Cultural Heritage

Hi Everyone,


Some recent events for the past few years should have been a trivial matter. All these things have gone of our proportion. Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia all share the same cultural heritage in terms of food and traditional dances and songs.


The most recent controversy surrounding Malaysia and Indonesia is the Mandailing tor tor dance and Gordang Sembilan dance. The Mandailing community in Malaysia wanted to preserve their culture of the Tor-tor and the Gordang Sembilan dance. It was suggested to Malaysia's Information, Communications and Culture ministry to gazette it as Malaysia's national heritage. Decision have been made to gazette these two dances at Malaysia's national heritage.


This announcement prompted controversy by a group of Indonesians who maintained that Malaysia has stolen their cultural heritage. The group, Pancasila Youths have torced the Malaysian flag and hurled eggs at the Malaysian Embassy in Indonesia. They then went to Malaysia Hall and threw huge stones at the building. The article can be found here:


Bernama
The Star
Jakarta Post


What I don't understand is that the reason they did it. Our culture are similar and yet they are unhappy over small and trivial things like this. It does not mean that we are claiming it to be ours but it is just to recognise the two traditional dances and to protect it from being lost. We should maintain a healthy relationship between each other.


Similar disputes have been on-going for the past few years. The Rasa Sayang song, popular among Malaysians has gone through the same thing. Indonesia claimed that it originated from there when Malaysian used it for the Malaysia Truly Asia truly campaign. Wayang kulit and batik have gone through it as well.


It comes to food as well between Malaysia and Singapore. These include chilli crab, bak kut teh and Hainanese Chicken Rice.


All these food items and traditional dances / songs are common among Asean countries. It is more so among Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore. Whether or not the food or traditional dances / songs come from which country is not essential in this. Everyone enjoys the food here and there are people who wants to maintain the traditional dances / songs. We enjoy it and share it together. Malaysian and Indonesian batiks have its own styles respectively. There can be even adaptations of each other's style respectively. 


Nasi lemak may have variations in Malaysia and Singapore but everyone likes it. It is unique among South East Asian countries. People from all walks of like enjoys bak kut teh. The same for roti canai.


In a nutshell, these things should unite us. There is no need for us to claim what is supposed to be originated from us and things like that. Why make a big fuss of this?


Cheers,


Rogerkoo

Micro

Hi Everyone,

I have bought the latest book from Michael Crichton and Richard Preston from MPH about two months ago. Michael Crichton did not finish this book when he passed away a few years ago. Micro was completed by his friend, Richard Preston.

Once again, I am impressed with a Michael Crichton fiction book. After Prey, this is one of the best books that he has written. The main storyline focuses on 7 US top graduate students who do research on nature. 

This is a summary of it:

1. Ethnobotanist studying medicine made by indigeneous people
2. Arachnologist
3. Venom and envenomination expert
4. Entomologist
5. Botanist
6. Biochemist
7. Doctoral studnt writing a thesis on 'scientific lingustic codes'

One of the graduate students has an elder brother working at a nanotechnology company named Nanigen Microtech. Nanigen has the technology capable of shrinking animals and humans into a microscopic size. A 6 ft man would be slightly less than two tenths of a millimetre. (as quoted from the book).

The story begins when this elder brother was found to be murdered in Hawaii, where Nanigen is based. These 7 students then went there to find out more about the company and about the elder brother's disappearance. Their circumstances change when the 7 students together with a Nanigen staff found themselves to be shrunk by the Nanigen CEO. Worst of all, they can only stay shrunk for a few days before they experienced bends, a condition where micro cuts will appear and they will die.

Nanigen CEO has a plan that will cost the students their lives.  How are they going to escape the Hawaiian rainforest and go back to lab so that they can be returned to normal size again? Can they do it? With the wits and the intelligence of the students, they will embark on a treacherous journey to survive the forces of nature and evil, being in microscopic sizes. Everything felt different for them. Insects and plants are huge when they are in microscopic sizes.  Follow them as they use their knowledge to find ways to escape. You can also get to know more about each students' characters throughout the book.

It is indeed a very thrilling novel. You will need to read what happens at the end of the novel. There are ups and downs throughout the adventure and it will keep you wanting to find out whether all of them will survive it or not. Last but not least, enjoy Micro by Michael Crichton and Richard Preston.

Cheers,

Rogerkoo

Lectio Divina

Hi Everyone,

During my PBC 1st Family Camp that has just been ended on 28th May 2012, the speaker, Pastor Keith Lai taught us a new method to do our quiet reflection.

It is called the Lectio Divina or the Latio Divina method. It is divided into 4 sections.


Listen


For the first part of this method, we need to read aloud a Bible passage twice. For example, Psalm 27:1-8 and Colossians 3:12-15. While these 2 readings are being read, we need to identify the words / phrases / verses that strike us. 




Meditate


It will continue to the 3rd reading before the time of meditation. We will meditate on the words / phrase / verses and ask ourselves these questions below:

1. How is my life touched by the words / phrase / verses?
2. How does the words / phrase / verses  connect or relate to my present situation / circumstances?
3. How does the words / phrase / verses speak to us?

Pray

Next, we will have the 4th reading and this time is to reflect our response to the words / phrase / verses . We need to pray on how do we go about this or how do we take the necessary actions for it.

Contemplate


Finally, we will have the 5th and final reading where we communicate to God directly regarding our present situations that we are in. It involves shifting our attention to God.


It is indeed a good way to meditate on God's word using the Latio Divino method. However, I admit that I have not got the time to use this method yet at the moment. As we use this method more often, it may take a longer time to complete, approximately 45 minutes or more depending on an individual.

Cheers,

Rogerkoo