Irrashaimase: A Note to Visitors

You know who you are *winks*

Just a quick one. Thank you very much for the comments, read private message, that was sent to me. Appreciate the thoughts and of course the valuble input to certain things. To the many Anonymous-es out there, thank you for sharing your feelings on certain things close to my heart i.e. my school.

It's difficult to reply and explain certain things since in the first place, the comments are actually private messages so I'd respect that they weren't sent with the intention to be published. It'd be nice to leave a nom de plume or even an e-mail - the latter seemed to much to ask for. And yes, you write well so it's sort of a waste to have rejected it.

A big thank you to you guys/gals. Now, back to watching Death Note.

Human Rights Day

It's the 60th anniversary since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. I'm afraid that all these fanfare and enlightenment applies only to the West. Ever wondered why Westerners/colonial masters treated us with much inferiority? Five thousand years of civilization amounted to nothing today. How many heed or abide by what's right and fair? Don't mention Zimbabwe. The situation here at home isn't too nice.

Don't we dare to compare with Singapore or Japan or any other countries (it's shameful what we did weeks ago regarding the crime rate).

We often hear leaders say: Democracy is alive and well. Who gives a damn about basic rights? Nobody - as far as the powers that be are concerned.

Lastly, Happy 60th Anniversary to the UNDHR and Happy 51st to Malaysia. More needs to be done, no?

Nankurunaisa

Sudden twitching of the eyelids
A momentary lapse of concentration
In that short time span I was freed
From criticism, judgment, and humiliation

As if like you, a deep sleep beckons me
To shut out everything, everyone; all and sundry
For the path is long, the end blurred
I have not your resolve, vision obscured

It all began in Okinawa
And thence to the world wide and far
Good and bad times in Vietnam, London, and Russia
To observing sunset aboard a San Francisco cable car

Has it been three years or thirty years?
Since you came and allay my fears
Of snakes and of the unknown
“Tatakae!”, you’d say and all doubts are gone

Till the very end you smiled
Warm embrace along the coastal road
The moonshine and sea breeze seemed to have you lulled
The imposing sea stack and cloud; ominousness forebode

Nay, like you I’d be firm
Be calm, collected and focused
I’ll fight and live – with a smile – for a better morrow
Holding to my, our’s, watchword: Nankurunaisa

Inspired by the life of Otonashi Saya. My gratitudes to the Miyagusuku family: George, Kai, and Riku.

Christmas Greeting from a Malaysian

Look what I found on the My Little Scrapbook section of Malaysia Today:

Tonight
I bought my daughter
A Christmas tree

It was indeed
Her first Christmas tree
Her eyes went shining
Smiled happily
Felt she was lucky

To all our friends
Our Christian friends
It’s a joy we are sharing

We don’t know how
To decorate the tree
But surely enjoy
Such festivity

Merry Christmas
From another
Muslim family

By: Sisa Fajar

Lesson Umpteenth: Here we go again

See what I said? Now tragedy struck (fortunately not in Penang) but haven't we heard this phrase before: "Enough is enough, no more permits. Immediate stop-work order." What's next? Everyone quieten down and the bulldozers are alive again. Come to think of it, I still hear rock-blasting nearby my place.

Lessons are painful aren't they? But it hurts more when similar tragedies repeat and show us how little we, or rather, the ones giving out permits learnt from the past. Then the developers come; having dollar signs all over the place but refusing to accept that they're killing the environment and the balance thereof. Not to mention, majority of hillside/seaside projects doesn't undergo the Environmental Impact Assessment.

It's belated, overdue, "expiry-dated" that any developments by the hills/seas/or anywhere else that threatens the environment and ecosystem be stopped and future ones flushed down the toilet.

We'll see this time if all these are no-action-talk-only.

Don't

Speak not, to me, with judgemental tongue
Look not, at me, with skewed visions
Think not, of me, with dirty thoughts
Treat me not, with a cold demeanor
   befitting a criminal
For that isn't what parent and friends are
   made for.

Speak not, hurtful vindictive words, to me
Look not, for destructive schemes, aimed at me
Think not, of sowing discord and dissension, around me
Treat me not, falsely, for you aren't
   Dr Jekyll or My Hyde
These aren't reasons parents and friends are
   around for.

Rather,

Speak to me, directly, out of care and concern
Look at me, as a person that I am
Think of me, as one entity having exclusive space
Treat me, like how you ought to treat me
For in that way, I'd feel appreciated
   and you're worth my time and attention.

Sanctimony ga dai-kirai desu. Corrections anyone?

Friends: Some are, the rest are fiends

The oft-repeated phrase "you need friends, they're important" came up around me recently. After some deliberation, I come to a conclusory resolve that I don't need anymore than I already have right now. I'd like to keep it at a manageable number so that none would be left out. I'd remember their birthdays and remembered to text them or call them up every now and then; a sign of a good friend eh? The rest? They're merely colleagues, coursemates, and lab mates whom, upon meeting them, I greeted with much respect. Like how I'd like others to treat me, I'd do what I want others to do unto me.

Many times, I've experienced that a large group of people in one place laughing over food doesn't equals to a lasting bond. It was pointed out by one friend, Jiwan, to me on our way home. "Empty", he said. "What's after that? Are they available when truly needed?" he added. I concurred; quality being my preference over quantity. I have one classmate pointing out to me just how many friends she has. Wow! I thought to myself. I'm no longer that naive person now. I've met with countless scenarios showing just how fake and superficial the ones called friends are. They're people who'd lie to us between their teeth without batting the eyelids. They're people who JUDGE you. People who CONDEMN you in the most delicate manner but it's condemning all the same. People who'd come to you when in need; and being the nice person we'd never put them down. They're people who'd come to you proposing a meal but you know why they aren't doing it then but only doing it now - motives.

This isn't just a random ranting out of sheer boredom. We don't just meet over coffee alfresco for the sake of meeting up. We don't just hang out just for the sake of filling up the monthly quota of did-I-bond-with-my-friends? Bonding doesn't just come from there. It's not something we'd achieve in 6 months or so. What's after that? Graduation and the trail grows cold. Good friends now became Hi-Bye friends later. These are mockery and an insult to the word friend and friendship. It's so overrated nowadays. The phrase "I have a friend" seems to be an overstatement without true understanding or the reliving thereof.

Having a large quantity of friends doesn't guarantee happiness or fulfillment. Rather, I see most people who 1) say I needed more friends and 2) has lots of friends; lonely people desperate to find that true friend. To live and experience that bond between two person.

Next, the signs of a superficial friend is one who thinks that he/she doesn't want to "disturb" a couple. In other words, when he/she is romantically attached the next time, be sure that this person would just shut others out of his/her relationship. So much for being a friend eh? I have a friend who doesn't mind that but she does show some signs of "I-don't-want-to-be-a-lamp-post" every now and then. Well, I call her cockroach (out of affection that is; and I know she's reading this).