Merdeka 2008

My family have been in Malaysia for many generations. Not sure exactly but we're talking about 5th or 6th generation. We are of Chinese descent (as far as I know but I've been told I don't look Chinese) but have no link in China anymore. Our country is going to celebrate its 51st year of independence on Sunday.

When I picked Adam up from school, he was waving a flag he made in school. Yesterday, Laura came home with a handicraft she made in school. An astronaut with a Malaysian flag to be attached to a pencil. I want to start a family tradition for Merdeka day. I want my children to be proud to be Malaysians. But for the life of me, I can't think what to do. Putting up a flag on my car doesn't make me more Malaysian than I already am. I get annoyed when I see the Malaysian flag getting dirty and torn a week after Merdeka. 31 August has come and gone and Malaysians are not patriotic enough to treat the flag with respect.

I welcome suggestions for something I can do with my family for Merdeka. Maybe have a Merdeka day picnic!