Ethnocentrism In Our Society

A couple of days ago, I happened to find myself embroiled in an argument over the claim that certain religions are stupid. In fact, I really did not want to get involved in any way with the argument but somehow I did. What happened was that while minding my own business, I happened to tune in to an argument in which one claimed that he was free to join any religion except a stupid religion. Upon hearing that, I smiled to myself and asked myself what he really meant by the etchnocentric term, "a stupid religion". I was intrigued, but decided against firing a salvo in that argument. But, once it had really gotten way too much, I just had to say something, and without even realizing, I fired my first salvo. I immediately told the person that there was no such thing as a stupid religion. I went further by saying that each religion preaches differently because different people have different views and therefore ultimately leading to different perceptions as well as understandings about reality. Makes sense? Apparently, this statement did not make sense to the person who advocated the term "stupid religion." He said that the nature of certain teachings are stupid because they make no sense and that certain teachings imply that their believers should kill or exterminate all those who do not believe in their religion. This was where the topic changed. I went on by reminding the person of the fact that the ideology which he speaks of is due to the twisted interpretations of a certain religion by certain groups of fanatics and is in no way related to the texts or the preachings of the religion which the radicals based it on. But apparently this still sounded alien to him. He went on by arguing that since the majority of the followers from that faith practices this form of radicalism, therefore it has to be what the religion originally intended. After he had put across this point, I went on to give him a simple analogy. This is what it sounded like. If a parent teaches a child to be a good citizen, but the child differs from the parents teachings and decided to join the delinquents instead, does this mean that being a delinquent is what the parent originally intended for the child? And to my surprise, he answered yes. Now, at this point, I was at a loss for words. I simply asked him, are you trying to imply just because the child choose to join the delinquents instead of listening to his or her parents, that this is what the parent intended for him or her? He still said yes. I then proceeded to ask him in what way did his argument make sense? He responded by saying the exact same lines which he told me earlier. Since a good majority of its followers practices it, therefore it has to be what the religion intended. At this point, I reasoned that this argument is getting nowhere. Time for a change in strategy. After a momentary pause, I asked him what statistics was he basing his "majority of the people" on? What about the moderates? Don't their opinions and interpretation count as well? Furthermore, if your claim is indeed true, then every religion in the world is corrupted. Because, we have seen the development of radical or extremists in every religion out there. We have seen this in Hinduism, Christianity, Judaism, Islam and many more. So, are we then not being idiots by practicing these religions? At this point, there was silence. I went silent too. I had made my point. But inside, I was still debating. The point is simple, in order to offer criticism towards a religion or anything for that matter, we have to understand the meaning of its texts and not by the actions of its followers.
I believe that this kind of mentality is not an isolated case. In fact such ethnocentric views are quite widespread amongst the citizens of the world. Upon putting some thought into the matter, I have come up with a few possible reasons as to why the conditions are such. First, I think that the government controlled media has plenty to with it. This is because, each government has their own form of ideals and wishes to impose those set of ideals towards their citizens. And the best possible method is through the media. It is said that to be a good judge, one has to hear the story from both sides of the coin. And in this case, this rule is violated. Because, in a government controlled press, the stories are often given from one side of a coin. And when it comes to religion, it is just the same case. People are getting information that is extremely biased and shallow minded at best.
Second, I would like to fault preachers themselves. Just like in government controlled press, preachers in religious organizations often give a very biased view on religion. They never enforce critical thinking but rather thinking based on blind faith. In short, they tell you whatever they want you to believe or think. And as a result of this, many people have very ethnocentric views on other religions and are often overly critical of people from other religions.
So, these are only two of the many reasons which I think is to be blamed for such views which were expounded by the person whom I was arguing with earlier. Therefore, in my opinion, I think that it is time for us to change this view to a more mature view. Let us not only progress through technnology, but through the greater understanding of people and their respective religions.

Airborne

I want this game so badly but the aunty in Subang Parade seems a little slow at getting her stock, so it seems that I won't be playing this game anytime soon and this is indeed a very sad fact as I have waited months to play this game. And in those months, just to please myself, I have watched the trailer over and over again. And when the release date came, which was yesterday, I went to buy it, but I could not because that aunty doesn't have stock. So it seems that I have to buy the original copy. Curses.

