Before you splurge your hard earn cash on buying unnecessary stuff just for raya please view this video.
Just because we don’t have street beggars and poverty is not visible, does not mean it’s not there or not there yet. We may not see them on the street but we do see it within our own family. Family members asking for a few dollars for daily necessity because they can make ends meet. Doesn’t this mean we are almost there? Must we wait until we actually see beggars on the street? Children can now be seen selling roti and kuih at restaurant and café going from table to table when they should be out playing enjoying their childhood.
We can say our parents did their job, work hard and got their just rewards for it. Shouldn’t we enjoy the fruits of our own labour? Should we feel guilty because of it?
Brunei may not seem that bad now. Basically everything is fine, but I’m not talking about now nor the next generation. I’m talking about our generation after that and so forth. They will not have the same luxury that we have. Is it our problem? Hell yea, the last generation fought hard to give us our way of living why can we do the same for the future.
I don’t have the answers but hopefully by discussing it we will come up with one. I’m not an economic or financial guru but I can see the shift in the financial gap between the haves and the haves not is getting wider by the year.
Is the answer to throw more money at the public? Of course not don’t be absurd, that will do more damage than good. We don’t want to continue this spoon feeding mentality that our people are so accustom to. But I’m sure there is away. Someone told me that it’s just the way it is; apart of natural selection; there will always be people at the bottom of the financial ladder. I can see the logic in that but my argument is why must there be poverty in the future when we have the means and resources to prevent it now. Yes social classes will be divided, always have and always will, but I’m talking about poverty.
Surely prevention is better than cure. I think one of the tools against this is education. How? I don’t know. But I do know the different between me and my former classmate is education, and perhaps the circumstances that leads to it. I took the opportunity they didn’t. But must I just stand idly by and watch them suffer? Must I show off?
Brunei is all about keeping up with the Jones’s attitude. If we don’t have what they have means that we’re not Bruneians. Fuck this shit. I don’t want what my neighbors have. I don’t care if I don’t have new furniture, expensive car or fancy mobile phones. And stop looking down at me if I don’t. We all should stop being envious of other people. And for god sake stop making each other feel inadequate. Just live within your means. Save. Don’t take unnecessary loans, if you can’t meet them then your financial burden will fall on to your kids and could result in poverty along the line. Therein lies is bloddy the problem. The beginning of the end. I realize this is not the answer but heck it's a start.
Are we then supposed to leave the status quo just the way it is? Study – work – marriage – kids – die. Oh yea, and pray in between. Spending-spending-spending until we die. I just think there must be more to life than this. Otherwise I don’t see the point.
“Woah! no don’t kill yourself” Are you stupid, that’ll defeat the purpose jackass. “Hey! where you going now?” oh picking up that new sofa set for raya. Because the last year’s one… well was last year’s…
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Friday, September 26, 2008
I'm starting with the man in the mirror...
In 1998 I saw this video on Channel V (this is when Channel V was popular back then, during the start of decoder revolution) I was inspired by its message of change. But like the song says, change should start with oneself, the “person” in the mirror (being politically correct here). The song touch something inside me that I forgot was there since I was young; the urge to make a difference, a desire to help others, and sympathy for fellow human beings. I was angry back then, angry at the all the troubles that the world has, angry at all the famine, wars, discrimination, poverty and environmental disasters. However, having grown up, that anger is now subdued. I’m not out to change the whole world anymore but rather just myself and others around me. If I can influence and implement positive change, and in the process inspire a few people then my task is done.
That’s why I think teachers and lecturers or persons in position of dispensing knowledge are in a unique place of influence. That’s why I’m seriously considering a teaching role. Influencing young minds to be and do better. I told someone about it and to which she responded “What a waste of an oversea education to end up as a teacher”. My reply was… well let’s just say I started my lecturing career early to which she will never forget. Don’t get me wrong I didn’t scold her, that doesn’t work. I just made her think. Use her head other than a hat rack.
If I manage to just influence one student a year, then it’s a positive start. I believe in the concept of paying it forward. That student will then influence others around him or her. Wishful thinking? Maybe, but there’s no harm in trying, succeeding it another matter. At least I can say I tried, I did my part.
