Man is born free and everywhere he is in chains - Jean Jacques Rousseau

There is a natural aristocracy among men. The grounds of this are virtue and talents - Thomas Jefferson

Malaysia is approaching her 50th birthday. But it is middle age characterised by bipolarism, schizophrenia, amnesia and illusions of grandeur.

In essence, we are a troubled nation, hyper-modernised by half-backed sense of democracy, paying lip service to the idea of a civilised society and insincere in our pledge to create equal opportunity for all.