Holden on patriotism

“I saw a national parade tonight. It was spectacular, with its vibrant colours and orderly presentation of events which seemed to unfold as a story. It reminded me of how we are so well-governed in that same orderly manner in the guise of an artificial vibrancy.

We’re living this story that our “father” wrote, which he dictates for us every second of our life on this island, and while it usually sounds quite fancy and justified, my mind sometimes wander to an alternative reality where our “father” were more merciful with some of the less conventional choices we make. That he would stop flogging us or condemning us or trying to wipe us out of the family so as to keep his attire ravishingly white.

Or maybe it’s his way of telling us he gave us the life we have now and hence, we should always obey his orders. While I’ve never quite understood the actual longstanding purpose of patriarchy, I’d like to think that one day, we can become fathers ourselves.”