COMMENT " All that is necessary for evil to triumph, is for good men to do nothing."

A common quote attributed to Edmund Burke, variations of which is oft spoken, when apathy against evil is discussed, or to argue that one person, or the few, can and do make a difference, to the whole, and the many.

A concept that is the crux of post-apocalyptic American television series, 'Defiance', originally aired on the Syfy Channel.

It's a tale set on an Earth in the aftermath of intergalactic warfare with the Votan Collective, an alliance of eight alien races, who fled their dying planetary system, 5000 light years away, to seek refuge on our world.

Arriving in giant space transport vessels dubbed Arks, the aliens at first established peaceful negotiations, hoping for co-existence, becoming full-fledged members of the United Nations.

The olive branch and extended hand of friendship was however replaced with weapon fire and claws of war, after the assassination of a Votan diplomat by a human extremist.

The Earth Republic, the world government formed to face the conflict, and the Votans, loosed the best and bravest of both sides at each other, intent on victory and nothing else.

The conflict raged into a war of attrition that ravaged an Earth already reeling from fresh disaster, as early in the conflict, the Votan Arks mysteriously malfunctioned, and began to crash into the planet, triggering terraforming machines kept in the arks, to begin adapting our climate to Votan life, further scarring and changing humanity's home forever.

Casualties were high and both sides became more determined and unleashed hell and more upon each other.

Until that one fateful day at a place named Fort Defiance, when elite soldiers from both sides, the Ekaru Kome of the Votans and the 9th Mechanised Division, dubbed the Iron Demons from Earth's military, assigned to eliminate one another, instead joined hands to rescue and protect innocent civilians who were caught in the crossfire, and trapped in the rubble.

As told by one of the characters in the series:

"Human and Votan soldiers defied orders and united to save innocent lives. This valiant act inspired the belief that we must brave this new frontier together."

Brothers in arms

These humans and Votans, once enemies became battle-brothers and allies, tired with war and sick of killing, they decided that their job is no longer to kill, but to protect and to preserve life, both human, and Votan.

The Defiant Few, they were called, and a legend was built around them, a legend that forced both governments to reconsider the war, the domino that they knocked over led to peace as both sides saw the need to end the conflict, and focus instead on healing the planet, and each other.

Their legend led to the founding of an independent town proudly named Defiance, where humans and all eight Votan races lived together.

NONE The few do matter, and every person counts. As they say, every avalanche starts with a single snowflake.

A lesson which I hope would resonate within our own times, as those that would see us divided so that they can hold on to power, continue to attempt to pit us against one another, brother against brother, sister against sister. Malaysians against Malaysians.

As the spectre of race and the bogey of conflict is shoved down our throats by irresponsible information peddlers, at the behest of their power-grubbing masters, the need for the few to show defiance is great and dire.

And so I hope, nay I beg that we listen not to those with division in their hearts, but turn instead to those who would see us unite.

I hope one day, when they write our history, this is what they say:

"They defied the racist prodding and united to save the country. Their valiant act inspired the belief in unity and preserved Malaysian harmony."

HAZLAN ZAKARIA is a member of the Malaysiakini team.