I believe in answers,
Just not today"
-Avenged Sevenfold, The Stage-
There is a saying that "history is written by the victors".
This relates mostly to histories of wars.
But to paraphrase for other circumstances, history is written by whoever writes history. Honest history writers just write the facts; that is, facts of events as they unfold.
But events do not happen in a vacuum.
There are causes and effects, preceding events that affects the next events, and consequences of those events. People react to these events coloured by their beliefs, values, prejudices, and biases.
Students of history can only extrapolate or guess the intention and motivation of these actors in history based on available evidences.
If they do not like what they find or the inevitable conclusions, they can decide to "rewrite" history, because, sometimes, history writers are also coloured by their beliefs, values, prejudices, and biases (and political expediency).
In one of my previous post, I wrote how one of the reasons the Malay elites at that time assassinated JWW Birch was because he was attempting to abolish slavery in Perak. But somehow, this fact was never mentioned in the history textbook when I was in school. (I do not know about now.)
It was presented as a fight against colonialism.
It may well have been, but it was motivated by the preservation of an adat that gives them free labours.
Now, as I always maintain, the tapestry of history is complex. We can conclude certain things from historical evidences but we are not there and we can never really say for sure that we know everything in details, its nuances and its complexities. But we should not hide what we do know.
Because then, we are lying to ourselves.
In the case of JWW Birch assassination, why does it matter?
After all, we do not practise slavery anymore in Malaysia, do we?
Everyone knows that slavery is wrong...doesn't everyone?
And yet, we still have religious preachers giving ceramah justifying why slavery was OK in the past because of "historical circumstances" but never outrightly saying slavery is not OK in the now, or ever.
They say we do not practise slavery anymore because of "whatever reasons", but they never say slavery is wrong, period.
Did you notice the sleight linguistic trick there?
So, I repeat Avenged Sevenfold...
"Tell me a lie in a beautiful way,
I believe in answers,
Just not today"
We now live in a world where a rock metal band is more truthful than religious preachers. For me, I do not mind. I like to listen to good songs, no matter the genre. And my philosophy is, the truth stands on its own, no matter who speaks it. But for those of you who consider listening to rock metal songs or any songs as haram or sinful, you should be concerned.
Because now, how do you know the truth?
-----
FULL LYRICS:
So I arrived, naked and cold
A welcomed change from the abeyance of a ghost town catacomb
No need for counsel I appreciate the time I’m not alone
(Why don’t you get my lawyer on the phone)
There were days these child eyes
Would overlook the ugliness and fantasize
I found my heart for the first time and I awakened in me
I left myself to navigate… and oh I felt control
(It appears these sheep have quite an appetite)
Who is the crowd that peers through the cage,
As we perform here upon the stage?
As the boy became a man
In came a calm sophistication I can hardly understand
So lost in ego, didn’t notice when the time had slipped away
(Yeah, Everyone’s got a sob story)
Jesus Christ, was born to die
Leave it to man to levitate his own to idolize
We’re simply sociopaths with no communication baby
I see your angle but we differ from our points of view
(So, what’s your cross to bear)
Who is the crowd that peers through the cage,
As we perform here upon the stage?
Tell me a lie in a beautiful way
I believe in answers
Just not today
Hope my wheels don’t abandon me now,
seein’ that I’m out here alone
I’m runnin’ out of fight
And the wind speaks a comforting voice,
guiding me to her arms
Mother, I’m alright
It took the birth of sin to snake-rattle the mind
Before a blow to the head by the gavel of time to wake up
Won’t you wake up?
When did the walking apes decide that nuclear war
Was now the only solution for them keeping the score?
Just wake up
Can’t you wake up?
(You do know this is just a simulation, don’t you?)
Who is the crowd that peers through the cage,
As we perform here upon the stage?
Tell me a lie in a beautiful way
I believe in answers
Just not today.
Interesting explanation....
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