More reactions and commentaries (excerpts):

“Since different faiths have traditionally used “Allah” in this country, the government’s edict is in fact a signal that one community’s cultural traditions must take precedence over another. Worse, it’s indicating that it is the majority’s traditions and practices which are far more legitimate than the minority’s, driving yet another wedge between Malaysians.”

http://thenutgraph.com/for-allahs-sake

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This reminds me of Sejarah in secondary school – zaman jahiliyah.

“…what’s stopping the Umno-led government from wanting to educate the ummah? Islam, after all, brought enlightenment to those who lived during zaman jahiliyah — the age of ignorance. If Umno is such a champion of Malay Muslims, why is it perpetuating this age of ignorance instead of educating Muslims while simultaneously respecting the rights of non-Muslims?”

http://thenutgraph.com/allah-issue-who-started-it

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Apabila fikiran terbuntu, saya berdoa kepada yang Maha Esa…

“Sebagai seorang Islam, hati kecil saya merasa bahawa sekarang kita hanya melihat wajah Islam yang penuh dengan kemarahan dan dendam. Dan saya memang buntu apabila berfikir bagaimana untuk mencari jalan keluar daripada kontroversi ini.”

http://thenutgraph.com/demi-allah

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A message to the PM…

“You couldn’t have asked for more perfect opportunity to prove that you are more than just a string of clever words. It was your chance to leave a legacy by uniting the nation to stand up against the real enemies – ignorance and fear.

Instead you did nothing, and by doing that, you turned us against each other.”

http://themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/opinion/breaking-views/48953-pm-you-have-failed-me–stephanie-sta-maria-

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An appeal to Christians…

“Did Jesus not teach us to go beyond the letter of the law in our daily lives? Did he not tell us to do away with personal revenge? Did he not model his ministry base on love, care and empathy? Can you not find a compromise?”

and Muslims…

“…we need to stop being like a “katak di bawah tempurung.” Get to know the larger world of Islam and understand that in the middle-east even from the time of the Prophet, Jews and Christians call God, Allah. We must learn not to monopolized Allah or the Arabic language.”

http://letusaddvalue.blogspot.com/2010/01/oh-muslims-oh-christians-what-is-wrong.html

“On 31 Dec 2009, the High Court decided that ban by the Home Ministry against the Herald (a Catholic Weekly) for using the word “Allah” in their publication is unconstitutional and therefore invalid; The use of the word “Allah” is not exclusive to Muslims only but non-Muslims religious groups such as Christians have the right to use the word “Allah” as this is their constitutional right. The decision was hailed as a landmark decision by all parties but has brought significant implication for Christians in Malaysia.”

On Friday morning (8 Jan) I received this SMS from a friend:

HL: I heard Metro got bombed yesterday night?

Me: U serious?

HL: My friend say it is on malaysiakini website

I immediately phoned a close friend from the allegedly-bombed-church, and he confirmed the incident. What followed were a flurry of smses and checking out the local as well as international news reports surrounding the incident.

So, it was true.

A church in my neighbourhood was torched.

It was the church my cousin, sister and friends attend week in, week out. The place where they gathered to pray, worship, and encourage one another in the faith. Although only the ground floor was burnt, the entire church was rendered unusable for now. The church will have to meet in another venue for their Sunday service.

As we now know, this wasn’t an isolated incident. To date there have been at least 6 or 7 attacks (i’m starting to lose count) on several churches in the country. Who are these guys carrying out the attacks? What were they trying to achieve? Were they hired? Or was this some random reaction of a few against the ‘Allah’ court ruling?

Initially, i thought of entitling this post ‘Church on fire’ – an ironic departure from the conventional understanding of the term. On 2nd thought, it seemed like a lame, insensitive pun. But on 3rd thought… perhaps it could be a prophecy on things to come…

An elder in my church commented that this could be a wake-up call to the Malaysias church, especially for those in West Msia. For long, we have been in a comfortable position. By and large from a middle-class background, we have led relatively comfortable lives, free from prosecution for our faith. We have allowed complacency, apathy, and materialism to set in. Many are indifferent or naive of the happenings in our nation – in particular what is going on among our majority neighbors. And then something like this happens, and we are (quite naturally) stunned.

Well at least I was.

So how now brown cow? What would be our response as part of the Christian community in Malaysia? Do we love our country enough to be driven to our knees, asking, pleading for God to heal our land? Will we join our hands in partnership to participate in God’s mission of reconciliation in our community, reaching out to love our neighbour as ourselves? Will we be a generation of Christ followers who will stand-up against hatred and falsehood to fight. Fighting – not with hatred, revenge or violence – but with love, truth, justice, overcoming evil with good.

The ball is in our court.

