As usual, Chinese New Year reunion dinner was held in my elder brother’s house. The headcount remains the same as last year with an addition very soon. Looking back from my childhood days, it was always 6 until we got married. I never had a reunion dinner with my grandparents because they left long before me. So it was just 2 generations celebrating.
Tonight, our reunion dinner was celebrated by four generations. My mother is very fortunate and I often wonder whether she cherish this moment. I just wonder if I would live that long to taste this experience. I am less optimistic and think it just wishful thinking.
Looking back to my childhood, I remembered Chinese New Year was most exciting and memorable. The mood was joyous with lots of cookies to eat and as well as long school holiday. It’s also the time for angpow collection that gave me the feeling of being richer.
For me Chinese New Year eve was special in my own way. It was the time when my ‘Kampong’ and childhood friends will meet for some drinks and card games. If I recall, this meeting started when I was in Sec 2 and our annual traditions continued to my Mid-30s. We started playing Black Jacks with stake from 20 cents and increases as we grew older. When we started work, we progress to Poker. Unfortunately, this annual tradition had to end as we had families and more important priorities.
My dad hated gambling and knew nothing of my indulgence. He would have been very upset if he knew of my escapades. The session normally ended after 2 or 3 am. When I reached home, father would be preparing for the morning prayers. Then I went to sleep until lunch time. The first and second days of Chinese New Year were routine.
The star of this year reunion dinner was my first grand-nephew. Being the first for his generation, he hogs the limelight and all attention was on him. His energy and cuteness certainly warm our heart. 30 years ago, the scenario was the same. It was his father, my first nephew which captured our attention. It brought out the essence of a family. He too was the first in his generation and I was really heartened to witness one generation matured from child to fatherhood.
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Sunday, February 14, 2010
Monday, February 8, 2010
AVATAR, THE MORAL OF THE MOVIE
I am one who hardly goes to the movies. Yet I watch Avatar twice. I have read about this movie, produced and directed by James Cameroon. I was curious about the 3D format as well as the cutting edge technology that was employed to produce this epic. It’s about a humanoid race, Na’vi that inhabited the planet Pandorra where the living live in harmony with nature. Human went there to mine a rare mineral through sheer power.
True to my expectation, the movie blew me off, kept me spellbound and I thoroughly enjoyed the cinematography and the animation. The setting was just spectacular and the story line is certainly thought provoking.
For the less initiated, viewing this movie purely as a fiction is thoroughly entertaining. To dwell a little into depth, a movie, like any story, comes with a moral behind it. In fact, the message portrayed is far more portent because of the visual impact. From the political and historical perspective, this movie certainly resonated and drew many parallels in the history of mankind.
The thought that came foremost to my mind was the colonisation by European of African, Australia, Asia, North and South America.
The historical parallel was when the Spanish explorers, in search of gold and other precious metal, raided South America. It displaced, subjugated and marginalised the indigenous Indians. Many indigenous Indians were massacred or killed by disease brought in by the invaders. Today the entire continent speaks Spanish except Brazil and the Spanish descendents remained in rich and powerful position.
In North America, the English and the French almost wipe off the entire indigenous Red Indians population through scorched earth policy of slash and burn. There can be no reason to justify this cruel act other than outright greed to seize lands.
The stories were similar across Australia, Africa and Asia. The European, armed with superior fire power and were better organised, were able to steamroll the indigenous inhabitants into submission. It unscrupulously and recklessly plundered the earth resources for its insatiable appetite and forcefully seized and occupied indigenous land.
Another powerful message inflamed by this movie Avatar is the deteriorating world environment. Vast rainforests were destroyed to make way for development, as well as excessive and illegal logging for the tropical hardwood. The movie draws many parallel between the powerful and profit driven conglomerates devouring the earth commodities with very little regards for environmental damages.
In the movie, luckily there is Jake and Dr Grace to save the Na’vi and Pandorra. As anticipated, the villians in the movie ended with death. But in the world that we live in, the legacy of colonisation remained very evident. The Europeans remained embedded in many continents becoming even wealthier and stronger. The indigenous Red Indians, Amazon Indians, Maoris, Aborigines have been permanently dislocated, subjugated and marginalised.
By today standard, the acts of the early Europeans violate all human rights and human dignity. Ironically, today the loudest critics of human rights and the biggest proponents for saving the environment come from these countries.
Nevertheless, Avatar is a fiction movie that will trigger a technological revolution and set new standard in the film industry. Perhaps 3D will be the standard for big screen. Avatar has been nominated for 9 Oscars Awards.
------------------------------------------------------------
True to my expectation, the movie blew me off, kept me spellbound and I thoroughly enjoyed the cinematography and the animation. The setting was just spectacular and the story line is certainly thought provoking.
For the less initiated, viewing this movie purely as a fiction is thoroughly entertaining. To dwell a little into depth, a movie, like any story, comes with a moral behind it. In fact, the message portrayed is far more portent because of the visual impact. From the political and historical perspective, this movie certainly resonated and drew many parallels in the history of mankind.
The thought that came foremost to my mind was the colonisation by European of African, Australia, Asia, North and South America.
The historical parallel was when the Spanish explorers, in search of gold and other precious metal, raided South America. It displaced, subjugated and marginalised the indigenous Indians. Many indigenous Indians were massacred or killed by disease brought in by the invaders. Today the entire continent speaks Spanish except Brazil and the Spanish descendents remained in rich and powerful position.
In North America, the English and the French almost wipe off the entire indigenous Red Indians population through scorched earth policy of slash and burn. There can be no reason to justify this cruel act other than outright greed to seize lands.
