Independence Day..

What does it really mean? Freedom? and what is freedom?

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I'm but a simple person and to me.. freedom to choose, is essential.. When Japanese invaded Malaya, we have no choice.. no freedom and no peace.. People were taken from their homes and forced to serve the enemies.. young women being raped and killed..

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We had to run and hide fearing for our lives.. Have you heard any war stories in your lifetime? I heard of many.. and it is heart breaking.. I don't even know where to begin.. because these stories were real..

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But without the past, we do not appreciate the present.. nor the future..

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My great Aunt lived during the war.. she was a teenager at the time when the Japanese invaded.. my mother side of the family have to run and hide.. the only food they find themselves having were kangkung (from the drains) and the sweet potatoes that is in the wilderness.. Their waters were from the streams and their home were on the hills and in caves.. for months they have to survive in that condition.. with much fear in their hearts.. they were very careful not to get caught by the enemies..

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There was once a lady carrying her baby while running from a group of Japanese soldiers.. her little baby can't stop crying and because they were running in a group (with a lot of other fugitives) she had to leave her baby behind and hope to get him back after they were safe.. I don't not know how long they left him there.. but when she came back to look for her baby... No.. He did not disappeared... worst.. he was dead.. eaten by ants.. gruesome? yes.. that is War.. that is a time when we had no freedom and many yearn for independence.. Free from fear and oppression...

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I suppose now that we have a certain peace, a certain level of freedom.. we want more.. more money, more privileges, more benefits, more power etc.. we forget... the only freedom we need... is freedom to live, to love, to choose. Freedom to have peace, joy and harmony..

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I am a Malaysian.. what are you?