Heroes

They say that heroes are probably the most enviable items on earth. Some of us gawk at them, we admire their abilities, society always looks up upon them, and most of us even dream of being a hero. After all, to the best of our knowledge, a hero's life often seems so perfect. But, what most of us don't know about is that there is more to a hero than what meets the eye. There is more to his or her life away from all the glitz and glamor which they receive from the public eye. There is more to the smile, the kindness, the bravado, the self sacrificial attitude which they put on everyday. These people are willing to stare death in the eye to protect people whom they have never met before. And yet, even with the risk of death, they still go on saving people. But now the question arises. Why do these heroes do what they do? What exactly makes a hero tick?
Honestly, I don't know the answer.

Warm Shower

Ever gotten angry about something before? If you have, I am sure that you must have come upon advice in which someone advises you to take a long warm shower to cool your temper and to put some deep thought into your anger. I know that this piece of advice is rather cliche-ed, but much to my surprise, I found out that, like it or not, a long warm shower really works miracles too cool the anger off. Plus, it is an excellent avenue for someone to take a long hard look at what the anger was all about without having anyone disturb you. Forgive my language but, this is of course said under the assumption that you have no one else taking a bath with you.
Returning to the point. Just yesterday, I was extremely enraged at something which I, before taking that long warm shower could just not stop thinking about. And much to my regret, instead of venting my anger in a more respectable manner, I took it out on quite a number of people who were with me on that day. People who had done no wrong to me and who had their best intentions for me on that day. And it goes without saying that I did manage to hurt some peoples feelings very badly and I am completely saddened by this fact.
So, after I got back from spending almost my entire day being enraged, I did what seemed routine to me, which was to take a bath. A very long bath which is of course not a very surprising fact to most of you given that by my own admission that I have this very peculiar fixation for water, especially warm water running out of a shower head.
Then, while taking this shower, I immediately cooled down. The warm water somehow seemed to cool me down. It was completely unexplainable. My anger just went away. It was replaced instead, by more calm, philosophical thoughts and feelings. I started realising how stupid I was getting angry in the first place. Yes, I realised that I had seen so many things from all the wrong angles and my anger had clouded my mind from thinking rationally and because of that tempers flared and feelings got hurt. And, I just had this strong feeling of regret, of remorse and I just started thinking of all the people which I had hurt the other day. But apart from cooling me down, this hot shower taught me many things as well. It taught me never to let anger and frustration become your master because in the end, it is the angry who will lose out. Because while every body is busy being happy, you are just too consumed by your anger that you fail to realize all that is happening around you and you just fail to see things from a more clearer vantage point.
So, next time you get all heated up over something, you might just want to try immersing yourself in a long warm shower. You just never know what surprises lay before you and just what you may learn from it.

Random Survey

one] what is your natural hair color?
honestly:- Black

[two] where was your default picture taken?
honestly:- No pictures on my blog

[three] what's your middle name?
honestly:- K?

[four] your current relationship status?
honestly:- Single

[five] does your crush like you back?
honestly:- I don't know

[six] what is your current mood?
honestly:- I don't know

[seven] What makes you happy?
honestly:-I don't know

[eight] if you could go back in time and change something, what you would change?
honestly:- I don't know

[nine] if you must be an animal for one day, what would you be?
honestly:- An Eagle

[ten] ever had a near death experience?
honestly:- Not that I can remember.

[Eleven] something you do a lot?
honestly:- Breathe

[twelve] the song stuck in your head?
honestly:- Loser

[thirteen] who did you copy and paste this from?
honestly:- David "Hendrix" Lim "Delonge" Yu "Geiger" Liang "Coxon"

[fourteen] name someone with the same birthday as you?
honestly:- Rupert Grint

[fifteen] when was the last time you cried?
honestly:- Around 7 or 8 years ago

[sixteen] have you ever sung in front of a large audience?
honestly:- Moderate one, yes.

[seventeen] if you could have one super power what would it be?
honestly:- The ability to choose whatever superpower I need at that time.

[18] what's the first thing you notice about the opposite sex?
honestly:- That they are female.

