Famous Last Words....

"The young bird that learns how to fly has to fall many times.The only real fall, though, is the fall from which he doesn't get up. It is then either dead or busy dying" (Karl van Holdt)

In the garden of humanity, we are all permanent learners.Falling is an integral part of of growing. Fluctuations in our will to live fully and to struggle determinedly are part and parcel of the human situation. Our falling, though, does not become the starting point of death. Falling must be used to teach us more about our weaknesses, to enable us to become more realistic in assessing our strength as persons or group. The essential thing in life is that we insists on making comebacks.

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"Consistency is greater than Greatness" (Arabic Saying)

Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. has said the Quraanic chapter "Hud" had given him grey hairs. Upon being asked by his Companions if it was due to the fact that this particular Surah contained accounts of the destruction of peoples who flouted the Laws of Allah, he said "no". It was a single verse in that chapter that has caused his grey hair: "Be consistent as you have been instructed" ( Q 11:113)

THE PSYCHOLOGY OF CONFORMITY

In a study made by psychologist in attempting to find out what makes the crowd conform to certain train of thought, theyhave found out that the few can influence the majority simply by being consistent in their thinking and thoughts on certain or several subjects, and by repeating this consistent thoughts the majority will be influenced by it. It is therefore very necessary for any community or association (if it so wishes to influence the majority) for the central figures of the community/association to have common thinking on every subject they want to impart to the majority. Failure to do this will result in the failure to influence the majority. If the community is political in nature, their politcal thoughts must be on common platform agreed to by the Central main players.In this way, success can be secured when the majority in so influenced.

The TRUTH

Malaysia is on a Voyage to Freedom. Political freedom, social freedom and economic freedom. With the recent election on 8th March 2008, the "peoples' power" has managed to express itself quite loudly and the Ruling Elite (Barisan National - BN) is shaken to the core. Party PAS (Islamic Party) has managed to come to terms with the conditions on the ground and the reality of things in Malaysia. They have decided to accomodate and be accomodated by DAP ( a secular Party) and PKR (multiethnic party) and build on common grounds and set aside grounds which are peculiar to each party. That is an excellent start, I must add.

According to what we can gather from various sources, the BN rule had been very autocratic and selfserving. They managed to hoodwinked the populace for the past half a century or so by giving them the "left overs" while they ( the BN) amass the most. The PAS+PKR+DAP "Joint venture" in supporting the "deprived" population have worked to such an extent that they managed (to their own amazement) to take control five States: Kelantan, Penang, Kedah, Perak and Selangor.

The question now for the BN is how can they recover control of these States. Short of dismantling the organisational framework for the BN, it is quite a monumental task at turning the clock back (to retake political control) but if PAS can accomodate D AP (and be accomodated by DAP), I see no reason that the same formula be adopted by BN. Let us see within the next six months how things develop.

The discouraging thing we note now is the Federal Cabinet line up: Mohamad bin Mohd. Taib, a known character of questionable honesty; Sharizat who lost is made Special Advisor to the PM and two other UMNO stalwarts made Senators and appointed as Ministers. I am sure the PM has his own private agenda in doing that.

The obvious benefit of the current trends is that we will be coming to terms for a two patry system and that is good.

Dont Be Sad

During the times of the Roman Empire of over 1500 years ago, one bright Roman said,

"Today, I shall meet people who speak much, who are selfish, loathsome, and who love only themselves. Yet I will not be annoyed or bewildered by them because I don't imagine the res of the world is any different."

Think about that. Is it any different today? Remember the bright Roman continued to say he would not be annoyed or bewildered............ Thence the Roman stayed happy and not sad.

So, my advise to all those out there... Don't be sad and don't carry the burden of the world on your shoulders. Remember what Dr Samuel Johnson said, "The habit of looking on the bright side of things is more valuable than having a large income."

So, what's the remedy for our current spate of discomfort, displeasure, disgust, distrust, dishonesty, and all the negatives (that we can think of) ? What we need to do is not too much thinking, or too much freedom, or too much foods, nut to listen and appreciate what our historical elders have been saying and teaching.

Dr Carl Jung in his Book - The Modern Man in Search of Spirit - said, "........ I treated hundreds of patients and most of them were middle aged, or more than thirty years old. The problem with each and everyone of them focused to one issue - seeking refuge in religion and by doing so, being able to have a perspective or outlook on life. I can reasonably say that every one of them became sick because they missed out on that which religion has to offer to the believers. And the one who does not develop a true faith cannot be healed."

So my dear ladies and gentlemen, the perils of being a secularist is identified and yet we in the East feel that the West's secularism is the modes operandi for better life. I for one will not accept such approach. I will accept Democracy (without its secularist thinking - devoid of religion) for the people, of the people and by the people.