Now is the time…

Related links:

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/01/10/malaysia.church.bombings/index.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8450713.stm

http://my-1.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/opinion/john-lee/49088-the-way-forward

http://art-harun.blogspot.com/2010/01/our-failings.html

Funny how little of things can really get to me sometimes. Still, i’m not going to let it bother me too much. Its going to be a HAPPY new year.

Love, pulled me up off my knees,
Took all my disease,
You’ve always been there for me.

Love put shoes on my feet,
Took a song made it sweet,
You always had ears for me.

Love is where you abide,
It sees every side,
It crosses the great divide.

Love took hold of my hand
And taught me to walk
It’s time now to make a stand

~Written by Delirious?~

*Just take deep breath, look at the big picture, be thankful, smile…. =)*

Malaysia is a peaceful country and it should remain that way forever. Acts of Violence and inciting hatred must have no place in our public life.

Unfortunately, too many cruelties and injustices have happened since the nation’s last birthday.

It is tempting to slip into despair or become revengeful. Let us turn our anger and sadness into a positive force for change.

This September 16, let us all combine our efforts to present a meaningful gift for Malaysia on her 46th birthday.

Let us be united in one single action. Let us all fast from dawn to dusk for peace in this blessed land. Let the Muslims amongst us fast with a specific prayer for peace for the nation. Let the Bahais, Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, Taoists, followers of other spiritual traditions and atheists amongst us fast in solidarity and the same determination for peace.

Let our common experience of hunger and human weakness humble, strengthen and unite us.

Let us offer a hospitable smile to people we know and especially to those we don’t.

Let us perform one extra act of kindness while fasting on this Malaysia day.

Let us show our love and compassion for each other.

Let Malaysia be a better country on her 46th birthday and every day after.

Let Malaysia be truly happy and peaceful this September 16.

And so we fast.
. . . . . . to make room for peace!

http://peace4msia.blogspot.com/

http://www.facebook.com/n/?event.php&eid=143844823232&mid=1117d58G302056aeG6cfbe7bG7

Excellent story

Lovable characters

Heart warming

Hilarious

UPlifting

Brilliantly executed

Russell, the chubby Japanese/Asian-American wilderness explorer

"My name is Dug. I have just met you, and I love you."

Pixar comes up with yet another gem.

Catch it. It’ll put a smile on your face.

It definitely did to mine.

:-)

Didn’t know there was going to be a test today

Wasn’t in the right frame of mind

Couldn’t reason objectively

Stress level was above normal

Blood pressure rose

Had to step back

and breathe

slowly

.

.

- ficklefellow didn’t enjoy having his patience tested this morning -

The Ball

Laura laughs if she sees a ball bounce.

I don’t think its funny.

I wonder if i used to laugh at a ball bouncing when I was two, like Laura.

And if i used to laugh…

.

.

.

Why did i stop?

A new recruit in the back-end team showed up for his first day of work this morning. As usual, the HR lady brought the new guy around the office to meet to the rest of us in the office. He went cubicle by cubicle, introducing himself with a friendly handshake. However, when he arrived at my desk, I declined the handshake offer.

With the Swine Flu pandemic alert, I wanted to take a little precaution and being slightly unwell myself (sorethroat & a mild headache), decided to politely tell him, “sorry i’m not well, so i won’t shake your hand.” He was still smiling so I don’t think he took it personally.

Am paranoid?

Not, according to our Health Minister.
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/6/15/nation/4120455&sec=nation

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*IM conversation with a colleague

HY: eh, did you shake the new guy’s hand?
B: why? u not shake meh?
HY: i didn’t shake
B: not good ler, asian always polite one
HY: because i’m not well myself
HY: so i’m protecting him from harm
B: why that guy got influenza symtomps is it?
B: eh u got h1n1 is it?
HY: who knows
HY: u read the news report la, its for precaution
HY: “People are, instead, advised to bow their heads in greeting or place their right hand on the upper left side of their chest to show respect.”
B: but, this influenze
B: is airborne right
B: breed via air
B: so i just tiup to ur face from far away also sudah kena meh?
HY: maybe the virus cannot fly so far

O_o

-o-o-o-o-o-

Airborne or not, here are some everyday steps to protect your health:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• Stay home if you are sick for 7 days after your symptoms begin or until you have been symptom-free for 24 hours, whichever is longer. This is to keep from infecting others and spreading the virus further.

Take care and stay flu-free!

It is not the mountains we conquer, but ourselves

- Sir Edmund Hillary

Its been 16 eventful years

of laughter and (mostly) tears,

Through thick and thin

Through losses and wins

Times of  joy and sadness,

Moments of magic and madness

Of sheer ecstasy and heartaches,

Brilliant plays and stupid mistakes.

Goodbye Premier League... for now

Though it’s hard to say goodbye

Though each breath a heavy sigh,

We will still remain, and always be

Black and white – the Toon army.

So press on with all your might

Don’t give up, don’t quit the fight

The time is coming, wait and see,

when darkness finally gives way to light…

We'll be back!