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…
4 comments:
Menghina Brunei jua ko ani wang.
Brunei mana ada ulah2 cemani.
Only some but not all.
Mana ada if d brunei dorang nada barang2 berharga they are not bruneians. Brunei ppl also hav a heart. feelings. just like u. mun nda bukan tia ko org barunai.
Skali if kan bali furniture baru kenapakan. bah mun sudah yg lama atu rusak. di sedakahi plang barang lama atu. mcm tah kmi nda bepikir kli. lgipun mun sudah org atu minat "interior design" cemana?. for all his life is home interior furniture design. bukannya kan membazir jua. sekali sekala bah hidup baru, azam baru. yg video atu pun langsung nda kena mengena dgn brunei. its in US, see the video again. eventough ko kan relate kn sma brunei its still not the same.
bukannya kan show off show off barang n furniture bnrnya d brunei ani msa raya. its abt one family what they want is what they want. n what they love to do. jgntah kan masuk campur urusan org lain. mun kan mengumpat, mengumpat tah. we dont care. mengumpat itu lebih hina daripada membunuh org. mun kan mengubah brunei. ubah dirimu atu dulu. bckp sja pandai.
hidup ani bukannya di dunia sja. d akhirat ada jua. Allah sja yg mengetahui semuanya. n for the one yg buat salah Allah tahu n kana seksa d akhirat kelak nanti. dunia bukannya adil. but Allah maha adil.
What i like abt brunei is dorang hidup "sederhana". n all brunei ppl dont think of theirselves that they r rich. only other ppl on other countries thinks they are rich. but we dont!
This was not submitted by G4. It is a copy of his reply on cBox. However I see it as grave injustice if it was lost into the realm of the netherworld if the 100 quota limit of cBox would run up. It seems appropriate that it should be here in the response of the previous comment. This doesn’t mean I’m inadequate to come up with my own retort, is just that G4 has articulately said what I intended to say - Md.
"Dear Bruneiguest, what misbehaviors did Md mention which imply that Md was insulting Bruneians? Md was simply stating that most Bruneians are living beyond their means and have the urge to own almost everything which are owned by others. Some are even willing to pay on loans or credit cards or borrowing money from relatives and friends, summing up a huge amount of debts. I don't have to elaborate on this one. The evidence is everywhere within the community, within the group, within the family. I sure am not expecting you Bruneiguest to close your eyes upon the living standards Bruneians are experiencing today, are you? Yes, you are right Bruneiguest that the old furniture can be donated to those in need but what Md was emphasizing here is that certain people spend on a new-brand furniture while they still have a fresh one at home which they bought last year? Are you saying that the furniture easily rot and becomes in a really bad shape after a year? Thus we are ought to buy new furniture each year? Subsequently you mentioned that interior design enthusiasts rely so much on the inner and outer decorations of their residence, that their lives gyrate around it and that they can't live without it. Regardless of how much the embroidery costs, the passion should not be impeded? That they can spend as much as they desire in spite of their financial breakdown? Now that's a bad account to be planned for them. Yes, that video was not taken in Brunei but did you realize that by stating 'yg video atu pun langsung nda kena mengena dgn brunei. its in US', you are trying to tell us that you put less attention on global issues and merely consider those which are very close to you, of your very own interest? You reveal the name Allah yet you are clueless of the true intention for the posted blog. Dear, may I recall one of the main reasons why we fast in Ramadhan? It is to share the sufferings of those living in poverty, having little to consume and little to wear around the globe, not just within our own vicinity. This includes those living in US, Africa, Bangladesh etc. Have you forgotten that being a Muslim, you are obliged to project your concern towards each and every individuals on earth? The purpose of the existence of this blog is not to meddle in other people's lives but simply to hone and enlarge the undertanding and outlook of people nowadays into the core of daily phenomenons. We are blinded by what we see and deafened by what we hear while our brains are processing the wrong information. As opposed to your decree of which you claimed that Bruneians are living within their means despite the fact that they are not. Bruneiguest, step into the world of critical thinking and you will finally realize that Bruneians are overspending their hard earn money for exaggerated expenditures. Again you are right Bruneiguest, that the financial management of an individual is not withn our responsibility but have it ever crossed over your mind that by discussing this issue, we will be able to assist some of them who are having financial problems to minimize their expenses and thus allow them to experience a stable, comforting life? This is what we are trying to achieve here. Sorry that the post might have mislead to a different comprehension but for real, the intention is good and we want to implement a change in buliding good character in the hearts of our fellow Bruneians which in turn, results in a much promising future for the younger generations. We wouldn't want our kids and their kids to live in poverty do we? And another thing, 'hidup baru, azam baru' doesn't mean that we have to purchase new and updated items. The phrase itself is just to motivate us to rekindle our objectives in the following time in order for us to attain what we dream of, what we truly seek for. Bruneiguest, your statements have neglected the principles and guidelines of Islam therefore by justifying your conclusion with the name Allah is simply inadequate and dangling without a support I must say. Thousand apologies if I have offended you by any means possible."
To G4, what will we do without you :-)
However I would like to add that in my satirical – meant to be humorous – benter, I’m merely trying to point out what we are seeing in society, well at least the people I surround myself with are seeing, the people who thinks we can do better as a society and therefore should do better, that poverty is beginning to rear its ugly head. Although we don’t have extreme poverty, poverty is certainly there. We can use our positions and future positions to help rid our nations of unhealthy traits and demeanor so we can grow into an even better aware and educated society able to tackle any issues that may arise in a civilize and open manner.
As for the video not being relevant; is Brunei apart of the world? Aren’t you apart of humanity? Having compassion about others – not necessarily just our own – around the world is a good thing, even noble. What affects them will affect you. As the video says “Appreciate what you have”.
In your defense, I can be a bit rude therefore be construe as mocking and offensive. But you must admit I wouldn’t get you to comment otherwise and subsequently participate in a discussion, in an exchange of ideas between your world and ours. Hopefully you can understand that we meant no offense in trying to help improve our country. Who are we to improve our country you may say? We, the people of this great country is who we are.
Heheh. Hmm, as a matter of fact, I basically did nothing compared to your effort of bringing this discussion further in order for people to participate and debate for what they really believe and hold onto.
You did a good job in distracting readers' attention Md. I suppose we all should learn that from you and JB as well.
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