My Primary 3 Malay (the subject, not race) teacher had quite an influence on me. The one thing she said that had stuck with me ever since was “Don’t do to others what you don’t want others to do to you”. A simple concept yes, but it opens a whole different ways of thinking at my young age. Especially viewing things from the other person and a third person perspective. I started seeing things outside myself, how my actions affect those around me. Understanding that was so powerful.
I know teachers/lecturers don’t make much money. I could double that elsewhere but the rewards is not financial. Not only will you get to influence, but you get to spend more time with your family which is what really matters. I don’t see myself working till the wee hours of the night just to chase money at the expense of family intimacy. I don't want to live that way. Again don’t get me wrong, there is absolutely nothing wrong with being ambitious. If that’s your thing then go for it. It's just not mine, I've got other priorities.
I’ll leave you with another video that also have the same message of change, aptly named Changes by Tupac Shukur. Whatever your views are of the two artists (Michael and Tupac) you must admit their message of change is long over do. And don’t worry Tupac, there will be a black president soon; Obama/Biden 2008 to which coincidently also have the message of change :-)
“Man you’re suffering from a Messiah complex” I am and I’m embracing it.
People who aren’t afraid of change, changes people (Md, 2008)
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Bruneian version2.0
Something been bothering me for a while now. It’s bordering on racism towards our own people. I’ve express my feelings about my country and its people in another blog (jasonbiggskills.blogspot.com). I’m proud to be a Bruneian, I will do everything I can to help our people see the errors of our ways.
For some, lack of a better word, are idiots. They are arrogant, ill-informed, ignorant, foolish and yes misguided. I once told an “average” Bruneian not to waste water because it’s precious and shouldn’t be used likely. For us that’s an obvious one. I proceed to point out that there is no new water in this world. The water we use is basically the same water used by our ancestors and dinosaurs. Just recycle by man and nature. But there is definitely no new water. She then used the one argument that seems to be popular, “Kuasa Allah”. Valid as that is, I countered, yes! Allah has the power to make new water. But as for the moment we don’t and therefore need to ration what we have. I continued to present my arguments and with persistent eventually persuaded her to see it my way. I did it again with her habit of open burning. I did not use foul language or big long words to explain it to her; instead I took it to her level so she can understand. To this date she doesn’t do it anymore. Still a lot to been done though. Btw, that person was actually my auntie; my second mum and I love her.
Anyway that besides my point. People like these are aplenty in Brunei and it is frustrating. But I can move beyond that and notch it up as they don’t know any better. Nothing like a proper awareness and education can cure that up.
Again that’s not my point. What I’m trying to get, is the other Bruneians. The Bruneians that seem to think they are better than the “average Bruneian”. You know who you are. The type that uses the phase “Those typical Bruneians” on Bruneians. They think just because they have it good in life, have access to better education and in privilege situation look down at other Bruneian that are not. Bruneians that don’t follow their demeanor and mentality, the Bruneian that doesn’t share their views about the world. Yes I agree with you that some Bruneians are set in their ways and difficult to change. “Orang Kunu” as they say. But the way I see it, the Bruneians that use the phrase “Typical Bruneian” are now the new Typical Bruneian. Version 2.0, if you will. If you know better then why not just teach them. Help them be more aware. Lets advocate and implement change, and the rest will follow. Never look down them, we are the same people. They are your aunties, uncles, cousins, grand parents, friends, neighbors, schoolmates, colleagues, employers and employees. We share the same birthright and spill the same blood.The only thing separating us is circumstances.
Lose this discrimination and let our bright minds come together and help Brunei achieve what it can certainly achieve. From the looks of it, Bruneian definitely can do it, potentially become better than what it already is. I don’t want to see us joining Malaysia in the Future and lose our identity and uniqueness. No offense to Malaysia, but we are Bruneians, always have and always will be.
