TIMES & CHIMES

People used to say; “time is precious”. For with and without it, uncertainties are just a step ahead.

Also, there are others who even exaggeratedly proclaimed “time is gold”, “time is money” etc. and the list goes on. You name it.

Thank God, we did acknowledge TIME! I presumed only the Japanese took it seriously.

So, my easy straight-forward questions are;

1. If time is that precious, why waste it?
2. If time is gold, why not treasure it?
3. If time is money, why “Malaysian Time” is more popular than “Malaysian Ringgit”?

Malaysians are GENERALLY quite lay back in punctuality from all walks of life – be it for meetings, discussions, outings etc. Worse still, there is this cliche of when you are to meet a Malaysian, do apply the 30mins rule!

Meaning, if you are to meet at 10pm for a real occasion, you better state 9:30pm r.s.v.p. or else, you’ll be kept waiting for the rest 30mins – fair enough, it’s okay when the latecomer is projecting an apology upon arrival but in most cases, sorry to say, that would be the last word you’ll hear before calling it a day!

As you can see, this is NOT APPLICABLE TO ALL – they are just for typical Malaysians.

I often wondered, “from whom” and “since when” did we inherited this indecent habit?

Shakespeare once said; of course the blame is not from our stars!

Nor do I feel it was in our genes. The blood that flows in these veins will become the almighty proof of this claim.

Also, I assumed that none of those traits were from our forefathers. Me myself, wanted to believe that they are not time-mangers! Indeed, they are those who treasured time the most – in fact, far greater than the Japanese.

This can be observed if we were to have the opportunity to travel back time inwardly. Believe it or not, our findings must be astounding!

Above all, one thing for sure, procrastination is not our cup of tea because it was and should not be!

Let’s be serious on our time management and together we turn over a new leaf. Gone were those days where 30mins rule was applied.

So, the next time you are to meet with somebody – I’m not suggesting coming over by 30mins earlier, that’s too obvious – But, at least, you try to be the first one waiting (you see, I purposely used the word “waiting” here not “coming” because if you are the one who first came, most likely there was somebody already waiting!”. Got it?

Till the next posting & good luck!

THE WRATH OF H1N1

I was all baffled when I saw the headline for today's The Borneo Post news that reads "Ten SMK Sains Kuching students H1N1 positive" Am I dreaming or something? Seriously, I'm not. But, hey, that's my adorable secondary school we are talking about! By the way, it's not SMK Sains Kuching my dear journalist, it should be written as SM Sains Kuching. Here's the news.


For a few seconds, I thought that maybe this is due to my 'deep-nap' kind of habit - where out of no where, you feel like angels are above you dancing gracefully flipping their wings to and fro. In simple word, over-slept.


Immediately, I cross-check with other news (The Sun, BERNAMA, The Star); just in case Borneo Post is hitting around the bushes again and to my surprised, this is what I've bumped into. Click.



As I tried to mend all of the pieces together, now that I've got it. We (those who are here breathing USM's fresh & unpolluted air purely undisturbed - except for the troubles from Mr. Charlie & Mdm. Flies - should be grateful that we are in a safe zone (at least, for now) while others somewhere, somehow right now are battling with this H1N1 thingy that might determines a matter of Life @ Death.


Anywho, don't be discouraged people because we still have our very own capable hands that will ensure our safety. Here are some measures undertaken to combat the spread of the virus.





Click here and here for full report.


Hope this simple reminder might trigger ample awareness in both you & me. Till the next posting.

A STUDENT

Conversation for Introduction to Philosophy

An Atheist Professor of Philosophy was speaking to his Class on the Problem Science has with GOD, the ALMIGHTY. He asked one of his New Students to stand and . . . .

Professor: Do you believe in GOD?

Student: Absolutely, sir.
Professor: Is GOD Good?
Student: Sure.
Professor: Is GOD ALL - POWERFUL?
Student: Yes.

Professor: My Brother died of Cancer even though he prayed to GOD to heal him. Most of us would attempt to help others who are ill. But GOD didn't. How is this GOD good then? Hmm?

(Student was silent)

Professor: You can't answer, can you? Let's start again, Young fella. Is GOD Good?

Student: Yes.
Professor: Is Satan good?
Student: No.

