One of the downside of living in modern society is meeting people who are morally obtuse and ethically challenged. Worse still, are those who are delusional in thinking that they are some hero come to save the world when in fact; they are the ones who are terrorizing people overtly and covertly. Indeed, hatred is forced to find new ways to express itself when people transform LIES and DECEIT into political correctness or false fervor for a cause in a state. So what does it do? Such a scenario drives people into new and sophisticated ways of expressing their frustration.
Trying to cope with madness looming over the nation is not easy when some intellectually challenged people have a knack for expressing their political bigotry in sugar-coated words such as comparing themselves to icons of freedom and democracy *puke* and fighting tooth and nail for what is rightfully NOT theirs. Thus, they go on a moral crusade to justify whatever idiotic manoeuvres they make to cling on to what is not theirs and in the process fuel bigotry by converting greedy pawns who are ready to lap at whatever crumbs are thrown along their path. Hypocrites!!!
In such an impossible situation, certain media challenge the pillars of journalism by indulging in this political bigotry by choosing not to report the truth or by distorting the truth or by distracting readers from the truth. In this manner, they create a political divide in our society by fanning whatever hatred that continues to be celebrated by far too many morons.
Those who suffer from moral deprivation and are clueless with regards to ethics have said goodbye to such values because of their arrogance, their 'I am holier than thou, I am better than him' stance. To exacerbate matters, they spin so many myths to manipulate people in their direction even though their eyes beam evil, hatred, deceit and probably more than all the seven deadly sins of the world in the name of justice!!!
And so where are we? Simply, we are caught smack in the middle of an international spectacle of a debacle that should not have started in the first place. Some bulldoze their way through the last bastions of justice. Perhaps in their previous life they were some heavy machinery used for such purposes. And so they flaunt their so-called plans, flex their steroid filled muscles making people angry, spewing hatred all around that gosh - I am sure even their saliva SIZZLE when it touches the ground. And for the rest of us, we are mere pawns in the game. The whole time-line has probably been in the blue-print for ages - except some of us were dumb enough to believe that good CAN triumph over evil. And so round and round we go, round the mulberry bush, rain tree, whatever tree, even the coconut tree like in Bollywood movies, singing our songs of patriotism, blind idealism, blind that the drama had long been pre-rehearsed and we are mere spectators who cannot control anything that belongs to us. Wait! We have to be thankful that we were grudgingly accorded a few hours of delusional victory only to have it snatched right from under our noses. OUCH!
What is on the rise? Certainly not the value of our stocks and shares but instead, feelings of frustration as we take umbrage to what has happened. For some evil ones on the other side of the bank, their hatred has increased exponentially and they even have the audacity to be blatantly open about what they really have in mind. Well, hatred stifles dialogue and sabotages the collaborative, synergistic decision-making we so desperately need to put an end to the ridiculous impasse in our midst. So while the plot thickens, it is most unfortunate that such political hatred continues to excite and entertain the public. In today's upside down world, our allegedly free press generally tends to cater to what they believe scintillates the public, rather than to fulfill their social responsibility to truly educate rather than spin the public. So are the people told the truth? Are the people made aware of what IS the truth or do they perpetuate the lies, the myths, and the fallacies that are woven by some unscrupulous characters?
Do those morally blind and ethically deprived characters have any idea about nation-building when what their intent seems to be in the opposite direction? No amount of lies or spin-doctoring of the vilest sort can change the fact that their DNA has similarities to those who are NOT homo homo sapiens!
When will people wake up and move forward? We must realize that the arrogance that says one individual or group of persons aligned to him or a particular political party is a dangerous form of propaganda that far too many citizens continue to swallow.
If one is looking for a simplified picture in which solutions can be found by embracing only one perspective, one might want to find another planet to live on because such an attitude simply does not and will not work amongst humans, I mean real true blue humans who DO NOT think or act otherwise. It's time that people who understand this, which is actually the majority of us stand up for our beliefs, for truth and justice.
Do you truly want to see an end to the insanity, destruction and solution-interference been played out in the drama of comic tragedy before our very eyes? Then stop feeding it by tuning in to it, tolerating it, and being manipulated by it! Stop silently accepting it! Stop buying the one-size-fits-all delusion that any single political perspective is wise enough to see the whole picture and to generate sustainable solutions.