The stories were similar across Australia, Africa and Asia. The European, armed with superior fire power and were better organised, were able to steamroll the indigenous inhabitants into submission. It unscrupulously and recklessly plundered the earth resources for its insatiable appetite and forcefully seized and occupied indigenous land.
Another powerful message inflamed by this movie Avatar is the deteriorating world environment. Vast rainforests were destroyed to make way for development, as well as excessive and illegal logging for the tropical hardwood. The movie draws many parallel between the powerful and profit driven conglomerates devouring the earth commodities with very little regards for environmental damages.
In the movie, luckily there is Jake and Dr Grace to save the Na’vi and Pandorra. As anticipated, the villians in the movie ended with death. But in the world that we live in, the legacy of colonisation remained very evident. The Europeans remained embedded in many continents becoming even wealthier and stronger. The indigenous Red Indians, Amazon Indians, Maoris, Aborigines have been permanently dislocated, subjugated and marginalised.
By today standard, the acts of the early Europeans violate all human rights and human dignity. Ironically, today the loudest critics of human rights and the biggest proponents for saving the environment come from these countries.
Nevertheless, Avatar is a fiction movie that will trigger a technological revolution and set new standard in the film industry. Perhaps 3D will be the standard for big screen. Avatar has been nominated for 9 Oscars Awards.
------------------------------------------------------------
Monday, February 1, 2010
ANWAR, JUDICIARY, POLICE ALL ON TRIAL
The second series of Anwar sodomy trial is set to start tomorrow after a 10 year recess. In the first series, Anwar was convicted but after spending 6 years in prison for corruption charges, the High court overturned the sodomy charges. Legally, he is acquitted on this sexual demeanour. The first trial gripped many Malaysians and the world with salacious and juicy details of the once 2nd most powerful man, prime minister in waiting of Malaysia.
It also divided the nation and split the Malay ground. Many believe it was a conspiracy to end Anwar political career at any cost. Mahathir bore the brunt of the political fallout when it did poorly in the subsequent general election and may have hastened the early retirement of Mahathir. The political landscape was altered permanently especially in UMNO.
This time around it was a 22 year old aide that claimed he was sodomised by Anwar. There was of course a lot of scepticism on the ground. It is a crime in Malaysia for anal sex. If it was consensual sex between Azlan and Anwar, then both should be charged. As only Anwar is charged, it means than Azan was forcibly sodomised.
Many puzzling questions are asked. Is a 60 year old man so strong to be able to overcome a young 22 year old, stripping his pants, force him to bent and held him for the penetration? So who is not telling the truth?
And how did this young man secured permission to seek PM Najib counsel. How many ordinary citizens have a chance to meet the PM in private?
Well these questions will be best left to the prosecutor as well as the defence counsel to address in court.
Without doubt the trial will become a soap opera for the world to view and enjoy. Unfortunately the fallout from this trial will be very damaging for the country image. Within the country, the trial is set to crack the fissure deeper and further divide the nation at a time when energy should have been focus on the recovering economy.
The microscope will be on the Malaysian Judiciary. In fact, this trial is a trial on the integrity of the Malaysian judiciary system. If not handle properly, it will further erode the credibility of the judiciary system. The police too are on trial. Any wrong or silly prosecution will further affirm the prejudicial nature and incompetence of the attorney general and the police force.
Most citizens of Malaysia have anticipated the final judgement basing on the experience of the first trial. The verdict is a foregone conclusion. The legal system allows appeal from any parties on the outcome of the verdict. This will drag the case for years. Whatever the court judgement, the real judge for this trial is the Malaysian public as well as all the international communities. Public perception and opinion will be crucial to the next general election in Malaysia as either Anwar or UMNO will be buried in history.
Whichever way the judgement goes, there will be no winner. The country, the politicians and the citizens will have to bear the consequences.
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It also divided the nation and split the Malay ground. Many believe it was a conspiracy to end Anwar political career at any cost. Mahathir bore the brunt of the political fallout when it did poorly in the subsequent general election and may have hastened the early retirement of Mahathir. The political landscape was altered permanently especially in UMNO.
This time around it was a 22 year old aide that claimed he was sodomised by Anwar. There was of course a lot of scepticism on the ground. It is a crime in Malaysia for anal sex. If it was consensual sex between Azlan and Anwar, then both should be charged. As only Anwar is charged, it means than Azan was forcibly sodomised.
Many puzzling questions are asked. Is a 60 year old man so strong to be able to overcome a young 22 year old, stripping his pants, force him to bent and held him for the penetration? So who is not telling the truth?
And how did this young man secured permission to seek PM Najib counsel. How many ordinary citizens have a chance to meet the PM in private?
Well these questions will be best left to the prosecutor as well as the defence counsel to address in court.
Without doubt the trial will become a soap opera for the world to view and enjoy. Unfortunately the fallout from this trial will be very damaging for the country image. Within the country, the trial is set to crack the fissure deeper and further divide the nation at a time when energy should have been focus on the recovering economy.
The microscope will be on the Malaysian Judiciary. In fact, this trial is a trial on the integrity of the Malaysian judiciary system. If not handle properly, it will further erode the credibility of the judiciary system. The police too are on trial. Any wrong or silly prosecution will further affirm the prejudicial nature and incompetence of the attorney general and the police force.
Most citizens of Malaysia have anticipated the final judgement basing on the experience of the first trial. The verdict is a foregone conclusion. The legal system allows appeal from any parties on the outcome of the verdict. This will drag the case for years. Whatever the court judgement, the real judge for this trial is the Malaysian public as well as all the international communities. Public perception and opinion will be crucial to the next general election in Malaysia as either Anwar or UMNO will be buried in history.
Whichever way the judgement goes, there will be no winner. The country, the politicians and the citizens will have to bear the consequences.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
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