“My fellow countrymen hear my battle cry. Enough is enough; forget our differences; let’s now stand together for the greater good that is our country and its people. You can leave this country and live mediocre lives, or choose to stay here and help make a difference and be immortalize in history as the few and the brave that change our lives forever”…
“Patriotic I see” You’re damn well right I am…
For some, lack of a better word, are idiots. They are arrogant, ill-informed, ignorant, foolish and yes misguided. I once told an “average” Bruneian not to waste water because it’s precious and shouldn’t be used likely. For us that’s an obvious one. I proceed to point out that there is no new water in this world. The water we use is basically the same water used by our ancestors and dinosaurs. Just recycle by man and nature. But there is definitely no new water. She then used the one argument that seems to be popular, “Kuasa Allah”. Valid as that is, I countered, yes! Allah has the power to make new water. But as for the moment we don’t and therefore need to ration what we have. I continued to present my arguments and with persistent eventually persuaded her to see it my way. I did it again with her habit of open burning. I did not use foul language or big long words to explain it to her; instead I took it to her level so she can understand. To this date she doesn’t do it anymore. Still a lot to been done though. Btw, that person was actually my auntie; my second mum and I love her.
Anyway that besides my point. People like these are aplenty in Brunei and it is frustrating. But I can move beyond that and notch it up as they don’t know any better. Nothing like a proper awareness and education can cure that up.
Again that’s not my point. What I’m trying to get, is the other Bruneians. The Bruneians that seem to think they are better than the “average Bruneian”. You know who you are. The type that uses the phase “Those typical Bruneians” on Bruneians. They think just because they have it good in life, have access to better education and in privilege situation look down at other Bruneian that are not. Bruneians that don’t follow their demeanor and mentality, the Bruneian that doesn’t share their views about the world. Yes I agree with you that some Bruneians are set in their ways and difficult to change. “Orang Kunu” as they say. But the way I see it, the Bruneians that use the phrase “Typical Bruneian” are now the new Typical Bruneian. Version 2.0, if you will. If you know better then why not just teach them. Help them be more aware. Lets advocate and implement change, and the rest will follow. Never look down them, we are the same people. They are your aunties, uncles, cousins, grand parents, friends, neighbors, schoolmates, colleagues, employers and employees. We share the same birthright and spill the same blood.The only thing separating us is circumstances.
Lose this discrimination and let our bright minds come together and help Brunei achieve what it can certainly achieve. From the looks of it, Bruneian definitely can do it, potentially become better than what it already is. I don’t want to see us joining Malaysia in the Future and lose our identity and uniqueness. No offense to Malaysia, but we are Bruneians, always have and always will be.
“My fellow countrymen hear my battle cry. Enough is enough; forget our differences; let’s now stand together for the greater good that is our country and its people. You can leave this country and live mediocre lives, or choose to stay here and help make a difference and be immortalize in history as the few and the brave that change our lives forever”…
“Patriotic I see” You’re damn well right I am…
Monday, September 22, 2008
Interview with convert
I would like to share couple of passages from an article I read entitled: A former Pentecostal preacher talks about why his spiritual path led him to Islam. Viewed from http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2008/09/22/findrelig.DTL
It’s about a 47 year old man formerly named Reginald Lenoah Royal, who for the last 30 years was a Christian Minister. 4 years ago he decided to embrace Islam and now known as Abdul Hamid Robinson-Royal. His story is not unique by any means. There are many others like him and also vies versa. However some of his views stroke a tone with me and I would just like to share a few with you.
Abdul Hamid was asked by the reporter whether terrorism is real or not. He replied “Terrorism is real. So that's not irrational. On the other hand, I'm your neighbor. I'm the guy who went to Boy Scouts with Jimmy. I helped your mother with her groceries last week. And so, if you see me going out and praying or you see some Arabic writing on my computer all of a sudden, you are looking at me from the corner of your eye. What's that about? It's still me. I'm your neighbor”
The reporter then asked, “Is that the solution, just getting to know your neighbors?” To which Abdul Hamid answers, “Isn't that silly and simple? We fear what we don't know”.
“I have a responsibility to take time with the person on the street who is asking for food or money. I have a responsibility to be the best neighbor I can be to my neighbors.”
I also loved what he had to say about living in America, “America is still the best place in the world to live and the best place to be a Muslim because of the commitment to an ideology that says - whether or not we live it out perfectly or not - that all persons are equal. The idea that this is a place where you can think and feel and say without fear of reprisal is still powerful.” I believe this very idea of freedom should be embrace by all of us.
You can read the full story from the above link. Hope it inspires you as it did me.