Honestly, the time for all of us, right-minded citizens to acknowledge what we already know: that what we see unfolding before our eyes is a form of bigotry. And it is also a form of unbridled arrogance which creates a kind of gridlock like what we see today that guarantees us those truly effective solutions will never be found and almost hourly we raise our hands in horror when we read online news reports and we wonder if they are in the midst of some limbo rock contest going lower and lower. And so we are slowly but surely being driven to political insanity when NOTHING makes sense and whatever move we make ends us with our heads being banged on the wall till our brains and guts spill out without our realization! Gosh!
I believe the time has come for us NOT to detach ourselves from the situation. For goodness sake, let us NOT make excuses and say "Oh it does not affect me, does not concern me blah blah blah." We MUST think about what our personal reaction to issues happening before us in very real terms and not hide in the silence of indifference because for all we know, the worst has yet to come.
In very simple terms, what we see is the slow murder, assassination or ambush (or whatever term you want to use) of democracy. And is it justified? Think of what might happen if this malaise were to spread like cancer to other parts of the body if you get my drift.
The bottom line is - enough is enough. It's time we unite to stop tolerating or making excuses for or ignoring this insanity, before we go insane!!!
As an anime fan :), I enjoy watching beautiful clips such as this one, apart from continuously appreciating the anime movies of Hayao Miyazaki (I have the complete collection of his movies including Grave of the Fireflies, Howl's Moving Castle,Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, Nausica etc. and his son's Tales from Earthsea).
I am posting the following video Draw With Me, produced by Mike Inel from Philippines featuring the music of Ai Otsuka for a specific reason in relation to the madness that we can see in Perak. Think metaphorically when you watch the clip and you will begin to see the underlying meaning that I am trying to convey.
Personally, I have reached a point when I am nauseated to the core of my being and am both aghast and appalled that such a series of events has led once again to an impasse. What a crying shame that the sudden euphoria from the court judgement yesterday is more than short-lived in this game that leaves all parties crying in shame, anger and indignation. Think of those who have been hurt just because of those monsters with malevolent schemes, monsters with absolutely no conscience or respect for anything or anyone.
I can almost hear the donkeys braying "Hee-Haw Hee-Haw" (pun intended) in this see-saw of comic tragedy which has led to people moving out, moving in, moving out repeatedly in a drama played out at the Perak State Secretariat in the full presence of the FRU for all the world to see.
When I see the series of events unfolding before my eyes, I am not surprised at all that in many parts of society today, there are so many people in many segments of society who are ruthless in the way they relate to/treat people, how they are relentless in achieving their aims and how they have forgotten how to be kind, how they know not how to receive and reciprocate in kindness and love. I do not know what sort of society we have today. It is so difficult to be human and to reach out to others when the leaders themselves are setting such a bad example of how the name of the game is vendetta and intrigue. It is so easy to be swept away by this madness and to be part of this circus of monkeys with their conniving tricks - all in the name of the pursuit of their own selfish ambitions!!
I am in such a rage that tonight I am going bowling and I am going to imagine that the pins are the heads of ************************************. Grrrrrr! Sorry - that is just a cathartic outburst of madness...*sigh*
This video is about a girl and a boy who are separated by a glass wall and they try to the best of their ability to break the wall.
Each time they succeed, the wall grows and mends by itself.
In the end, the girl(who is right-handed) chops off her own left hand hand and gives it to the boy(who is left-handed). She was ready to make the sacrifice and both were hurt without ever realizing that all they had to do was to REMOVE the wall...the same way all they need to do is to DISSOLVE the state assembly...But alas, life is not so simple.
So many people have been hurt, are hurting just as the girl had to suffer..and both of them missed the chance for happiness just as the people of Perak missed the grand chance to develop because of a few unscrupulous characters bent on achieving their diabolical aims.
Please watch this clip, appreciate the beautiful artwork, music and depth of meaning....Have a nice day!
We all need to read this one over and over until it becomes part of who we are!
HOW TO STAY YOUNG
1.Try everything twice.
On one woman's tombstone she said she wanted this epitaph:
"Tried everything twice, loved it both times!"
2. Keep only cheerful friends.
The grouches pull you down.
(Keep this in mind if you are one of those grouches!)
3. Keep learning:
Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever.
Never let the brain get idle. 'An idle mind is the devil's workshop.'
And the devil's name is Alzheimer's!
4. Enjoy the simple things.
5. Laugh often, long and loud.
Laugh until you gasp for breath.
And if you have a friend who makes you laugh, spend lots and lots of time with HIM/HER.
6. The tears happen:
Endure, grieve, and move on.
The only person who is with us our entire life, is ourselves.
LIVE while you are alive.
7. Surround yourself with what you love:
Whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.
