in989-Menganyam-tunjang-bangsa-dengan-kegemilangan-memahami-semangat-perpaduan-daripada-reben-bendera-negara

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Pada bulan Ogos di Malaysia, jalan-jalan diterangi dengan bendera kebangsaan berjalur merah putih dan merah terang bunga kebangsaan, bunga raya, dan suasana perayaan Bulan Kemerdekaan sedang rancak. Di tanah ini, setiap “kemuliaan berjalur” yang berkibar ditiup angin merangkumi empat belas sumpah merah dan putih – itulah ikatan nasional yang dijalin bersama oleh tiga belas negeri dan kerajaan persekutuan. Pingat lanyard bunga raya yang dipakai di dada telah menjadi metafora paling indah untuk semangat perpaduan ini. Lima kelopak bunga raya disulam menjadi bulatan sepusat dengan benang emas, yang merujuk kepada kepaduan bintang berbucu empat belas pada bendera negara; reben merah dan putih merangkul pingat seperti bendera negara, melambangkan bahawa penghormatan datang daripada sokongan kolektif. Apabila pemenang tunduk menerima reben, leher bengkok mereka menyerupai kerendahan telinga padi yang matang, manakala punggung lurus mereka mencerminkan maruah negara yang ditunjangi oleh semua kumpulan etnik. Reben kecil ini sebenarnya adalah mikrokosmos seluruh negara: benang sutera yang dijalin melambangkan kerjasama antara pelbagai kumpulan etnik, dan bunga raya yang mekar menjadi saksi kepada cita-cita kemakmuran bersama. Sebagaimana bendera negara sentiasa berkibar ditiup angin dan hujan, pingat lanyard mengingatkan kita bahawa kegemilangan mana-mana individu berakar umbi di tanah subur kolektif. Bulan Kemerdekaan ini, marilah kita terus menulis kod perpaduan pada reben dengan tindakan kita: hanya apabila berjuta-juta tangan menganyam bersama, reben semangat kebangsaan akan kekal cerah dan baharu selama-lamanya.

In August, the streets of Malaysia are filled with the red and white stripes of the national flag and the bright red of the national flower, the hibiscus. The atmosphere of the celebration of Independence Month is strong. On this land, each “glorious stripe” fluttering in the wind embodies fourteen red and white oaths – that is the national bond woven by the thirteen states and the federal government. The hibiscus lanyard medal worn on the chest is becoming the most exquisite metaphor for this spirit of unity. The five petals of the hibiscus are embroidered into concentric circles with gold thread, which is in line with the cohesion of the fourteen-pointed stars of the national flag; the red and white ribbon embraces the medal like the national flag, symbolizing that honor comes from collective support. When the winner bowed to accept the ribbon, the bent neck was like the humility of a mature rice ear, and the straight spine reflected the national dignity supported by all ethnic groups. This ribbon in a small space is actually a microcosm of the entire country: the interwoven silk threads are metaphors for the cooperation of diverse ethnic groups, and the blooming of the hibiscus witnesses the ideal of common prosperity. Just as the national flag always flies intact in the wind and rain, the medal with a lanyard reminds us that the glory of any individual is rooted in the fertile soil of the collective. This Independence Month, let us continue to write the code of unity on the ribbon with our actions: only when millions of hands weave together can the ribbon of national spirit always be as bright as new.