The polemical article of DAP international secretary Ronnie Liu arguing that Umno leaders were not the real fighters of Merdeka has stirred up quite a bit of reaction, both from Umno Youth as well as other individuals.

While Liu's perspective appears a little too simplistic, Umno Youth's response did not appear to be any more superior or even worthy to be taken seriously. Although I find Nicole Tan's response in malaysiakini quite balanced, many of the reactions especially in the mainstream English media appear to be more or less partial to the winners.

So my contribution here intends to compensate for this imbalance for one party of the losers. I do sympathise with the undue pain and suffering felt by the victims and their relatives of both sides, but we should also endeavour to see this important and painful part of our national history from the point of view of both sides. This, I feel, would help in our slow process of national reconciliation.