August is the month that invokes many moods in me. This is the month that Tunku Abdul Rahman declared Malaysia’s independence forty eight years ago. The sight and sound of Tunku raising his hand and shouting “Merdeka” never failed to tug at my heartstrings. Sixty years ago this month, the Second World War ended, but not before two atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Each year, when August 6 arrives, I am reminded of the tens of thousands that died in Hiroshima and the sixty million who died as a result of the war. This is too big a price to pay for the militaristic and expansionist ambitions of a handful. I am thankful that I was born after those difficult years, especially after hearing tales of Japanese atrocities and the hardships that my parents and their parents had to go through during the occupation of Malaya.
We never learnt. We are still waging wars against each other. In wars, the worst of human nature are revealed. Innocent lives are needlessly lost or crippled for life. Weapons are continually being made to kill or main another fellow human. While we can neither prevent wars nor the ensuing misery elsewhere, there are little things that we can still do here. Even in times of peace, people are still suffering due to diseases or tragedies. Some are suffering from one form of terminal illness or another. We can help make their lives more comfortable for their remaining days. They are the ones we should help in any little way we possibly can.
On August 6 this year, bloggers worldwide are banding together to blog every thirty minutes for twenty four hours straight. We are doing this all in the name of charity. I will be blogging with five others at Bloggers are Morons for the Hospice-at-Home-Programme. The programme provides palliative care for patients with terminal cancer. One has to go through those last few months with someone who is dying from cancer to be able to fully understand why their work is so important. I have gone through it and I can only say that without the Hospice’s support, it would have been very difficult to manage those final days of someone I truly loved. When all hope is lost, the only thing left that we can do is to let them die with dignity. This is exactly what the Hospice is helping families of dying patients do.
August 6 also happens to be my birthday. I have stopped celebrating this significant day two years ago. There are just too many sad memories associated with that day. This is also the first time that I am revealing my birthday online. For this day, I have only one wish. I fervently wish that readers of my blog will donate money to support the Hospice-at-Home-Programme. Please pass the word around and get your family and friends to support this cause. When you wish me “Happy Birthday” please spare a thought for those who will never be able to celebrate theirs next year. Help the Hospice help them. This is my one and only birthday wish for this year.
* This entry was posted at Bloggers are Morons.
