Blogging Out

So today's the first day where I attempt to study, work and also chill outdoors. Well firstly, I think I need to get used to the fact that not all food out there is meant for eating. Can you imagine? I mean the first thing that requires you to put on your abstinence clothing is FOOD! So there's that.

The second thing is noise. I personally, as some of you may have noticed, am an introvert. Working outdoors is like peeling my skin off and waiting for a new one to replace it. Now mind you, peeling off one's skin is a painful process.

But it's also fun. I've discovered that many want fast cash. So nowadays you'd find scam-mers everywhere. I just had one. Here I am sipping my coffee and eating my donut and this guy comes an asks me are you Indian? He is Indian. Now I look Indian but I am not and NO I am not a coconut either (brown on the outside, white on the inside). His eyes were bloodshot and looked scruffy. Gave me a pathetic story and asked if I could loan him 5 bucks and I was like what?! And then he could afford to lower down his "price" to 2 bucks. Come on!!!

Now this is not the first and I bet it wouldn't be the last. Damn. Get a job?

I think writing outdoors really influences my perspectives. I mean it's uncomfy but it gets some work down. I can say that of all days today was one of my most productive days ever! I managed to finish an article, do some research and also BLOG!

I mean does being uncomfy bring out the best in you?

*Belated Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Al-Hijrah and the Things to come? Perhaps?

Malaysia has made another milestone in her history by launching her very own TV Al Hijrah; the first Islamic TV station. Now here's what TV Al Hijrah as what our buddies at THESTAR online mentioned it would do:

- to further promote the new medium in Islamic propagation in line with current needs, according to the Islamic Development Department (Jakim), operator of the station.

- "Jakim hopes that through cooperation from missionaries and arts activists, the station will emerge as the top Islamic propagation station in the region."

- Wan Mohamad said the station would have a major impact in terms of Islamic propagation on the global community and, at the same time, offer healthy competition among the media in the country and set an example for the region.

It's a fact that we have a huge and sizable Muslim community, approximately 60% and with the inflow of Arabs, Persians and other people from the Middle East having a Muslim station is absolutely LOGICAL.

Now, how bout allowing other faiths to openly broadcast their beliefs for the purpose of propagation as well eh? Why not have a Christian TV Broadcasting Station? or maybe a Buddhist one? Will it ever be so easy to do it in a country like this?

We can only wonder.

Because just like our Muslim brothers and sisters, we too would like to openly propagate our religion to. No?

*Didjirama thinks that faith is a matter of choice and the propagation of religious beliefs openly and on air is the right of every individual.

Where the Hell Did That Christmas Tree Come From?

Many of us Malaysians have enjoyed and basked in the ambiance of the Christmas Tree. I mean forget our lack of knowledge of what Christmas is about, because there are three things that comes to mind when we "think" Christmas. They are none other than presents, Santa Claus, and Christmas trees. So now where on earth did the Christmas Tree come from? Like who on earth started it it? It couldn't be this guy now could it?

So here goes.

The origins are not known. Basically there are no clear facts as to when did this all start. But legend has it that it all began with a certain St. Boniface (672-745 A.D.) and the town of Geismar in Germany. Now in order to convince the entire town on the awesomeness of Christianity, St. Boniface hacked down the tree of Thor in order to disprove the legitimacy of the Norse gods to the local Germanic tribe. In utter astonishment, St. Boniface saw a fir tree growing in the roots of the old chopped down oak tree.

He took this as a sign of faith and said to them "Let Christ be the center of your household.." and used the tree as a symbol of Christianity.

Now the modern day usage of the Christmas tree began with none other than Martin Luther. He used it as a "Protestant" or "Anti-Catholic" version of that famous nativity scene (those dolls of Mary, Joseph, Jesus, farm animals and all that deco stuffed into one place). And Luther established the Christmas tree as a symbol of the Tree of Life in the garden of Eden.

The earliest custom of putting up a Christmas tree could be traced to 15th century Estonia and Latvia and 16th century Northern Germany. This lead to other interesting rituals like taking the decorated tree to the center of the town and dancing around it and even lighting it up on FIRE. It is even said that it was the Germans that introduced the Christmas Tree to the States! DAS AUTO!!!!

There you go. A brief history on the Christmas tree. It must be remind that none of this is found in the bible. But there is something peculiar though. It is in the Bible and it goes somewhat like this:

This is what the LORD says: "Do not learn the ways of the nations or be terrified by signs in the sky, though the nations are terrified by them.

For the customs of the peoples are worthless; they cut a tree out of the forest, and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel.

They adorn it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so it will not totter.

Like a scarecrow in a melon patch, their idols cannot speak; they must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them; they can do no harm nor can they do any good." (Jeremiah 10:2-5).

Some Christian fundamental groups have used this part of the Bible to say well Christmas trees are idolatrous. But well while they are debating, the whole world is enjoying. YAY!

*Didjirama thinks that Christmas Trees wouldn't eat you up and it's practically safe to collect your gifts under them!

Religious Sensitivities.

Today as some of us know is Hari Raya Haji or Korban as some call it. One of the more distinctive aspects of this festival is the slaughtering of the cow, sheep or camel. This as some have told me is the mark of life in community. After the slaughter which is accompanied by prayers, the meat is then distributed to members of the community, to the poor and to charity.