[19] what do you usually order from starbucks?
honestly:- Nothing

[twenty] what's your biggest secret?
honestly:- I don't know

[twenty-one] favorite color?
honestly:- Black.

[twenty-two] when was the last time you lied?
honestly:- When I said I don't know.

[twenty-three] do you still watch kiddy movies or tv shows?
honestly:- No.

[twenty-four] what are you eating or drinking at the moment?
honestly:- Nothing.

[twenty-five] do you want to learn to speak any other language? if so, what?
honestly:- German and Spanish.

[twenty-six] what's your favourite smell?
honestly:- Fresh Fish.

[twenty-seven] if you could describe your life in ONE word what would it be?
honestly:- Alive.

[28] when was the last time you gave/received a hug?
honestly:- I don't know.

[29] have you ever been kissed in the rain?
honestly:- No.

[thirty] what are you thinking about right now?
honestly:- I wish I knew

[thirty-one] what should you be doing?
honestly:- Watching History Channel.

[thirty-two] what was the last thing that made you upset/angry?
honestly:-You don't want to know.

[thirty-three] how often do you pray?
honestly:- I don't remember.

[thirty-four] do you like working in the yard?
honestly:- Why not?

[thirty-five] if you could have any last name in the world, what would you want?
honestly:- Clearwater.

[thirty-six] do you act differently around your crush?
honestly:- Perhaps. I can't remember.

[thirty-seven] name one song that reminds you of an ex?
honestly:- None.

I tag..
Jon, Sara, Rachel

Face Down

Angels And Saints

They say that the best things in life are always hard to find. Even rare, are the angels and saints who constantly watch over your every move, making sure that no matter how many times you fall, there will be someone waiting to give you a helping hand. Picking you up every time you fall. I find this phrase extremely hard hard to disagree with. Experience, probably my most important teacher has shown me just how true this is. Personally, I feel glad that through the entire course of my existence, I've been given the greatest honor of knowing quite a few extraordinary souls who has not only filled me up but also provided a place where I know I belong. A place in which I will never feel like an alien. A place I know I will miss when the time comes to say goodbye. I always believed that I was stony enough not to let my feelings get the better of me but when it comes to these people, I am often overwhelmed by my feelings that I seem to forget reality itself. So much so, my mind now tells me that no matter how strong a rock can be, apply enough heat, and it will melt. And molten I have become in the face of this pleasurable heat which has burned me deep enough to leave an everlasting scar. A scar which will always remind me of the love I once longed for. A scar which will always remind me even in my most darkest of hours about the love which I receive in my barren existence.
Words. Words can never describe the extent of what it is that I engender deep in me. But somehow, my fingers, deep with gratitude knocks away on this blackened plastic keyboard hoping that someday, sometime, the right words will indeed emerge and will be put across as a testament to how much its master depends on all those angels and saints around him to keep him going strong. To make sure that he doesn't become insane from the challenges of life.
Names. Names are not important at this stage. For I believe that those who understand will know all those who I refer to and they themselves will come up with the pieces of the puzzle and put them together to form the picture which I have in my mind. And in it, they will learn, they will learn the names of those to whom I dedicate these words to. And they will learn how thankful I am to have them as my friends. For it is my belief that no amount of gold, no amount of riches, can ever become a subsitute to the riches of a friend.

The Traits Of A Virgo

While surfing the net, I came upon this little article, which I read with amusement and decided to share it here. Oh, and by the way, It's Yee Leong's birthday today. Happy birthday dude!!

With an acute attention to detail, the Virgo is the sign in the zodiac most dedicated to serving. Their deep sense of the humane leads them to caregiving like no other, while their methodical approach to life ensures that nothing is missed. The Virgo is often gentle and delicate, preferring to step back and analyze before moving ahead.

Friends and Family
A Virgo is a helpful friend to have indeed. They are excellent at giving advice, and they really know how to problem solve. You'll find that a Virgo will remind you to take good care of yourself, as health is a focal point for them. And when the meal is done, they'll be the first to jump up and start the dishes. Loving and dedicated to family, the Virgo is also first on the scene when care is needed. When someone reaches old age or is ill, the Virgo will be there doing all that is needed. The Virgo is not known for showing their feelings. They prefer to show through deed than by word.

