I made it!!

I thought I walked into the wrong hall. Aunties and uncles, the lot. But when I checked, it's the correct one, and sat down at seat C7.

The documentary, for that's what it is, does not glorify Chin Peng. Nor does it claim communism is an ideal solution. But it does not brand Chin Peng and The Revolution as terrorist either. The 90 minutes you're watching it, you're asked to think. And reflect. So, what is so wrong about that?

History is recorded differently based on who's doing the recording. What we learnt in school was what we were told to remember and understand. There is nothing wrong to see the same history from different pairs of eyes. At the end of the day we, ourselves, make the decision what is right and wrong according to our beliefs and idealism. In fact, we should not be making judgement, for each one of us see things differenty.

I like the assimilation that exist in the film. It's what our lives supposed to be, calling ourselves a multi-racial community. The first hearty chuckled was cracked in the hall when an Indian-looking-Chinese-speaking man with a Malay name started to tell the story when he was a small kid. What race the man was is not important. He's Malaysian after all. I feel that that moment is the greatest description of how a Malaysian should be.

Lelaki Komunis Terakhir will still be banned in Malaysia. It will always be, as far as I could see. Why? Because indirectly, it's saying that the present management is unfair and... hypocrite. I don't think that was the intention of the director to potray it as such, but that's what I see.

I don't know how much longer the cinema will run the screening. I'm just lucky it still is while I'm still here in Temasek.

Amir, if one day you should stumble upon my humble blog and read this, I want you to know that I love every single minute of the movie. And I know you won't stop spreading your 'sights' just because it's banned here. One day, God will, the rest of us will be able to enjoy it too.

So, I'm coming back to KL tonight. Somehow, I cannot wait to be back. And it's only been three days. It felt like three weeks. God bless.

Sleepless, but not in Seattle

I'm in the land down under. No, no, not Australia.. Just Temasek. And the Great Sale is here!!

What is it with being human and never feeling satisfied and impatient on top of that? There are two ways to look at it, in a good way, and in a not-so-good way.

We are told time and again to count our blessings so that we are thankful always. But over and over we never fail to remind ourselves of our shortcomings. Things that we're lacking. Goals that we have not achieved. And the countless times we have to kick our backsides just so we realise that we are after all... humans.

A friend told me that "more than 95% of the world's most successful ppl (like Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Mel Gibson & etc) had more valleys than peaks in their life" when I again grumbled about my loss of passion with the job that I do and how I don't have anything to be proud of so far. (He's sending me a bill for the motivational session, by the way... :-p) The fact that these people have nothing to do with me did not make me feel better. But the fact that they are persistent in what they are doing is some what reflect upon me.

There is a saying "Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you land among the stars." Now, at first, I said being one of the stars are better, because they actually produce their own fire. And the moon is just reflecting it. In short, the moon is an opportunist. While the stars... are the ones who do all the work. And I concluded, be a moon then. I have finally cracked the secret of success. Which is not to do anything. Just pretend to be something. He he he...

I guess there are lots of ways to be optimistic in life. And optimism most often than not actually gives out positive vibes which in turn, embraces fruitful outcomes. Life's like that, I supposed. And I just don't know what else I want to say...

Before I leave for the day...

I know... I know... It's almost the end of the day, and I've sort of wished you all a happy weekend this morning. But, I just can't resist writing about this. I really, really have to let it out from my head.

I've been thinking about it for so long, I think I've blurted it out more than once to a bunch of friends. Lucky me, they agree. Well, at least they find it agreeable with them.

I believe we should demolish our current education system. All of it. Seriously. Well, maybe some of you might have the same sentiment, abolishing the current system, that is. Maybe we have the same reasons, in fact. I feel strongly about this because I see separation amongst us, Malaysians (And you think I'm not patriotic... Duhh).

This concept of having Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan, Sekolah Kebangsaan and what not. It's a big NO-NO. We are being deprived of harmonious, serene living. Because of this concept, children from different religions and races do not mix well. Oh... thank God for the NS, I guess, at least the kids nowadays learn something else besides their own people. Regardless of the troubles amidst the camps.

Anyway, I'm digressing. I want to talk more about this. I just need to get it out a bit, that's why I'm writing it today. Just call this a preview for my next post. I will take the weekend to recollect my thoughts on this and hopefully in the next post I make more sense than today's erratic one.

It's Fridaaaaaaay!