Professor: Where does Satan come from?
Student: From . . . GOD . . .

Professor: That's right. Tell me son, is there by any means some sort of evil in this world?

Student: Yes.

Professor: Evil is everywhere, isn't it? And GOD did make everything. Correct?

Student: Yes.

Professor: So who created evil?

(Student did not answer)

Professor: Is there Sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things exist in the world, don't they?

Student: Yes, sir.
Professor: So, who created them?

(Student had no answer)

Professor: Science says you have 5 senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Tell me, son . . . Have you ever seen GOD?

Student: No, sir.

Professor: Tell us if you have ever heard your GOD?
Student: No, sir.

Professor: Have you ever felt your GOD, tasted your GOD, smelt your GOD? Have you ever had any sensory perception of GOD for that matter?

Student: No, sir. I'm afraid I haven't.
Professor: Yet you still believe in HIM?

Student: Yes.

Professor: According to empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your GOD doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?

Student: Nothing. I only have my faith.

Professor: Yes, faith. And that is the problem science has.

Student asks and professor answers...


Student: Professor is there such a thing as heat?
Professor: Yes.
Student: And is there such a thing as cold?
Professor: Yes.
Student: No, sir. There isn't...

(The Lecture Theater became very quiet with this turn of events)

Student: Sir, you can have lots of heat, even more heat, superheat, mega Heat, white Heat, a little heat or no heat. But we don't have anything called cold. We can hit 458 degrees below zero which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold. Cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.

(There was pin-drop silence in the Lecture Theatre)


Student: What about darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as darkness?

Professor: Yes. What is night if there isn't darkness?

Student: You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light. . But if you have no light constantly, you have nothing and its called darkness, isn't it? In reality, darkness isn't. If it is, you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?

Professor: So what is the point you are making, Young Man?
Student: Sir, my point is your Philosophical premise is flawed.

Professor: Flawed? Can you explain how?

Student: Sir, you are working on the premise of duality. You argue there is life and then there is death, a Good GOD and a Bad GOD. You are viewing the concept of GOD as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life: just the absence of it. Now tell me, Professor, do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?

Professor: If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, yes, of course I do.


Student: Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?


(The Professor shook his head with a smile, beginning to realize where the argument was going)


Student: Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you not a scientist but a preacher?

(The class was in uproar)


Student: Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the professor's brain?

(The class broke out into laughter)

Student: Is there anyone here, who has ever heard the Professor's brain, felt it, touched or smelt it? . . . No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, Science says that you have no brain, sir. With all due respect, sir, how do we then trust your lectures, sir?

(The room was silent. The Professor stared at the student, his face unfathomable)


Professor: I guess you'll have to take them on faith, son.

Student: That is it sir . . . exactly! The link between MAN & GOD is FAITH. That is all that keeps things alive and moving.

That student was Albert Einstein. Moral of the story are simple; Not all said by lecturers were right & everyone can be the next Einstein!

VOICES FROM A LONGHOUSE (Part II)

When Tradition Goes Wrong.

Anything that is passed from generation to generation can be considered a tradition. As the one entrusted to uphold those traditions, trustees must practiced and keep those activities related to preserve the very nature of a tradition well. As for The Ibans, Gawai is not only a mere tradition but it covers a deeper meaning uprooted in each of their new generation - a remembrance of a successful harvesting season to commemorate the beginning of new year in Ibans' astrological belief.

During Gawai Eve (Mantar Gawai) one can witnessed variety of gestures. While the older folks (sida Aki & Ini) are busy brooding the past recalling their heyday and other success stories, some are putting their best to impress the audience with their skills in the kind-of-years-of-practice warrior dance (Ngajat). Above all, the one whose the most excited shall be the youngsters ( sida Igat, Dom, Bujang etc), where words of "I'm the best" kind of remark echoed whole night long in order to win maidens' ( sida Umang, Endu, Dara etc) heart! Been there, doing it and won once.

Ngajat Dance & Beautiful Maidens.

And of course, the most anticipated event of all - Ngirup Ai Pengayu! According to tradition, one must take the Ai Pengayu - in this case, Ai Tuak - believed to get rid of bad luck and omens that may cause ill-fated series of events from occurring.

