Ramble Ramble Ramble....

This is my 2 cents in effort to keep this blog going. And also i feel like rambling right now.... When i'm in Melbourne, am quite apathetic to going ons around me. Politics especially hardly ever come up in conversation (apart from recent Obama craze). But when I'm back in KL, it's hard to keep away from all the crap that goes on around here. So here are my thoughts on a few things.....

What is this issue about not being able to talk about 'sensitive' topics? Rafidah was quoted in the papers today as saying that if issues were discussed openly, there would be no end to the bickering and this could lead to divisiveness not just within the Barisan but also among the people... um, what?! Why should the people not have the benefit of hearing these issues being discussed (and these 'sensitive' issues are usually the most important ones), just cause our politicians can't stop bickering? THEY are the ones who should learn to argue intelligently and in a civil manner. And is she saying they don't bicker behind closed doors? She also went on to say that, "As a family, we do not go to the gate to quarrel. We do it inside the bedroom." Yes true, but family quarrels, in the bedroom or not, don't affect the whole country..... I reckon a good leader should be able to confidently argue and defend his/her views, in public debate, no matter if you were the PM, or the ketua of a kampung. So let's put them on the stand.

on the NS program:

I don't know if it's a little known fact or what. But it seems completely absurd to me that the program is still running considering there have been at least 20 deaths (that i know of) since the program started in 2003. How the hell can the program still be running? How can they expect parents to give up their kids for three months when there's such a high risk of them not coming back alive?! These are 18 year old kids, and 20 of them have died in 5 years! At this stage, if I were a parent, no way would i let my kid go for NS. Why should I? And I get that it's supposed to instill unity/national pride etc.. but i don't see why that entails the kids to fire weapons.... They should shut down the program, and do whatever it takes so that thses deaths don't continue. If you're going to have a government program like this, you can't have any glitches. If it was because of lack of care, or medical care, then put in more minders and doctors (good ones... putting in lousy doctors who don't want to be there and don't give a damn isn't going to do anything). If it was related to abuse, then the abusers must be dealt with, there should be councellors so the kids have an outlet to turn to should they be abused/bullied etc... Parents should stand up and protest. There's no reason they should let their kids go for NS unless the officers and program heads could absolutely guarantee that there aren't going to be anymore deaths. I think that should be an easy enough promise to make.

On Yoga fatwa:

What really is there to say here that hasn't been said already... Actually, we should get the Fatwa Council up for public debate. I sure have a few questions to ask them. Like, why aren't there any women on the council? And are they planning on adding any? And who are these guys on the council? Why do they have the right to judge the way I am or how I view my religion? Why do these guys have so much power over the lives of muslims in this country when they weren't even democratically elected? I'm sure there are many intellectual/ open minded religious leaders, why aren't they on this council?

OK... I'm done rambling for today..... sorry it's a bit of a moan and groan fest....

Peace and love to all! :)