Lebanon Shelled

Posted on July 26, 2006 by Tricia

This is real. Humanity merely cries out to us from behind the computer screen, but all the way in Lebanon the cries are real. Read the letter below:

Saturday, July 15, 2006

Dear Family and Friends,

First of all, I want you to know that we are okay. We live up a mountain in a primarily Christian area far from the main fighting. As I mentioned before, from our home we can see the airport. The fire is still burning from two days ago.

It has now become clear to us that Israel had been waiting for this moment. We believe that the two soldiers captured were probably used as bait, sad and cruel as that sounds, to lure Hizbullah. The Israelis knowing that Hizbullah has been wanting to kidnap soldiers for a swap, plotted this and Hizbullah being aggressive took the bait. Just the week before close to 6,000 Israeli soldiers mobilized near the Lebanese border along with tanks, etc. They were planning something. I find it hard to believe that with a new mobilization, two soldiers were able to wander off and just get picked off by Hizbullah. And even if they didn’t set the trap, destroying a country is not a response to two kidnapped soldiers. Never in the history of war has a country made such an assault for those kidnapped. Still not saying that what Hizbullah did was right, but there is also no doubt that Israel’s over reaction demonstrates a ploy to not only destroy Hizbullah but also the rest of Lebanon. There is no other explanation for the extremely hostile onslaught that has occurred and for President Bush to turn his head the other way. Not that the US ever admonishes Israel for anything it does anyway. The European Union, Russia and China all condemn Israel’s exaggerated aggression yet in the UN Security Council, the United States has already vetoed two resolutions condemning Israel. Thus, no action can be taken against Israel. From the U.S. and Israel’s point of view, Hizbullah is a terrorist organization and they had planned from long before this assault. The Lebanese are once again caught in the middle and the people are suffering greatly. n To hear Bush say that Israel has a right to defend itself with this level of retaliation really makes me wonder what kind of conscience the US government has. I heard US representative Allen from I don’t know what state approve of Israel’s actions stating that Israel is just targeting Hizbullah targets. Well, let me tell you the facts not just some US propaganda for this onslaught. You come to your own conclusions:

Continue reading →

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Ethnic Relations

Posted on July 26, 2006 by Tricia

Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn, and caldron bubble.

What has been bubbling is now frothing over (not yet spilled – this should wait). The Ethnic Relations guidebook used in UPM (Universiti Putra Malaysia) has been somewhat controversial. There is much talk now over what should be included when teaching a sensitive yet crucial subject as Ethnic Relations in local universities. (of course ignoring in the process all those who flock to private universities – let’s not mention those foreign ones; what traitors to the country they are especially if they stay on for good contributing to white men’s economy!)

I’m not sure if Malaysiakini will sue (I’m quoting and citing you validly here) but this letter written in to Malaysia’s alternative news source online is an interesting opinion to document: Some may beg to differ.

It (ethnic relations) should start being recorded and interpreted from the arrival of the Malays in Malaya as the only people indigenous then were the Orang Asli. Then and only then will the the young generation of Malays will stop referring to or thinking that non-Malays are ‘pendatang’.

Many will recall the statement of our previous prime minister of 22 years made in Sarawak many years back referring to the Chinese and Indians as ‘immigrants’. Activist Dr Kua Kia Soong, in his immediate response said and I quote ‘… so are the Malays, history is our witness’.

Let us teach the present and future generations true history, without colouring, prejudice, bias, or adulteration – the true facts as they happened. That is history. Let us be honest. There is nothing to be afraid of the truth. (KSN)

Tricky, tricky this. What is the next move in our Royal Cardgame? Ahh.. how much more interesting to see what unfolds in Malaysian drama than to watch Winter Sonata Korean dramas in bed.

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Brave New World

Posted on July 26, 2006 by Tricia

Read one of those books I “should have read but never got round to” over the weekend: Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. Written in 1932, it had an insight too deep for its time. Predicting that humanity would be reduced to merely that of continuous pleasures. In order to maintain a socially stable society, it was necessary to remove all possible barriers to pain and sorrow. This included pregnancy, parenthood, love, monogamy, individual opinion, personal feelings.

And in its place you had an order all too perfect and complete: the breeding of babies in test tubes, altered according to the purposes for which they would eventually serve: the Alphas, Epsilons and Betas and so on. Each class of infants would be socially conditioned into believing this was the caste for them – there was no way out.

And if ever there was the feeling of restlessness or being disturbed at anything in this Order, you would pop a pill of soma in, or a number of them, depending on how long you would like to escape into another world. Soma relieves you from depression, pain and suffering on this earth – instead transports you into a paradise, an ethereal world inside your head.

How far are we from this, really, 74 years after Huxley had that brilliant idea? Let’s think about it. You have a pill-popping nation. Think Prozac Nation. Think all sorts of medication that allow one to transcend the painful, real world – which eventually can kill, if not your body, your mind, your heart.

Social conditioning. What really has society been socially conditioned to believe? That certain things are necessary in order to keep society in its comfortable place and position? That anything out of the ordinary will ruffle feathers, step on the growling lion’s toes so an implosion is bound to take place?

