As a nation, we easily forgive and forget as the festive season comes and goes. It is as if a good way to a nation's forgetfulness is through its food.

The symbolic act of having national open houses and "not talk about politics" for a few days, weeks, or a month, numbs the human mind of the critical sensibility to pick up the momentum to protest against structural injustices committed the year before, or even decades before.

We even need a new slogan, "National Integrity Day," just like many before Bersih Cekap Amanah, Kepimpinan Melalui Teladan, etc - to embalm yet another of our contradictions and to create an even bigger smokescreen.

Back to the culture of open houses. It is as if when one visits an open house of a community or national leader that is lavishly adorned with good food and gaiety, one gets into this "symbolic power" game of "giver-receiver of aid" and "becomes momentarily indebted to those who owns the means of providing such momentary pleasure albeit a few hours.