Personal gratitude: To Asad, thanks for putting up that article on Jason Blog, after reading it, I found an urge to find articles of similar nature. So thanks for that. And to G4, your responses are always articulate, well informed and educational. We need more people like you. Blabness, just continue being who you are. Stay true to yourself and look out for those animals, championing their rights. Hope Brunei continues to produce more good people and if it does then the future is bright.
“The most important thing is to never stop questioning” – Albert Einstein.
It’s about a 47 year old man formerly named Reginald Lenoah Royal, who for the last 30 years was a Christian Minister. 4 years ago he decided to embrace Islam and now known as Abdul Hamid Robinson-Royal. His story is not unique by any means. There are many others like him and also vies versa. However some of his views stroke a tone with me and I would just like to share a few with you.
Abdul Hamid was asked by the reporter whether terrorism is real or not. He replied “Terrorism is real. So that's not irrational. On the other hand, I'm your neighbor. I'm the guy who went to Boy Scouts with Jimmy. I helped your mother with her groceries last week. And so, if you see me going out and praying or you see some Arabic writing on my computer all of a sudden, you are looking at me from the corner of your eye. What's that about? It's still me. I'm your neighbor”
The reporter then asked, “Is that the solution, just getting to know your neighbors?” To which Abdul Hamid answers, “Isn't that silly and simple? We fear what we don't know”.
“I have a responsibility to take time with the person on the street who is asking for food or money. I have a responsibility to be the best neighbor I can be to my neighbors.”
I also loved what he had to say about living in America, “America is still the best place in the world to live and the best place to be a Muslim because of the commitment to an ideology that says - whether or not we live it out perfectly or not - that all persons are equal. The idea that this is a place where you can think and feel and say without fear of reprisal is still powerful.” I believe this very idea of freedom should be embrace by all of us.
You can read the full story from the above link. Hope it inspires you as it did me.
Personal gratitude: To Asad, thanks for putting up that article on Jason Blog, after reading it, I found an urge to find articles of similar nature. So thanks for that. And to G4, your responses are always articulate, well informed and educational. We need more people like you. Blabness, just continue being who you are. Stay true to yourself and look out for those animals, championing their rights. Hope Brunei continues to produce more good people and if it does then the future is bright.
“The most important thing is to never stop questioning” – Albert Einstein.
Current affairs
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7627791.stm
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/09/21/asia/pakistan.php
Very recently there was a suicide bombing attack at the Marriot hotel in Pakistan. Over 50 people dead including the ambassador of the Czechs. I’m not going to discuss the motives of the attack or the dirty politics behind it. I will however talk about the consequences of their actions on Muslim in general and Bruneians overseas in particular.
I watch in horror as the devastation unfolded while knowing somewhere out there a group is watching with sheer joy of mission accomplished. The sad thing is they are probably Muslims. Now you may say “Well how does this relate to us, our particular people?” I will get to that.
As scenes like this continues to be shown in the media, the negative image depicting Muslims as a terrorizing, suicide bombing, devil worshiping, women degrading bunch of ingrates, will continue to incite more hatred towards us. People are always afraid of what they don’t understand, and acts like these pushes people i.e. westerners, further away with some being absolutely terrified of us. While some Muslims continue to reach out and make a positive step forward, when this happen we take step backwards.
By not knowing who we truly are, westerners will always be ignorant to us and what we really stand for. Not the terrorist. This is where we are affected, Brunei students studying oversea showing any form of their Muslim identity e.g. wearing Tudung, sporting a beard, wearing jamis, topi haji, and even going for prayers are target of abuse, be it physical or verbal, by these ill-informed, angry and basically frighten people.
Some tudung wearing Bruneian girls are constantly on the receiving end of those attacks. In one incident someone threw a bottle at her narrowly missing her head. Another incident, their window was smash, however nothing was stolen. This indicates their motive was to frighten them and possibly make them move away. Subsequently they did. A friend of mine, a Bruneian sporting those Arab looking beard and wears a topi haji reported almost being run over and one time received an atrocious verbal abuse I’ve ever heard in my life. Things were said that makes you skin crawl beyond believe. I mean I can’t believe they kiss their girlfriend, wives, kids, mother with those mouths. It was horrible, frightening and bordering on physical abuse.
