followed by medical studies.

The inherently juvenile perception of what constitutes as meaningful contribution to the advancement of society and mankind is too readily demonstrated.

'Bright' students who feel insulted to be doing agriculture can pursue their dreams of being a doctor, lawyer and accountant elsewhere. Asians, in particular, seems to retain an unhealthy fetish of occupational class stigma where some jobs are assigned higher social status and prestige.

Apparently, one can only do 'great things' when they have money and power. The only argument that seems to hold water for Dues Ex Machina is to award all 'bright' students the chance to do medicine.

Here is a lesson on 'great things'. Every contribution to society can help in achieving great things. We must realise that we can do many other things to make a contribution to the progress of society other than being a money-eyed lawyer, doctor or accountant.

Every single volunteering act is a contribution to your neighborhood and community. Every moment you spend on self-improvement will make you a better employee or entrepreneur in whatever line of work you choose.

Feel insulted to be doing agriculture? But you don't seem to mind too much what you are eating. If we have more 'bright' people in agriculture, they can probably explain the use of growth hormones and other special feeds in getting that fowl to our dinner table.

Don't you see? There are too many self-proclaimed 'bright' people who took society for a ride, made millions and then lectured the rest of the populace on the importance of worshiping their contributions.

It is no wonder our civil participation is as backward as it is.

Anyone's parents including my own (being only two people in a nation of 25 million) can do way more than just voting once every four to five years. Change does not mean voting for the opposition in alone.

Our citizens must be vigilant of their rights and push for reforms that can be sustained through a strong legal framework. The narrow and stereotypical view of affecting social change is so infantile that I cannot help but wonder how bleak the future of this country is.

If our path to a civil society is through the 'people's power' a la the Philippines, I would rather our country not. A civil society is not about mob rule and anarchy, but of the paramount importance of the rule of law.

Dues Ex Machina first blamed the government for denying 'bright' students to 'contribute' (and oh, if you are not doing medicine you ain't contributing, brother). Then he proceeded to equate the path to civil society as a series of massive demonstrations that delight in breaking the law.

Then finally, the coup de grace - putting the blame squarely on 'the majority' who don't see the need to change.

Who is the 'we' in this context? Dues Ex Machina is just another statistic who quitted the country at the behest of his parents and decided that his future lies elsewhere.

Bon voyage, Dues Ex Machina and all the best in your future endeavours. May you find your chance to contribute to Australia. I am sure you will find many other things more deserving of your time.

Does Malaysia really deserve your help? I cannot answer that. It never crossed my mind to calculate it. If you want to help, give a free hand readily. If you feel that you have given in vain and feel slighted, you can always choose to be disappointed, cynical and bitter.

The beautiful thing here is about choice. Some people are givers, some are takers. What about you?