher Nolan).

I have detoured into politics and I do not apologize.
No matter who comes into power, a sports program is needed, that talent is rewarded and that they are provided with all the opportunities and advantages available.
Sports is a tool of unity and regardless of your political affiliations, there is something to be proud of, of a man, a woman, a transexual/transgender, a team who shows courage and spirit in the face of insurmountable odds, pressure and expectations to battle to go down in history and to give it your all in that pursuit.

So right now, I hope that he does inspire and that his legacy on that night causes ripples of change in the system that lasts long past we have obtained that elusive Olympic Gold Medal.
And then, only then, would we maybe deserve their apologies.