Did we do anything wrong. Should the girls just not wear them for the sake of not being singled out? Should we just try to blend in and lose our identity? Should we just hide the fact that we’re Muslims? No! This is our beliefs and this is our choices. The very freedom i.e. freedom of choice, speech and self-expression that the westerner so loudly advocate should not be forgone by us. We shouldn’t be tormented for self-expression. Are the terrorist aware that their actions are causing us grieves and harm?
Personally I don’t give a shit on what your beliefs are. Whether you’re Muslim, Christians, Jewish, Hindus, Buddhists, Atheist or whatever, as long as you just follow their respective teaching of peace, harmony, tolerant, kindness to fellow human being (Blabness: "and animals, lets not forget those animals". Md:"You never let me forget them") then I don’t see why we can’t get along. They basically have the same underlining message. “Love thy neighbor” rings a bell?
So what if you’re a Christian, just be the best Christian as you can be and the same for others.
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/09/21/asia/pakistan.php
Very recently there was a suicide bombing attack at the Marriot hotel in Pakistan. Over 50 people dead including the ambassador of the Czechs. I’m not going to discuss the motives of the attack or the dirty politics behind it. I will however talk about the consequences of their actions on Muslim in general and Bruneians overseas in particular.
I watch in horror as the devastation unfolded while knowing somewhere out there a group is watching with sheer joy of mission accomplished. The sad thing is they are probably Muslims. Now you may say “Well how does this relate to us, our particular people?” I will get to that.
As scenes like this continues to be shown in the media, the negative image depicting Muslims as a terrorizing, suicide bombing, devil worshiping, women degrading bunch of ingrates, will continue to incite more hatred towards us. People are always afraid of what they don’t understand, and acts like these pushes people i.e. westerners, further away with some being absolutely terrified of us. While some Muslims continue to reach out and make a positive step forward, when this happen we take step backwards.
By not knowing who we truly are, westerners will always be ignorant to us and what we really stand for. Not the terrorist. This is where we are affected, Brunei students studying oversea showing any form of their Muslim identity e.g. wearing Tudung, sporting a beard, wearing jamis, topi haji, and even going for prayers are target of abuse, be it physical or verbal, by these ill-informed, angry and basically frighten people.
Some tudung wearing Bruneian girls are constantly on the receiving end of those attacks. In one incident someone threw a bottle at her narrowly missing her head. Another incident, their window was smash, however nothing was stolen. This indicates their motive was to frighten them and possibly make them move away. Subsequently they did. A friend of mine, a Bruneian sporting those Arab looking beard and wears a topi haji reported almost being run over and one time received an atrocious verbal abuse I’ve ever heard in my life. Things were said that makes you skin crawl beyond believe. I mean I can’t believe they kiss their girlfriend, wives, kids, mother with those mouths. It was horrible, frightening and bordering on physical abuse.
Did we do anything wrong. Should the girls just not wear them for the sake of not being singled out? Should we just try to blend in and lose our identity? Should we just hide the fact that we’re Muslims? No! This is our beliefs and this is our choices. The very freedom i.e. freedom of choice, speech and self-expression that the westerner so loudly advocate should not be forgone by us. We shouldn’t be tormented for self-expression. Are the terrorist aware that their actions are causing us grieves and harm?
Personally I don’t give a shit on what your beliefs are. Whether you’re Muslim, Christians, Jewish, Hindus, Buddhists, Atheist or whatever, as long as you just follow their respective teaching of peace, harmony, tolerant, kindness to fellow human being (Blabness: "and animals, lets not forget those animals". Md:"You never let me forget them") then I don’t see why we can’t get along. They basically have the same underlining message. “Love thy neighbor” rings a bell?
So what if you’re a Christian, just be the best Christian as you can be and the same for others.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Quick Question...
I have a question that’s been bothering me ever since. Hypothetical situation: what if someone, let’s say in the middle of Africa, who has no religion and does not and will not ever be in contact with Islam or others. He… wait let’s change that, she doesn’t even know or will ever know that Islam exist. She is not an Atheist, but simply someone who’s not even aware of the concept of god or religion. However she lives her life the best possible way. She is the finest example of a human being can ever be. You can use any yardstick you wish, be it Gandhi, Mandela, Dalai Lama or whoever, she is that and much-much more.
