Mulan Movement !

Mulan Movement

Today, I had an epiphany. Mulan Movement came into my mind. I was thinking about women who have had positive and lasting impacts on our lives. One would be hard pressed to think of many female heroines who were powerful and inspiring in history. The one that resonates most with me is Mulan.

Once upon a time in ancient China (as written in a poem dated 5 AD), there was an invasion on the borders of Mulan's homeland. The emperor demanded that every family provide a soldier to be conscripted for his army. Mulan's father had been a soldier before. He was well trained and had passed his skills on to Mulan. By then, he was too frail to fight. Her brother was too young. Mulan’s father was called to join the army. Mulan knew that he would be killed, so she offered to go in his place, dressed as a man. Mulan spent 12 years fighting the war and rose to the rank of general. When the war was over, Mulan went back to her hometown.

Mulan was known as one of ancient China's greatest women with swords.
Mulan had both capability(本事) and courage(本色). She had the skill because she was trained in the art of war by her father and she had the courage to take her father’s place despite the fact that she had to go under disguise and be amongst the men to fight the northern marauders.

There was a Shanghai-produced silent movie called “Mulan Joins the Army” (木蘭從軍) . I would like the urge all the womenfolk in Malaysia to join the army of CHANGE or UBAH. Women must rise up and fight, not in the physical sense but to be empowered. Women should not beg; women should not always be at the receiving end. Women should not suffer in silence. Women should be encouraged to speak up. Women should echo other people who champion the same cause. Women should follow, join and support the cause. Women should advocate for reform and champion for issues. Women should actively participate in activism like Stop Lynas, BERSIH, Walk for Justice, Green Walk, Occupy Dataran, Candlelight Vigils etc. Women should educate others not to trade votes for BN’s bribery. Women should educate others not to end up like beggars. Women should encourage others to use their votes at the local and federal level, to be agents of CHANGE/UBAH to influence their husbands, children, relatives and friends. Women should unite and fight sexist, racist and feudalistic behaviour. Let’s call this movement the “Mulan Movement”. What say you ?

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木兰运动

今天我突发奇想，『木兰运动』浮现我的脑海，我当时想起一名在我们生活中具有正向和历久弥新的影响力的女性，在历史中很难有这样强大和鼓舞人心的女英雄，这位最能让我感触的人即是花木兰。

在中国古代（文字记载于公元五世纪），花木兰家乡遭敌军犯境。当时的皇帝命令向每户人家征召一名士兵。木兰的父亲曾当兵，他武艺高强，同时也传授了给木兰。可是，木兰的父亲已经老迈，她的弟弟又年幼，木兰的父亲于是被征召入伍。木兰知道，父亲年事已高，此番出征，想必凶多吉少。于是，她把自己装扮成男儿，代父从军。花木兰奔驰沙场十二载，立功无数，最终被册封为大将军。

战后，木兰卸甲归田，从此人称花木兰为中国历史上手中握剑的伟大女性。

花木兰胆色和才干兼备，她的父亲把一身高强的兵法传授了给她，而她胆色过人，代父从军，女扮男装，与男人并肩作战，抵御北方的侵略者。

以前有一部上海制作的无声电影《木兰从军》，我呼吁马来西亚的女性加入《改变》的大队，女性必须崛起和抗争，不是在体力上，而是在于自身的授权。女性不是包袱，女性不该逆来顺受，女性不该在沉默中继续忍受痛苦，女性应该被鼓励发言，女性应该为其他为了社稷大业而发起的运动而给予回响，女性应跟随、参与和支持这些事业。女性应该为种种的课题，倡议改革和发动运动。女性应该积极参与类似《停止莱纳斯》、《净选盟》、《绿色苦行》、《占领独立广场》、烛光会，等等的公民运动。女性应该教育其他人，不要因为国阵的贿选而出卖自己的选票，女性应该教育他人，不要活像毫无自尊的乞丐，女性应该鼓励其他人，好好利用他们手中州议席和国会议席选票，参与《改变》的助选员，影响他们的丈夫、子女、亲戚和朋友。

女性应该团结起来，对抗大男人主义者、种族极端份子和封建主义。让我们称之为『木兰运动』，您意下如何？