To instill patriotism, our government is again urging the public to display national flags on buildings and vehicles during the month-long Merdeka celebration.

In this respect, it is appropriate to quote from Adlai Stevenson: "...patriotism is not a short, frenzied outburst of emotion, but a tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime." Indeed, Malaysian patriotism should be a dedication of a lifetime.

Yes, many will oblige with the government's call and raise the national flag but are all of them true patriots or just patriots for a month?

With patriotism fever rising, how distressing it is to see these days some vehicles, adorned with the Jalur Gemilang, are blatantly breaking all traffic rules on our roads and highways.

They give the impression that they, 'the patriots', are privileged to break rules because they are flying the Jalur Gemilang.

Similarly we see flags being trampled upon on highways and dirty, tattered and twisted flags hanging on lamp-posts and buildings.

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said: "When a whole nation is roaring patriotism at the top of its voice, I am fain to explore the cleanness of its hands and the purity of its heart."

Malaysia Boleh! But we are still a long way from true patriotism.