CUE the various Malaysian-style patriotic programmes – distribution of mini flags, song composition contests, Jalur Gemilang of various sizes being constructed with anything from soft drink cans to fruits, airing of patriotic songs on terrestrial television and radio.

As with everything in this country, these programmes also comes with its critics, some calling it superficial and meaningless, against a backdrop of what they perceive, as a “hopeless” state of affairs in the country.

Perhaps the problem is that over the years, people have come to associate displays of patriotism as a show of support for a particular administration or party. And it isn’t their fault – those parties have shamelessly campaigned along those lines!

That is what happens when you use your national day speech to bash your political opponents or remove your state government from the national level celebrations because you want to have your own celebratory slogan.

Why does National Day need to be so politically charged when it is supposed to be a day to remember the many before us, who have made, in some cases, ultimate, sacrifices for our country to be safe enough and stable enough for us to bicker over which state has the best laksa or which Prime Minister made a better LRT?

Simple; a good politician knows that with just a slight nudge, patriotism can quite easily convert into nationalism, and nationalism is good for whoever dominates national level politics.

But while that conversion is good for whoever rules the country at that time, it likely does the opposite for the country itself.

While patriotism demands you stand by your country, nationalism often makes you stand by your leaders no matter what, against an “enemy”. The first means sometimes defying these leaders, the second makes their enemies your own.

While these “enemies” are sometimes common between both the country and its political leaders, often they are not. Whoever is easy to hate at that time would be fair game – a Jew, a member of the LGBT community, a Singaporean, a Communist, a foreign coffee brand. The important thing is to unite against these threats against our Malaysian way of life!

The problem is, as opposed to a positive ‘love’ message you send out with patriotism, you send out vibes of hate instead. Additionally, you only widen the divide on national discourse when you begin to use organs of state to paint your political enemies as anti-national or subversive elements, when they aren’t. It only prompts them to retaliate with the same rhetoric, perhaps with more vitriolic diatribe added in for good measure.

All this combined, perhaps dampens the spirits of some to celebrate Merdeka, at least for those on the receiving end of accusations of being unpatriotic and anti-national.

But politicians or governments do not own this country or her flag. So why should we give them any control over whether we display our patriotism or not?

Why should their performance dictate whether or not we fly a flag?

National symbols – whether a flag, a banner, or a song – should not be a yardstick of the state of affairs of a country. So when your next movie screening is interrupted for Negaraku, sing it loud and proud. When you see a flag being sold at your nearby Tesco, buy it and fly it.

In sports, even when your national team loses, you still continue to wave the flag and cheer them on. Because they’ve given it their all, and they deserve our support.

Your country deserves, and needs, yours. – August 8, 2017.

* Emmanuel Joseph firmly believes that Klang is the best place on Earth, and that motivated people can do far more good than any leader with motive.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.