Career and Money
"I analyze" is the key phrase for the Virgo personality, while "practicality" is the keyword. Industrious, discriminating, and scientific by nature, the Virgo really knows how to get to the heart of the matter. They are exceptionally methodical and do well in jobs that require organization. If there's anything out of order, set a Virgo to the task!

When focused on a task, the Virgo will push themselves to perfection, leaving no stone unturned. They are exacting and take great pride in a job done to the absolute best of their ability. When they feel their talent falls short, they'll turn to the books to learn whatever they need to improve. Careers suited to this sign include being a doctor, nurse, psychologist, teacher, writer, and critic.

Virgos are excellent with their money. They generally keep a strict grasp on what they spend, and strive to put away as much money as they can. They plan well in advance for expenditures, and when it comes to shopping, they aren't apt to overspend. Every now and then the Virgo can be seen buying themselves something of beauty, though. They love the arts and enjoy decorating their homes with taste.

Love and Sex
It's important for the Virgo lover to feel needed by their mates. Outside of the bedroom is where the majority of foreplay is going to happen for this sign. Tactile, methodical and willing to take as long as is needed, they make excellent lovers. Even though the Virgo won't express many words of love, they will show their affections in the bedroom. Virgos prefer to have a few strong connections rather than many partners. Life partners are chosen based on how important and needed the Virgo feels they are in their lives. They are dedicated spouses that love to live on the wild side once and a while.

VIRGO TIDBITS

Virgo Birthdays
August 22 - September 22

Health
Each sign has a part of the anatomy attached to it, making this the area of the body most sensitive to stimulation. The anatomical areas for Virgo are the intestines, liver, pancreas, gall bladder, lower plexus, and the upper bowel.

Ruling Planet
The ruling planet for Virgo is Mercury. Representing intellectual urge and the avenue of expression, this planet rules reason, rationalization, words, awareness and communication. Its action is quick and it also deals with travel, speaking, writing, trade, and emotional capacity and technique.

Colors
The colors of choice for Virgo are green and dark brown.

Gemstone
Virgo's star stone is the sardonyx - the reddish brown variety.

Lucky Numbers
Virgo's lucky numbers are 2, 5, and 7.

Compatibility
Virgos are most compatible with Capricorn and Taurus.

Opposite Sign
The opposite sign for Virgo is Pisces.

The Perfect Gift
The best gifts for a Virgo are health-related items.( Don't know about this though)

Likes
Animals, beauty, eating healthy, orderliness.

Dislikes
Sloppiness, squalor, being wrong, chaos.

House
Natural sign of the Sixth House. This house focuses on health, habits, unconscious mind, service given, work, pets.

Famous Virgos
Stephen King, Charlie Sheen, Mother Teresa, Sophia Loren, Rupert Grint(Ron Weasley) and Mickey Mouse

The Final Year

The clock in my living room shows that the hour is 11.30 at night. Another thirty minutes and the date would have already become the 23rd of August. A further 24 hours and thirty minutes, the date would have already become the 24th of August 2007, a date which is very significant to me. For it has been 19 years since I drew my first breath, 19 years since I had first seen the light of day through my inexperienced eyes, and most importantly, 19 years since I had started this journey which we all call life.
Obviously, I am extremely glad that I am getting older as the days go by. Moving faster and faster away from what is often termed the late teenage years. Every second I live, is one second closer to adulthood. In fact, come this 24th of August, I would only have one year left as a teenager. Then, its adulthhood for me.
If you were to ask me about my feelings or thoughts about it, I would not be able to give anybody an answer because, I really don't know how exactly I feel about it. There are plenty of mixed thoughts and mixed emotions involved in it. As I sometimes feel happy, scared, anxious, excited and a host of other indescribable feelings.
I feel happy because, like I have previously mentioned, I will no longer be looked upon as just another kid but instead as another adult, finding his way in life, tryig to make a difference in something, somewhere. Apart fro that, I also feel happy because, I will become that much closer to achieveing my dreams and that much closer to embarking on another chapter in my history.
I feel scared, anxious and nervous because, I am often afraid of the unknowns which will certainly present itself before me in many surprising ways I am sure. Furthermore, at some point in time, I will no longer be able to enjoy the security of having many things which I often take for granted such as having a home, food, and things of similar nature because I will then have to do everything on my own two feet. Though I am excited about the prospect of roughing it out in the real world as an independant man, I am quietly scared of the challenging prospects of life. A life no longer butressed by my parents. No more allowances, no more paid bills, no more paid for amenities, no more nothing which I did not work for.
But despite of all the challenges which I know lie ahead, I am well and truely ready, but not neccesarilly prepared to take on this challenge. What come may, I shall face it with enthusiasm and tact which I hope that I will be able to.

