Juramentado and Civilian - in the Malaysian context

"Civilian will realize, just as the beguiled Arabs would in their vibrant 'arab renaissance' that juxtaposition of two conflicting traditions defines the discourse. Period. Everything else is commentary."


In civil societies, Juramentados have absolute running rights. When they emerge, Civilian steps aside. He must. It underscores intelligence – much like ducking a random bullet - not because the fury of the retard is destructive but its tenure is brief.

Without giving up soul, Civilian surrenders road, chattel and vocabulary, but as he withdraws from the theatre he offers the amok the ultimate insult. With a parting shot, he rightfully demonstrates no business let alone capacity to debate a 'runaway train' in the public domain. None, simply because his job description is to debate reason, commonsense and perhaps, points of law.

Saturday, July 9th 2011 a Civilian coterie of Non-Governmental Organizations will assemble downtown Kuala Lumpur to air grouses. Unclean electoral rolls and corruption are bones of contention but as the motley group comprising beguiled democrats, diehard socialists and passionate religionists, copycats the Arab Spring, the Juramentado from within ranks will tap his shoulder to assume the upper hand.

Civilian is surprised but he will stand his ground. He must. He will realize that his 'divinely inspired' comrade is not camaraderie after all but a sophisticated political animal who has fine-tuned its 'voice of public reason' to usurp the multi-colored fabric with scruples of a grey tone honed from centuries of tradition quite in conflict with his. He will realize that the degree to which he underestimates the goal of his newfound nemesis  is the degree to which he misapprehends its doctrine. Civilian will realize that juxtaposition of two conflicting traditions defines the discourse. Period. Everything else is commentary. 

Words - Tommy Peters