I come from a Muslim neighborhood. In fact, it seems distinctively racist when I ponder upon how the demographics of my community is made up of. Out of the 21 flat blocks, there are only 3 blocks that were allocated to the Indian community. Funny, why must it be a mono-cultural allocation? But that's how it was done and that's how it is, until the owners got smarter or greedy and started renting their flats out to anyone that could pay. Of course, those who are in the "Malay" blocks still rent their flats out but with a "Perempuan/Laki Melayu" sign stuck on it.

The cow has been of some contention politically recently. We've had the recent "cow-head" incident. And one could only reflect on the implications of all these. So any back to my ideas (Blogging in a salon on a holiday could be hard okkkkkk).

So knowing that it is the neighborhood is mostly Muslim there are tons of spots allocated for those celebrating Hari Raya Kurban to slaughter their animals. One of them "so-happened" to be on a patch of grass just near a badminton court which is right in front of two flats designated to the Indians; who are mostly Hindu.

So you know where I am getting at.

Of course the treatment of the animal in itself was horrible. And the claps and cheers of onlookers and eager eaters did not help. I mean what gives? You have options to slaughter animals; you have places where you can slaughter and you have options to what you could slaughter (goats, sheeps, camels, cows, etc).

What would have been the greater good and the greater witness? Would it be an outstanding act if those that slaughtered the cow, slaughter a goat? And be in good standing with the Hindus? Wouldn't that be better?

Shouldn't religious sensitivities be something that is egalitarian and not only practiced by the minorities?

Anyways those are my thoughts on the subject. Those that feel the need to differ or contribute have the comments section to ramble.

*btw, I am not a Hindu.

I-M-A-MACHA

Caught this on that epic MyStory channel on Astro. This is pretty funny. I pledge allegiance to Machaland and 1MACHA!!!! By the way if you're a girl then it would be machi yo!!!

Why I'm No Christian: Dialog with KL

I bumped into KL (not his real name..duh!) sometime ago while having a decent cup of coffee. I guess we sort of clicked and I decided that we should meet up and get some ideas going. Like a decent conversation, perhaps. Not many can talk decently, so I posed the question "why choose Buddhism?" "Why that, out of the many other options?"

I have to state that I normally love standoffs and debates. I don't think that harmony, unity, and interfaith dialogs do any good; the only good that can come from it is a bunch of people not exactly preaching what they are supposed to preach in the name of "unity," "harmony," and "learning." What these themes mean only God knows, and what it is supposed to do remains a mystery; something like a rotten Pandora's box. And most interfaith dialogs don't go far. HECK! we are Asians and God Bless if most of them are small-town people; we'd nod at all your points and then back stab you! If you're going to do a follow-up on that, then we'd say "I have to go outstation laaaa!"

So interfaith dialogs won't go anywhere; at least for now (debates might? But probably I'd get killed for that right?...Malaysia bolllleeeeehhhh....bblllaaaahh) *to all my foreign readers, if the italicized words are to much for your comprehension, "boleh" means can and "blah" or "belah" actually means split, but for the more educated it means "get lost" with an exclamation mark (!).

But my dialog with KL centered upon the precept that I just needed to know what makes someone different from me. It was not a place where I just blindly nodded, but here's the case where in a conversation I've decided to talk to someone ordinary to get to the heart of the matter. Which hopefully, would make me a better communicator of the Christian faith.

KL, just like most of us are, a student and also works part-time at an events company. He resides somewhere in Subang, goes to college, hands up assignments, sits for exams, lepaks....the ordinary jargons we are all familiar with.

His conversion to Buddhism came about from a personal soul-searching. He went through some rough rounds in life, family issues mostly, and was momentarily staying with his godparents who are goo catholics. And with any good catholic, KL was absorbed into the catholic lifestyle. He went to mass, Sunday School, you name it. After the tough times, KL went back to his family and at the persuasion of his mother, decided to attend classes on Buddhism. He found the classes a little dull, in fact boring but what got him keen on Buddhism is it's insatiable diet for knowledge. After being spurred by a western Monk, he latched on to Buddhism because of it's philosophy and its curve for learning and knowledge.

He is currently active in a local Buddhist society; actually very active from his Facebook page that is. There he finds room to express himself in leadership and in imparting ideas. He mentioned that he even saw a transformation in the life of his mother; as she is also an active participant.

He also did not like the way certain Christians use methods to proselytize; the usual come-its-just-a-concert routine and suspects that most of the time those who respond to Christianity during those events are coerced to do so (which might be quite true la). He likes a religious belief that educates and not just rely on superficial ideas like miracles and things like that.

I find KL to be a very nice guy and this are his opinions or his opinions as per how I wrote. So I do hope I condensed KL's conversation with me well *fingers crossed* If I didn't than I bet KL would clarify it in the comments section on this blog post.

My quest for difference still continues...I think this sort of posts would color my blog for more educative purposes and hopefully with more questions to work on. As for myself, I think the journey still continues for a more comprehensive faith and to learn the dynamics of setting up a faith community; a Christian faith community that is more relevant, and way cooler too.

The Finer Things in Life....

It's been a while since I blogged. In fact, a long while. But to celebrate my resurgence into the blogging world, I think I am going to blog about cooking and spending some quality time with my girl.

We've been on the move, through rough times and good times, and we've managed to somehow capture those important moments daily. So here's what we did quite a while back:

So I dished out my "cooking skills" and whipped up some kam heong prawns, butter prawns, grilled fish with creamy garlic butter sauce, grilled calamari and my other half whipped up the tom yam, stemmed broccoli and prawns.

Talk about a seafood feast!