Drink of Legends: Ai Pengayu a.k.a. Ai Tuak

Also, back in the olden days - after paying some respects at the Pendam @ Sungkup (cemetery) - where the use of technology is still a dream, the elders will be off to their then favorite entertainment (slightly equal to today's Playstation, Facebook etc) Nyabung a.k.a. Cock Fighting. Those cockerels will be provided with sets of sharp-home made- steel- weapon known as Taji which is used later for attacking. Me myself never got a single chance to experience it by hand so further elaboration is therefore void.

An elderly with his champion:
Manuk Biring Sempidan Arang

In a nutshell, those are what Gawai supposed to be according to tradition. Now, I am not a maverick whose idea is against tradition whatsoever - made it clear already - but, what seems not right as to the way I see it remains.

From tradition point of view, nowadays, it seems to me that not every single Iban family can celebrate Gawai - which happens to be a must celebrated event long time ago as a sign of thankgiving for the previous & up-coming blessings.

Why did it so? Of course, most of the blame will befall on religion i.e. Christianity - these hypocrites will say, "sida Paderi enda ngasuh" while in reality, it's none other than YOU, yourself that cause the problem at the very first place. Suddenly, we are known for our "wisdom" by coming up with all sorts of people with great ideas i.e.

1. "During Gawai you must prepare this, and this and that" Enggai enda dipeda bisi nya tadi.
   

1. "Unless you have RM3K you cannot celebrate Gawai because nowadays liquor and beers alone will cause you a thousand"

1. "One might be looked down just because he/she did not provide the same standard amount of goodies & food like others. So, you must keep on track!" Nya la ulah kitai ti bepekit engau pangan diri.
   

1. "Gawai is celebrated once a year, so you must spend on the very best you can to be acknowledged!"

1. "Tuak is only for the old-timers, nowadays we drink wine, brandy, bocardi etc"

1. "Show us your true heroism as anak Iban: the more you drink, the more respected you become" Enggai alah uti enggau orang. Lagi sekula nadai utai ke ulih. Uji ti bekenya ulah kitai ransing besekula enda ga lebu apai indai ngada.
   

The numberings are intentionally numbered as '1' to reflect seriousness of this matter. Now, I really don't mind about this matter, why on Earth should I? After all, who am I to judge others but before that I just want clear answers to my sets of questions here:

Did anyone earn the same manner like someone else?

Did our tradition ever mentioned about other liquors other than Tuak while celebrating Gawai back then?

Did one's success depends on his/her ability to handle a mere Gawai celebration? Then, our 'beloved' Jabu shall be considered a failure because he prohibits drinking during Gawai - neglecting tradition's demand? You know well how much he earned through his dirty involvements here & there vigorously ransacking our lands & yet you called him a failure?

Did true heroism ever measured by how much liquor you consumed, then you bet, how many gallons did our true hero, PW1 Kanang Anak Langkau ever took? Unfortunately, none!

Of course, I'm not suggesting that we'll abandoned the Ngirup culture. Why waste a good culture? Isn't it those who had conquered the world and most sophisticated civilization possessed this kind of drinking habits? Surprisingly, even the Europeans have their own wine, brandy and vodka while the Japanese have their 'sake' to drink. In that manner, Ibans should be proud cause you & I got our very own Tuak to be proud of! So, where did it goes wrong? Again, ourselves. In reality, people drink so that they can release tensions and recuperating after long days of work - that's the art! However, in our case, yeah we drink but we took it seriously that it kills us!

We tend to say "ngirup aja... ukai selalu pan kitai betemu... ngambi sebotol dua nyadi meh kaban" A bottle becomes 2, 2 becomes 3 and so on till you know what might happen next? Obviously, Headline of tomorrow's news - "An Iban drunkyard massacre, 3 killed"

Are we going to be like this forever? I know and I am fully aware that not all Ibans are like this but isn't it the minority that determines majority? Until the day that all of us (including me) truly understand the exact meaning of how to preserve tradition, opinions regarding this matter are all welcomed.

At my part, I'll suggest a way in my last trilogy of this Voices From A Longhouse (VoFAL) series to maybe not 100% solving the problem but at least, trigger something important in my capacity as a mere student.

To be continued...