To Our Beloved: In Memoriam

Ladies and gentlemen, friends and family, allies and enemies,

We are gathered here today to pay our last tributes and utmost respects to our dearly beloved departed friends, Dissent and Liberty. The nation will continue to remember them as our rock – the ones who made progress possible.

The heartbreaking passing of our friends is more of a matter of regret. It is not only the passing away of our own individual freedom, but it is also the death of an intellectual society. I wish I could say that this is an occasion that we never saw coming, but I guess we would be lying to ourselves if we do not admit that Dissent and Liberty’s health has been deteriorating very badly for the last few years – and the only people who had to power to save them chose not to. Such a shame. They had time to be saved.

We used to pride ourselves in the fact that Dissent and Liberty lived among us. However, now they lie in this open grave for everyone to see and mourn. We are conscious of the ways they died, but we are not allowed to speak of it, in fear that we too might join them six feet under.

There will be an immeasurable amount of loss sustained by their death. My only wish is that people right now and of future generations will continue to fight for what Dissent and Liberty have paved for us, albeit that road was selfishly destroyed. But we will rebuild it – for their sake.

The best way to describe Dissent and Liberty would be with the words of the late genius, Leonardo Da Vinci, “Nothing strengthens authority so much as silence.” Dissent and Liberty were never silent – they were tenacious, strong, and loud.

We do not know what the future has in store for us, but I hope your fiery spirit and strong voice will continue to live on through us. May God bless Dissent and Liberty.

Rest in eternal peace.