The Blue Sky

A couple of hours ago, I went to collect a couple of my belongings from a friend of mine, Christina. Then, after I had collected it from her, the both of us walked to the gate. Then, suddenly I looked up and commented about the beauty of the stars. To be honest, its been quite a while since I saw a sky as starry as I did today. In fact, the last time I saw a star kissed sky was back when I was sailing on the River Nile. It was during that time too that I witnessed something quite extraordinary, which was a shooting star. Two actually. Anyhow, back to the present. We then stood at the porch, started starring at the stars and started speaking about it. While speaking about it, I started thinking about the stars themselves. I started realising that the beauty of the stars that lie thousands of light years away, the beauty of the stars which often inspire people, the beauty that often breeds love and sparks imagination are often clouded or erased by our polluted skies.
Personally, I'm a huge fan of the skies. I just seem to be fascinated by everything about it. Even the clouds which most people never seem to think twice about inspires me. I often stand outside my balcony with my camera, documenting the skies. And as always, I am captivated. Therefore, I am saddened by the fact that as the days go by, slowly but surely, these beauties will be ripped away from earth. One fine day, as long as the industrialists go on with their rigor, so long as the motorists continue to traverse the roads with their toxic vehicles, we will only be able to perceive the sky as a blanket of toxic smog. The beauty of the skies will only be described in the text books of history. I hope that this day will never arrive. I hope that the skies will continue to stay clear so that not only us, but our future generations will be able to marvel at its beauty. The beauty which has inspired so many. Including myself.

My Day Today

Today was the first day of my holidays in which I had tonnes of fun. In the morning, I was at Christina's place. She had asked the during the previous night if I was free to come and help her out with her music and I said yes. So, I went and I had tonnes of fun making music with her and we managed to come up with two songs. One of it she had already made some time in the past but needed fills and the other song was a completely random song. And I'm looking forard to making more music when I visit her tomorrow. After that I went out with a bunch of friends for some late night outing and had some fun again. During that time, Shaun acted like a complete maniac and nearly smashed into a stationary car while driving Chai's dad's car. We turned Jon's apartment into a mini jamming studio. His parents were not in. Pity his neighbours.

Loser

Loosing is probably one of my greatest dislikes. I hate it so much that I always refrain from even acquainting myself from someone whom I think will instill negative or pessimistic emotions into me. Not that I am a sore looser or anything. But loosing is just something very painful to me. Mix with the lions you become a lion, mix with the pigs you become a pig. Today, that just happened to me. I lost. Big time in the Set Game Challenge. I came in fourth. Though I have the liberty of consoling myself that I came in fourth against people who have had months of experience playing that game more than me, but I still can't seem to find solace in that. I have my reasons. But that's life I guess. And loosing is a part of it. I better start learning to accept them with a pinch of salt.

