JANUARY 22 — There is this story of Niels Bohr, the famous Danish physicist, who apparently had horseshoes hung above his doors. 

When a visitor, who frowned on this superstitious practice (especially coming from a world-renowned scientist), asked Bohr about it the scientist said, "Oh I don’t believe in it.” The visitor then asked, "But if you don’t believe in it, why do you do it?” 

Bohr replied: "I’ve heard that it works even if you don’t believe in it.”

This story illustrates the essence of a phenomenon known as fetishistic disavowal i.e. a self-defence mechanism which allows us to deal with a painful reality. 

In Bohr’s case, the reality he was trying to stave off was the misalignment of his status as a top scientist with his continued reliance on traditional superstition. 

As long as the horseshoe was hung above the door and he repeated his self-deluding story, he didn’t have to confront the contradiction within himself.

It isn’t hard to see this all over Malaysia as GE14 draws near. 

A certain regime has to continually disavow the institutional racism, money politics and surging Islamisation happening in the country as a direct result of their policies; as long as they keep going through the motions, holding assemblies, blaming selected groups, etc. they’ll never have to confront this fact. 

An aged dictator has to disavow the fact that he is a dictator by, remarkably, penning a satire about what a great dictator he has been throughout his previous reign; as long as the people "need” him, he won’t have to face the full impact of his legacy. 

A fragile opposition has to disavow the fact the only thing they’re not clueless about is the need to win. And young non-voting Malaysians must disavow the fact that their refusal to vote is as irresponsible as it is defeatist.

Helpless and proud of it

In fact, the non-voting bloc reminds me of the woman who accused Aziz Ansari of, well, whatever she accused him of. 

This person, "Grace”, had all the wit and know-how to get a date with a top Hollywood celebrity but ─ breathtakingly ─ admits zero responsibility when the sex went south. 

She couldn’t give a clear No, she couldn’t walk out, she couldn’t scream at him to stop, she couldn’t threaten to call the cops, she couldn’t just run up and down the room.

Doesn’t this remind you of Malaysians who refuse to vote because, so they claim, voting doesn’t change anything? It’s like, there’s nothing I can do so all I’m going to do is moan, whine, and let the powers that be abuse me in order that I continue moaning and whining.

In the case of Aziz Ansari’s accuser, I wonder what lessons she has learnt for future dates. Now that she’s experienced this, what can and will she do? 

From the logic of most Femi-Nazis writing on this issue, the answer is (quite literally): Nothing. 

It is only Aziz Ansari who has to change, it would seem.

It’s the same with the non-voters. No hope, no action, no ideas — just continue hoping that the people leading the country astray will change.

By doing so, these non-voters are not just disavowing their civic responsibilities, they’re disavowing the fact that they’re basically depending on others to care for the country.

And how is that going to help?

* This is the personal opinion of the columnist.