And then of course you have the Savage, named so because of his believed and presumed position – uncivilised. But oh how much more civilised this creature is! Because of his knowledge of Shakespeare and how this means the world. The question of what reality is arises. Where from do we draw inspiration? The perfect squeaky clean sterile environment? What is a perfect society? Is it really necessary to impose regulations such that all and all alike behave the same way, subscribe to the same teachings?  (Huxley goes the extent, proving that the most ridiculous of beliefs can be imposed upon us – something to think about.)

In the end, the book (like Orwell’s 1984) provokes questions that are applicable in both the political and spiritual realm. Politically, what level of control is leveraged upon a nation and citizens to achieve social stability but giving up individuality? Spiritually, what sort of happiness is false happiness? If it is imagined and imposed, does it become genuine? Is perceived happiness truly happiness? Personally, I choose pain and gore. Give me the fight, the furious battles of suffering and blood. Also give me emotion, happiness, elation, frustration, love, truth and freedom. O Brave New World is not so brave and not so new after all…

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Thoughts on Kuching

Posted on July 26, 2006 by Tricia

Kuching is a beautiful city, with a river weaving through its heart like a silver snake, alight with tiny lights and stalls at night with friendly folk chitting chatting to the other, the slow wooden boat sliding across the water’s surface with war-like shouts. Gambir Sarawak sold on sidewalks unbeknownst to innocent female folk. Powerful scents seeping through the air, turn around and find a lion in your face, many of them dancing and swirling in a trance of drums.

People civil and kind, clean city with hardly trash around. We have much to learn from Sarawakians. Most of all, less ethnically polarised than us in the West. You see people from different races sitting at the same table, eating and dining, chatting like the oldest of buddies. Colour is not so much a dichotomous black versus yellow versus brown versus white.

No, colour in Sarawak has little meaning, as they are merely different shades of the same source of earth. With no distinction that markedly differentiates one from the other, each can comfortably share food and space, the little of civility that we in the West have failed to achieve in recent years.

Issues seep in and out, but the great big white Parliament still stands far away from their pearly River in Kuching.

And yet, yet I am drawn to the enchanted mystical beauty and lush forests, mountains of the other side. What is it worth to satisfy your mind and not your soul?

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Away but Back Refreshed

Posted on July 26, 2006 by Tricia

I’ve been gone for some time, both physically and mentally trying to figure some things out, but am now back and refreshed. Quite strange is the way a blog can take a life of its own while you are away investigating and thinking about things. My site visits have tripled while I was away, mostly due to the search engines and what has come up in the meantime: “picture of lina joy”, “lina joy photo”, “lina joy case in malaysia”, “sejarah malaysia” and so on, repeatedly. This is a mark of what interests the public, ain’t it?

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Gen M

Posted on July 11, 2006 by Tricia

We had our Generations X and Y, but now has come the time for Generation M, or so it seems according to this new website “Gen M Web“.

Calling themselves true-blue supporters of ex-Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir, they are arranging as welcoming party for his arrival at the Subang airport. The coalition of more than four hundred folk seem to really treat him like a celebrity, with pictures of him plastered all around the website, selling T-shirts and car stickers… this looks more like a music pop group fan club!

Much of this has been sparked off by Dr M’s rather vocal attacks at current Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi on a number of issues, the most controversial of which includes the running of the country by default by his son in law KJ.

Tun M certainly seems to be on a roll these days. Wonder what’s up his sleeve. Finally, for a bit of comic relief, have you heard of the Institute of Tun Dr. M’s Thoughts? I thought that was hilarious. But on a serious note, let’s really see what this Generation M, hardcore diehard fans of our old regime, is up to.

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The Original Folk

Posted on July 9, 2006 by Tricia

Colin Nicholas, through his organisation, the Centre for Orang Asli Concerns, is doing a great job through his prolific writing and commitment to the Original Folk in Malaysia. On his website (Temiar) is the following extract:

The other categories that are used for the Orang Asli are based on ethnic and cultural criteria (Roseman 18: 1991):

  • Senoi: including the Temiar and Semai
  • Semang: include the Lanoh, Semnan and Sabum and all the Northern Aslian speakers except the Chewong.
  • Aboriginal Malays: including the ; Temuan, Jakun, Orang Kanaq and Orang Selitar.

Each group Orang Asli group has its own language, history and customs that are distinct from each other. It is popularly believed that the first Orang Asli may have come to Malaysia about 50,000 years ago through population movements from India, Sri Lanka and South China. (Roseman 1991: 18- 19).

The Malays(who make up 55% of the countries population) are not descendants of the Orang Asli but came to the peninsula about 3-4000 years ago. But it was not until relatively recently that the Orang Asli started being displaced from their homes and traditional land by government sponsored and Western backed development including: logging, dams, plantations and golf courses. Their resources have been destroyed and inadequate compensation (if any) has been supplied such as regrouping them into ‘schemes’ with inadequate land or aid for growing food let alone any cash crops.