The Diminishing Value of Conversations

Over the course of the past few days I have been having very good conversations with a few people. All of them extremely thought provoking, some of them describing just how much prejudice has become an integral part of our culture, some of them about how the true meaning of education is slowly but steadily diminishing, some about extremely whacky things which we did in our past, some were about how views are open to interpretation and some of them were downright funny.
I dare not speak for the vast majority but a good conversation is something which I would always look forward to and cherish. In fact, some conversations which I have encountered are so refreshing that I tend o remember them and on a couple of occasions smile to them. Sometimes, if the conversation is conducted over the web, I tend to save that conversation in hopes of viewing them again whenever I felt like it. This week alone, I saved three.
It is my sincere belief that the value or rather the goodwill of conversations in this modern world is somewhat diminishing. When I say the word good conversation, what I mean is a conversation which is first and foremost based on the properties intellect, entertainment, lacking in prejudice, lacking in fallacy, witty and last but not least, worded with precision.
The reason why I say that good conversations are becoming a thing of a past is because nowadays a majority of the people seek to engage in mind building conversations. The reasons could simply be the infamous 'I don't care attitude" or the "Dude, that's way too much for my brain to handle right now" or "I've got no time for you" or maybe in some cases, people just don't want to speak their hearts out just because they fear that by sounding different, they risk being the social outcast or things like that.
In some cases I understand their reasons for doing so as one sociologist even suggested that the problems of such nature faced by our society is indeed compatible to the current timeline at which we are living in. The reason is simply due to the severe need to multitask. Something which people of the past never heard of. They explain that as time progresses, we will start knowing each other less and less personally. Take for example in the old days everyone knew of everyone in their community. They constantly made contact by having conversations right from who married who or to whatever it is that was of great importance to the community or to the country. They had so much to share. Unfortunately, nowadays this is no longer the case anymore. Most of us barely even know our immediate neighbours, let alone their names. So what this often leads to is number one, a breakdown in communication, constant misunderstanding and a lack of care for thy neighbour. And this is why, even amongst our friends, we don't enjoy a good conversation. Which leads to us not knowing our friends in a significant way. Ask yourselves, how well do you know your friend? Would you be even close to knowing a good 50% of him or her. I know I don't. Forget the friend tests, those are not an accurate measure of how much you know a person because most of the questions there are trivial and is largely known to a wide bunch and whose information can be accessed easily or even without qualms from the person. What about the information which are barred? Do you think you know every single but of it? If you do, I take my hats of to you. You're a person who should be made as an example.
But like I pointed out earlier, ther reason this is true is because of the lack of intelligent conversations between people. It is sad, but indeed a very appaling reality which in my opinion should be changed. We have seen our identification towards people shrink from a personal tone to an impersonal tone, and I am pretty sure that we wouldn't want to start knowing people based on their instant messaging names and that alone.

Mom

Today is my mothers birthday and she turns 51 on this day. Yes I know the numbers seem scary but let me assure you where she is involved, age really isn't a factor. And no, I'm not just saying that because she is my mom. I really don't know what to write here because I know that even my vocabulary is severely limited when it comes to describing all the gifts of life which she has given to me. She has always inspired me and taught me to always follow my instinct and do whatever it is that makes me happy. She always makes me think that I can and that I am the best no mattr what I do. But she also taught me humility. She said that no matter how powerful or how rich you are, never become arrogant. Especially towards the people who helped you to get to where you are. In short, she is one of the main reasons why I am able to stand here today and be the person that I am. I know that she may not be that perfect mother, but who is? All I know is that she did her best to bring me up and I am very thankful for that. But like I said, my vocabulary can never do justice in describing her. So before I do even more injustice, it would be wise of me to stop typing.

Jonetsu Tairiku

Blame this on Yee Leong!!! But to think of it, these guys really kick some good butt. The solo's are amazing.

Addiction

Leaning from behind the door,
I feel my breath quicken.
My heart starts racing,
As the adrenaline starts to fill my veins.
I promised myself no more of this,
But somehow it became a broken promise.
Everytime I stopped,
It would come back to me.
It is like a cancer,
A cancer with no cure.
So long ago,
So much advice,
So much talking to,
But yet,
I still haven't changed.
On the outside I have.
In the inside I am just as black.
When?
When will this addiction leave me?
Leave me before it consumes me.

Wordplay

Holidays

I just visited Christina's blog and found a certain link which rates a person's blog just like it would rate a movie. Curious, I attempted to rate mine and got this.

Mingle² - San Francisco Singles

A G - Rated blog. Interesting. And I always thought that my blog was strictly limited to people who ate Italian handbags boiled in fish soup for breakfast and then claim to be superman.