I found myself to be kept abreast with the happenings around me when I'm away from the office. I was away for a week last week, well.. not really far just down south. But never did I miss the prime time news or reading the newspaper, albeit I had to do it at night. Nonetheless I knew what's going on in the world.

My normal day, usually, starts at half past six in the morning. Lately I've been arriving at work quite early, since it only takes 15 minutes in the morning rush hour to reach the office from my place. Driving, that is. I try to end my work day by 6, promptly and head back home just in time to catch my all time favourite sitcom, The Nanny. During the breaks for ads, I may start something in the kitchen which can be losely call, dinner. If it's simple enough I should be able to sit in front of the entertainment box, enjoying the last 10 minutes laughter while tucking in.

The rest of the evening... well, I should be able to catch on the prime time news, eh? But I don't. It maybe because of the movie channel, or disney channel, or cartoon network.. ish.. ish.. ish.. No wonder... And if there's nothing interesting enough to keep me glued to the couch, I head to bed at approximately 10:30pm.
I know... I know... there are so many hours wasted, that I could be using it for something else. I'm trying to change that now, by practicing slow-reading. When I start to read, I normally would be able to finish it in a day or two. I just cannot put the book down. I've had times where I read until it's 4am in the morning, and it's actually a book that I've read before. I was just re-reading it. So, I've just started to learn to pace my reading so I'd be able to stretch a 200 pages book in.. probably four days? Five?

Anyway, I digress. These days, I try to catch up on the news every morning. Electronically, obviously. NST, Malay Mail. And at times at Kakiseni, and yesterday I just got to know that Rentakkini is finally F.O.C. Thank you!! I also do a lot of... bloghopping of course. There's just so much happening out there that I wish I'm part of it! Interesting lives these people lead. Lot's of wonderful, scary stuff around us these days...

I read today that a school in Johore is charging its students when going to the washrooms outside recess hour. Reason being, students like to waste time and it's interrupting the teachers with their teaching. Parents are crying foul because they have to stop at the petrol station on the way back home so that their kids can go wee-wee. The washrooms have just been upgraded apparently. Nice, primier types? Hmm...

It's Friday everyone. Enjoy the weekend. I know I will...

Friendship

What exactly do you expect from this ship that we share? We go through ups and downs, year after year together. I have cried on your shoulder, and you have cried on mine. We have shared barrels of laughter. We sang, okay I sang more, but we have enjoyed beautiful music together. We ever groove when the mood calls for it. So what else do you want from me?

Tolerance? I'm sure we share that too, judging by the sighing and mellowing and whining that we do. We, each had our ears built with whine-resistance. In fact we share anger too.

But, don't you think it's time for us to grow up? That does not mean I love you less. It's just mean we need space between us. Because we've grown up and we make our own choices. No more wearing the same shade of skirt when we're going out or making sure we synchronise our theme for the day. We are each an individual. And although we grew up loving the same things, playing similar pranks, we each blossom in our own special way.

We are equal, you and I. We are the same, but never similar. But truth be told, I've always wondered. Why do you expect people around you to treat you like a royalty? Like you're more special than anyone else? Perhaps you should stop and think for a while... That while you want us to always be together, we are indeed individuals and would like to be treated as such?

Perhaps one of the most complicated relationship is being friends. There are certain lines that cannot be crossed to preserve pleasant and meaningful journey. It's actually something like being a couple, except that this relationship most often than not involve more than two people.

But then again, if you're true friends, why can't you speak the truth, right? Just because the truth might hurt our friend's feelings. We are hypocrites, you and I, especially to our loved ones. We rarely say the truth for fear of hurting. While that is true, and ignorance is bliss, to what extend can we tolerate that thing that makes us feel like pulling our hairs out?

Fear, at the end, dominates the relationship. Fear of hurting. Fear of losing. Because without friends we are basically nothing. Because at the end of the day, we do not want to be left out or left alone. Because we need companionship. Because we are social beings and we need to have the comfort of knowing that we are not alone.

Yes, of course, you will say, you will never be alone because there's one friend that will always be there no matter what, if only you take that time to remember Him. True. And I agree. But we're just humans after all. We still need that physical contact, physical presence. Unless of course, we have cross that line where worldly treats are no more a passion. Yes, there are people who couldn't care less whether they have friends or not.

But honestly? You and I? We still need to board this ship. But maybe, just maybe, we cannot expect too much from this ship. Because after all... when it reaches its final destination we might have to disembark, whether we want it or not.