Today the Orang Asli make up less that 1% of the total population in Malaysia.

I am in a research mood. I’m going to get my hands on books and materials related to this matter. Strangely enough, few of us know anything about the above issues, much less the actual facts that are highlighted. Click on this to read more about the Orang Asli in Malaysia.

The map below shows the areas in Peninsular Malaysia in which the different tribes live in.

It gives you a mysterious feeling knowing you are but a newcomer into a world that was occupied and lived in thousands of years ago by this humble group of people,the forgotten of Malaysia.

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IPCMC forward

Posted on July 9, 2006 by Tricia

The IPCMC, or the recommended Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission, has been supported by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Musa Hassan! Surprise, surprise.

This is indeed a mini victory for the country’s whistle-blowers, since they were the ones who actively campaigned for the IPCMC to be set up, as an independent commission investigating any wrongdoing within the police force. This tells us that truly, it is essential to have a check-and-balance system within and from outside the government.

Previously, the police force rejected the recommended IPCMC because, according to its website, it would undermine the ruling coalition’s power, and will be a threat to national security.

How it is interpreted as a threat to national security I am clueless about. Surely something as basic as a commission to investigate any wrong action should be supported. If one rejects a right, by default one admits to a wrong – or Fear of a wrong being revealed. If there is nothing to hide, can one not bare all?

Okay now, since the statement is out and official, there is no time to lose. These words cannot be taken back once made, because the citizenry has noted its acceptance. But truly, let’s see how long it will take for it to be actually implemented…

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Christians in Politics

Posted on July 9, 2006 by Tricia

I picked up a book at the immense bookstore on the Doulos. It’s called “How Can a Christian Be in Politics?”, and interestingly enough, the back cover asks the converse question, “How Can a Christian not Be in Politics?”

The book starts off saying that the two topics of faith and politics seem to be a controversial issue to talk about, seeing as in recent times the separation of church and state is deemed necessary. This was in order to avoid a situation in which a singular faith dictates public policy. This seems logical especially in a country of multifaiths. However, I still find it necessary to explore the link between faith and politics, and why it is an important subject in the first place.

My fellowship at church asked me to write an article for Rhema, its bi-annual magazine. Due to lack of time, I merely adapted an entry from my blog, on Social Justice, a topic I feel strongly about. In the article, I ended by challenging the readers to truly take on the face of Christ-ians (followers of Christ, followers of the God we believe in) by actively engaging themselves in social work and affairs which they feel allows social justice to be practised around them.

The author of this new book seems to feel that politics is one such way.

The word politics comes from the root word polis, which is Greek for the city-state. A scholar is quoted to say that “Politics is the polis, or civil community, ordering its life together on the basis of the public good. And to be human is to be a participant in that kind of community.” Further, the Greeks considered anyone outside the polis to be a nonhuman and “barbarian”.

Based on this, we see that all humans are already part of the citizen-state, the polis, and are involved in the politics of their nation, like it or not. And so it is through the means of politics that anything gets done in the government – providing for public amenities, business climate for investment, support of children and the elderly, preventing crime and corruption, defending our constitutional rights and rights to worship.

All of these things are biblical in nature. Individual rights and civil liberties, popular terminologies in postmodern worldviews, are anything but new. These are derived from the original laws of nature, laws prescribed to us by our Creator.

The author sums up nicely by saying that while it is true most governments spark off images of the corrupt and embezzlement of funds, what is there for us to do? How should one respond?

If you are happy with the government, support it. If you are not happy with the government, root for change. Whichever way, it is a responsibility for a Christian to be concerned with the social welfare of your community. What is the challenge then? To advocate faithful politics.

Posted in Religion, The Cause | 1 Comment

Doulos

Posted on July 9, 2006 by Tricia

The last time the Doulos docked at West Port Klang, I was with a bunch of excited young girls in a car. Five years later, the old ship is back in town. Took a short visit over the weekend.

A little bit of history of the Doulos, which is even older than the Titanic by two years. It’s had three other names before it was converted into the Doulos. It was launched in its original name in 1914, and almost going to the scrapyard six times, it was saved by a bunch of Germans who were from an organisation called “Gute Bücher für Alle” – Good Books for All. They already had the very original idea of having a mobile library, travelling to all parts of the world.

Being on the Doulos brings back memories of my love for the ocean and travelling around gypsy-like. It reminds me of past dreams of being a sailor, navigating through the seas through my telescope, igniting my other love of astronomy. Being guided through the stars. And serving on board with 349 other people from 48 different countries. That is truly amazing. Nevertheless, the reality is that the ship eventually becomes a sort of vacuumed world in which you live 24/7. This is not a luxury, neither is it something all people can handle.

The cabins are tiny and cramped, things are mechanical and driven by clockwork which is necessary for the number of passengers on board any ship, discipline is required, rules are rules are rules. But for all that, the overwhelming excitement of working on board a travelling mini United Nations beats all odds. Plus serving with a heart of love for the true cause, for Him. That beats all.

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