But anyways, on a more lighter note, I am already two days into my three week holiday. But before you start getting all green like that green eyed monster who so happens to go by the name Jealousy, I might warn you though that so far the holidays have been just as interesting as listening to the math teacher read out equations from a book. For starters, on Monday, I ended up playing driver for my mother. She wanted to go to the PKNS building to renew her staff's visa and therefore asked me to drive her there. The driving part was fun. I nearly crashed the car twice. But surprisingly, my mom didn't even shriek. That was the fun part. But like all good stories, there has to be the climax. This was when I fell victim to the inefficiencies of the Malaysian Immigration system. What had supposed to take ten minutes to complete took a little over two hours. Need I say more? I was so mad that I had practically created an entire essay about these inefficiencies in my head. Increasing demand, same capacity building for the past ten years. Logical? Only in Malaysia that is. Then later that day, while shopping in Carrefour, I was dragged into a survey. I wouldn't usually do it but what can a man do when the person who is surveying him looked the way she did? The irony of it all was that she got all my details, even my phone number and where I lived, but I didn't even get her name nor her number. A world so fair, where mutual exchange is no longer respected. Sad. So, one day wasted.

Then there was Tuesday. Woke up at 9.30, went for PACE at 1.00 then spent the entire evening playing computer games. Ghost Recon to be specific. Oh yeah, I met Yee Leong's mother today while walking to pace. And so, I ended the day blogging. I don't know of you see any fun in this but I sure don't.

Black

Education

When one fails to understand the true purpose of education, they fail to understand life itself. Because education is not just about passing exams to make the grade. Those are just minor exams. Exams which show just how compatible you are ot the ever failing education system. There are other bigger tests out there. Especially the examinations which life gives to us. Examinations which we have never prepared to educate ourselves for. Winston Churchil was a faliure at school and so was Einstein. John Mayer was kicked out from Berkely School of Music. But yet, these people went on to become respectable experts in their respective fields. Some have eternal glory that will never fade, that will never be lost in the ever so rapid tide of time.

Killing Lonliness

If The World Ended Tomorrow

Yesterday, I was asked a rather simple, but difficult to answer, question by a friend of mine. The question simply went, what would you do if you found out that the world would end tomorrow? This was after I had asked her the same question and she gave me her own interesting version of what she would have done if indeed the world were coming to and end. But, it was a completely different ball game when the tables were turned. Now I had the dubious honor of explaining what I would do if I faced a similar prospect. And quite honestly, I didn't know how to answer the question. I haven't previously given serious thought about it. So, with the obligation of answering the question, I simply blurted out my usual lines. I remember saying to her how I would go around and telling everybody how exactly I felt about them, how I would do all the things I wanted, eat all the lamb chops and then spending the night playing rock music to a huge live audience. Of course, I wanted to add one more but I decided against it. I really had no intention of sounding sillier than I already did. Furthermore, by mentioning it, she would have realised that despite my claims of having broken off, I still am very much tied. Oh yes, I also mentioned that I would like to do, which is to fly into the skies by para sailing or just about anything which could take me into the skies and make me feel like a bird.

But to come to think of it, what would I do if indeed the world really were to come to an end tomorrow? I seriously don't know. But then again, don't we all face this question everyday of our lives? No disrespect meant but, what I am referring to is we face this question in a sense that how do we know that we would not see the light of day the next day or that whether or not the next breath which we take could be our very last? I know this may sound radical but to think of it, it is very real. How can we ascertain that we would live to see out our every plan? How do we know that every time we see a person or talk to that person, it could be the last time that we ever did? For all we know that person might end up dead the very next day. Frightful isn't it? Indeed, I have have never really thought about it myself until today. And that is why I sometimes take for granted everything which I have or every person which I have as a friend or as a family. I always take it for granted that they would alway be there when I needed them. And this explains my attitude of always putting saying something to someone off until saying it just doesn't mean anything anymore.

So, does this mean that from now on, since that I am conscious of it, I should live my live as if everyday that I live could very well be my last? Honestly, I still don't know. Like I mentioned to my other friend the other day. When it comes to most things, especially in human relationships, I am nothing but a helpless sail of a boat. Choosing instead to submit himself to wherever it is that the winds choose to take him. But then, this morning, while walking to my car, I modified it to, I am nothing more than a steering wheel. Something with the potential to steer but who will always need another person to do it for him. Maybe, I am just too scared or afraid to live everything to the maximum. But that's what I am. A coward. Too afraid to stand up to the world. Too afraid to own up to himself. Too afraid of rejection. Too afraid of reality. Choosing to hide behind his disabilities instead. It always seems easier that way. But I know that in the long run, it would only come back and hit me when I least expected it to. Like it has happened so many times before. I know it is easier said than done but, maybe this is a wake up call for my sleeping self. Maybe this is a jolt to get me out of my ever so comfortable shell and to go and face the world. Plato once said in his epic, Republic, "Philosophy is a journey which involves a very difficult quest to reach ultimate freedom and truth and which involves the questioning of our most basic beliefs." I believe that we can draw parallels to this because life in itself is like philosophy, it is a journey. A very difficult journey. And we are nothing more than the trapped men which Plato speaks of. The men who live, surrounded by the darkness of a cave. The men who perceive the shadows of objects to be real instead of the reality of the objects themselves.

