Malaysian movies tend not to be very good but there is a legit one you can actually watch on Netflix – PASKAL.  The movie is about the Royal Malaysian  Navy’s Special Forces.  It has ships, helicopters, guns, knife fights.  The acting isn’t half bad and the script is tight enough that you won’t be totally rolling your eyes in disbelief.  It isn’t Top Gun Maverick but it also isn’t Dumb and Dumber.

There’s a pretty touching scene at the end when the lead character remarks to his petty officer that he regrets not knowing the full names of the men he commanded.  The latter replies with a quote from philosopher Blaise Pascal – “How many kingdoms know nothing of us?”

That quote applies to many people.  “Ordinary” and unknown heroes. This nonsensical world tends to glorify many in the entertainment or showy realms rather than the real heroes out there. I’m all up for statues of Michael Jordan, Freddy Mercury, and even Robert Griffin III but it also makes sense to have some perspective here.

At NYPD headquarters, after passing security, you enter the Hall of Heroes – dedicated to the fallen Members of Service and with a statue of an unnamed officer. It never gets old.

As a parent, I also often think of what I hope my children should aspire to. Is i to lead an extraordinary life per Robin Williams in Dead Poets Society? Yes, in some ways but that concept is often conflated with getting attention. The real extraordinary is to be as impactful and meaningful as possible, even if not recognized. To this day, no one knows exactly what I did. I wait for the lover who won’t blow my cover to tell all that to. She’s so hard to find.

How many kingdoms know nothing of us?