The question posed to PSM, the organisers of a anti-war protest in Kuala Lumpur recently, was this: why bring children to demonstrations? This is an interesting though not in the least surprising.

Some would argue that the people who posed this question were merely concerned about the children's welfare. It may not have occurred to these people that it was to have been a peaceful demonstration and that the right to freedom of expression is enshrined in the highest law of our land the Constitution.

It didn't occur to them it was the police who had started the riot by attacking peaceful civilians on a pleasant Sunday morning. It also didn't occur to them that the mothers would rather have their children with them instead of leaving them at home alone.

And, of course, it has not occurred to them that the protest was about the American war on Iraq where countless innocent people have died.

I am not all surprised that the above factors failed to occur to those who posed the question. Can we really expect this from a typical Malaysian? The typical Malaysian mind is too lazy to think about grappling with issues such as war, environmental hazards or the death penalty.

But really, why should we even try? For most of us, the main concern in the mornings is not about whether the city would be bombed or attacked by militants but what colour our outfits should be or which designer label to flaunt to that high-powered glam event to be attended by luminary.

The best part about being Malaysian is not worrying whether another war is breaking out or whether 600 million people are starving but about - yes, you've guessed it - where the biggest, hottest, craziest sales are this weekend.

Coming to our 48th birthday, it is still evident that we have not be able to think beyond race and religion. Psychologically, we are still wide-eyed primary school kids going around asking 'why?'.

Bangsa Malaysia? Oh yes, we are a Bangsa Malaysia. We are definitely united when it comes to denying ourselves and others basic our rights enshrined in our own constitution.