Over

And so they are over. And so I am a free man. Free from the tighly clutching iron chains they call examinations. Well, at least I'm free for now. For the next three weeks or so. After that, it becomes a whole new ballgame. A whole new journey as I edge closer and closer to that date which I so look forward to.

In The End

Shut Down

When the mind shuts down, you know that it is time to drop whatever you are doing and go pursue other forms of relaxing activites. But the problem is, what happens when you refuse to take a break and decide to push on, regardless of your already confused statae of mind? The result is the predicament which I am currently in. In shambles. I just can't wait to get back to jamming after this weeek has ended.

Landing In London

Under The Bridge

Holy Waters

Through these holy waters I wade. Constantly reminding myself of the reason I chose to bear the burden of this hurdle. No, it was not because I had seeked fame, I had not seeked glamor. But what I seek is the most basic of pleasure. One that is often denied to many people because they were too afraid to fight for their future. Too afraid to hold off all those ridiculous claims about their passion from a society which is getting even more slave minded by the day. I fought them. Tooth and nail. I did.
Yes, these holy waters, they nourish me as well as they malnourish me. Offering me resistance as well as they offer me a hand. But on top of all, they allow me to walk around with pride. They allow me to speak the words of fredom and satisfaction which is rarely spoken, even in the most democratic parts of the world.
But no, I will not hold my head up high. No, I will not speak these words of freedom. I will instead hang my head low, offering assistance to those who need me. For a fighter that fights alone never wins the war. He only wins nothing more but a silent place in history. A corner visited by noone. A corner tht will eventually fade into oblivion.
Oh holy waters, hold me up, and I shall give sermons about you. I will make sure that you will someday be able to quench all those thirsty men and women who long for their freedom.

Relativity

Today,while I was waitting to go for lunch, I chanced upon a very interesting topic in my physics text book. Among all the sentences in that topic, I was extremely fascinated by this statement.

"The speed of a clock(time) moves relative to the speed of the person who is looking at it."

Baffled? So was I. Apparently, what this statement says is that the speed of everything that goes on around us very much depends on the speed at which we are travelling. Even more surprising is that a person who is standing right next to us may give a completely different measurement or account of what is going on around us eventhough he or she is standing right beside you.

So, at first glance, what this statement is trying to tell us is that we live in completely different timelines from everybody else. We may be only inches apart, but not so in the timeline. This theory has never been proven false so far. Strange isn't it?

Sometimes

Sometimes,
It is just better to let sleeping dogs lie.
For discretion,
Is indeed the better part of valor.
Sometimes,
Through this idle mind,
I often let the devil play.
When he does,
I often fall prey.
Time never erases,
It only reminds.

Discharged

Yesterday, I was discharged from one of my most memorable posts in an organization. That is, I was discharged from my post as assistant band manager to the music club. The reason I was discharged was because I had already come to the end of my one year mandatory service period and that it was now time to make way for an entirely new board of committee.

I did of course feel rather weird because the end of it all came in a rather abrupt fashion. I did realise that there was to be a voting on the 1st of August, but I guess that I never really thought about it until the dying seconds.

Being in a relatively important post has indeed taught me a few things on leadership, but I think that the most important or rather enjoyable part of being a part of the committee was that I was able to make friends with quite a few people.

The reason I did not run for the precidency was also because I felt that others, Kit Ming especially was a much better leader than me. Secondly, I felt that I would be able to perform better under him. So, I decided to vote for him for President.

So now I guess that it's time to move on and look for other opportunities. Hopefully one that deals with photography. My other passion

Voices