Then she dies, never converting or knowing Islam or any of the 3 religions. Does she still go to heaven?
Call me ignorant to the teachings but I seriously don't know or don't remember. I think I asked someone this before and just forgot.
Anyway, cue the answer(s)...
Then she dies, never converting or knowing Islam or any of the 3 religions. Does she still go to heaven?
Call me ignorant to the teachings but I seriously don't know or don't remember. I think I asked someone this before and just forgot.
Anyway, cue the answer(s)...
Wait, What? Mac was lying?
Microsoft recently released this ad in response to the Mac ads which has run for years now. Those ads depict windows users as nerdy, unhip, overweight, brown suits wearing losers. Well now “PC” is fighting back. I still question the used to Seinfeld though. Funny as he is, didn’t much for American Express now did he? Even with or without superman.
Anyhoo, since MS release Vista, many users have been complaining about the lack of hardware compatibility, and don’t get me started with the bugs. Vista shouldn’t really be the final release, instead I think it was beta release and somehow con over a 100 million users to pay to be their beta testers. However I am excited to see the new Window 7 next year. Hope it's better then vista.
Oh and about Macs, there may not be a lot of virus on them, but they are certainly the easiest to hack into. For the second year running, in a competition to compromise systems, Macs has been the first to get hacked (Seriously 2mins was all it took) then Vista. Linux was the only one to remain standing.
Speaking of which, I’m Linux user, Slackware to be exact. I started off using Ubuntu. It provided a nice and easy migration from windows. Then I moved to a much more complicated distro, Fedora 8. After getting bored with it, I then switch to Slackware which is where I’m at. I like this distro, quite customizable. My hope is to eventually move to Gentoo. Now that’s a challenge. Don’t get me wrong I’m not exclusively a linux user, I also have 3 other partition in my hard drive; FreeBSD, Solaris10 and yes also XP, for that occasional urge to play solitaire. Haha…
All bashing aside, I don’t see why users argue over which is the superior OS. You can pretty much do the same thing in all of them. “But it’s better to do graphics in Macs”. Maybe but you still can do it in PCs and Linux. Just because you can drive fast in a Ferrari doesn’t mean you should get one. You can still do it with other cars. They all have their strength and weaknesses. Point is if you’re comfortable with PCs then by all means use it. If you like Macs, stick with that. I personally prefer Linux and there’s nothing wrong with that as well.
“hi, I’m a PC”… “and I’m a Mac” … “and I’m Linux”… “Well, I’m BSD”… “woah what?, aren’t you all Unix underneath anyway”… “Nope! not PCs, it’s OS2warp”… “Well wop the fucking doodle doo”…
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Bruneians and free food?
This video caught my attention recently of what seem to be taken during one of the festive events recently. A friend also added that this is a second of such incident happening. Upon watching I was amazed, disgust, and dumbfounded at the same time. I couldn’t believe my eyes. It felt almost surreal as if watching some third world country. Granted we are not that too far off.
But how did this happen and why was it left like that? Surely there must’ve been some sort of mechanism in place to ensure incidents like this would not or could not happen. But evidently it did. Some present there might argue that it only happened for a short period and order was restored afterwards, but it's not known. However my argument is that it shouldn’t happen in the first place. It’s embarrassing to say the least, seeing grown men and women struggling for food as if not eaten for a long time, and at the very sight of food cause such actions. At one point a young boy was seen jumping onto others in order to get his share. Some was grabbing rice right out of the warmer with the hands, and some even doing it blindly.
So my questions are, why did it happen and how did it happen?
Why did our people acted in such a way?
And why did the authorities let it happen?
Your views:-
First Post
In this blog, with the help from contributors, we will discuss social, national, financial, educational, and other issues pertaining to our beloved country in particular and the world in general. Not to criticize but rather discuss and debate, though constructive criticism is welcome.
By discussing it here may or may not have any impact directly, but I believe and so do others, that at least we can start a dialog, raise awareness and hopefully influence positive change.
There are many issues still unresolved or not getting as much attention and coverage as it should. We talk about it, but its not brought into the forefront of discussion. Raise you arguments articulately, citing is not needed however encourage to ensure the validity of point.
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