8. Cherish your health:
If it is good, preserve it.
If it is unstable, improve it.
If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.
9. Don't take guilt trips.
Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county, to a foreign country, but NOT to where the guilt is.
10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.
I love you, my special friend.
11. Forgive now those who made you cry. You might not get a second chance.
Remember! Lost time can never be found.
Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.
Have you ever trusted someone — and gotten “burned?” Have you ever failed to trust someone and missed significant opportunities as a result? The practical issues with regard to extending trust are these: How do you know when to trust somebody? And how can you extend trust to people in ways that create rich rewards without taking inordinate risk?
When you’re dealing with trust, it seems there are two extremes. On one end of the spectrum, people don’t trust enough. They’re suspicious. They hold things close to the vest. Often, the only people they really trust are themselves. On the other end, people are too trusting. They’re totally gullible. They believe anyone, trust everyone. They have a simplistic, naive view of the world, and they don’t even really think (except superficially) about the need to protect their interests.
Extending trust can bring great results. It also creates the possibility of significant risk. The decision to trust or not to trust is always an issue of managing risk and return. So how do you hit the “sweet spot”? How do you extend trust in a way that maximizes the dividends and minimizes the risk?
Life is filled with risk. However, as noted historian and law professor Stephen Carter has observed: “Civility has two parts: generosity when it is costly, and trust, even when there is risk.” The objective, then, is not to avoid risk. In the first place, you can’t; and in the second place, you wouldn’t want to because risk taking is an essential part of life and leadership. Instead, the objective is to manage risk wisely — to extend trust in a way that will avoid the “taxes” and create the greatest “dividends” over time.
Learning how to extend what I call “Smart Trust” is a function of two factors — your propensity to trust and your analysis. “Propensity to trust”is primarily a matter of the heart. It’s the tendency, inclination, or predisposition to believe that people are worthy of trust and a desire to
extend it to them freely. “Analysis” is primarily a matter of the mind. It’s the ability to analyze, evaluate, theorize, consider implications and possibilities, and come up with logical decisions and solutions.
As you think about these two factors — “propensity to trust” and “analysis”– how would you rate yourself on each? Do you typically tend to trust people easily — or do you tend to be suspicious and hold things close? Do you tend to analyze, theorize, and ponder over things — or do you give problems your cursory attention and then move on?
While extending trust to other people always brings with it some risk, the often greater risk that’s frequently ignored is what happens when managers DON’T extend trust to others. These managers usually incur much larger taxes than they think — including bureaucracy, politics, disengagement, and turnover — and they often lose the dividends that flow from extending trust, such as innovation, collaboration, partnering, and loyalty. Sadly,their suspicion sometimes even helps produce the very behaviors they fear,which further validates their suspicion. By treating people as if they can’t be trusted, they help to create a collusive, downward cycle of distrust. And this is one reason why — in this “flat world” global economy — not trusting people is often the greatest risk of all.
With regard to “propensity to trust,” I once knew a business owner who was so suspicious that his employees might be stealing from him, that he would literally interrogate them almost daily. He would even do occasional spot “frisk checks” when they left the office. This man was convinced that people were trying to steal from him. In reality, no one was, but his suspicious actions drove away his most talented people who wouldn’t tolerate working in such a distrustful environment or for such a suspicious boss.
With regard to “analysis,” it’s helpful to consider three vital variables, which you can do by asking these questions:
1. What is the opportunity (the situation or task at hand)?
2. What is the risk involved? (Possible outcomes? Likelihood of outcomes? Importance of outcomes?)
3. What is the credibility (character and competence) of the people involved?
Smart Trust doesn’t mean that you extend trust to everyone. Based on the circumstances, your judgment may be to not extend trust or to extend only a limited measure of trust. In extending trust, the general guideline is to extend trust conditionally to those who are earning it and abundantly to those who have already done so. Keep in mind that even when you extend trust abundantly, there should still always be clear expectations and accountability because those are principles that actually enhance trust.
I affirm that in our “flat world” economy, the ability to establish, grow,extend, and restore trust is the key professional and personal competency of our time. And the ability to exercise Smart Trust is a vital part of that competency. It will enable you to create a powerful balance and synergy between analysis and the propensity to trust, which, in turn, will produce the judgment that enables you to effectively leverage yourself and to inspire the talent, creativity, synergy, and highest contribution of others.
by Stephen M.R. Covey
*****
Note: The preceding article is based on the book, “The Speed of Trust,” by Stephen M. R. Covey, released in trade paperback by Simon & Schuster’s Free Press.
