Looking at the exciting presidential campaign in the US I feel a little bit dishearten when I look at our own up coming general election. Regardless of the outcome of their presidential election – considering the Americans track records of choosing Bush twice and having Mc.Cain to run for the third term... – at least the Americans have had a chance to vote for an alternative and potential candidate who could bring about change. Indonesians are not that lucky.
Sure we have plenty who are passionately determined to be the next President. Some of them had even been given a chance and lucky enough to become RI 1. The fact that they had been ousted or voted out by the people doesn’t seem to diminish their desires to make another attempt to come back. The problem is we don’t want them to come back! Well, okay perhaps it’s only me and few others with good memories and critical thinking. I want someone new.
Someone who isn’t tainted with the dirty intrigues in our bureaucracies. Someone who doesn’t have a prospect of becoming a “witness” in any corruption cases under prosecution by KPK (Corruption Eradication Commission). Someone who is passionate enough about change and could inspire and convince us that change is possible after all. Someone who believes that the systematic corruption in our governments could be eliminated through drastic and major changes. Someone who realises that the key to poverty alleviation is good governance and not abundant natural resources as it has been painfully proven to us all!
Sadly, no such person is visible in the horizon. All that I could see is wannabes who make it clear that their priority is to win the general election. Wannabes who try to sell their wares with their same old boring jingle “Experience”. I don’t careless if they’ve a life time career as bureaucrat. I don’t careless if they’ve a term or two as President of the Republic of Indonesia in their brief.
It only tells me that they’ve learn all there is to learn in the Political Guidance for Successful Politicians textbook. Which have special chapters dedicated to extensively discuss the ways to deceive public through elaborate schemes, the how to make initiatives and policies which are easy to implement without in depth studies, the how to hand out key positions to allies and cronies without being obvious, and the how to accumulate as much wealth as possible during one’s term. That’s what the experience is all about!
What we should care about our Presidential hopeful is his character, sincerity, honesty and integrity. What we should care about is that we choose someone who really cares for his people, us. Not his position. What we need is someone who is extremely passionate and determined to better our lot. Not someone who’s ambition is to become a President!
Monday, June 2, 2008
Monday, May 26, 2008
Camden, an Honest Revelation of Bigotry, Racism and Fear of Change
I was quite shocked when I watched the interviews on the news during one of the town’s meetings against the proposed Islamic school in the area. There were no politically correct words nor sentences worded carefully to avoid undesirable effects. Just blunt words and plain speeches made by ordinary rural people for their fellow citizens. It revealed the depth of the feelings felt by the community towards the Muslim immigrants in Australia.
One interviewee strongly and passionately stated that she didn’t want to have the terrorists in their community. She didn’t even bother to make differentiation between Muslims for in her views they’re all terrorists.
She then continued by stressing that their community wasn’t against immigration as they had Italians, Greeks, and others from Europe, all were welcomed excepts the Muslims.
What really shocked me wasn’t the opposition itself. I understand how difficult it is for a community to accept foreigners among them, let alone letting them build something which would out last everyone of them and might become new legacies in their community. The shocker was the fact that such strong sentiments are felt by Australians. Our close neighbour.
Regardless of the rather volatile relationship between Indonesia and Australia and the ups and downs in our foreign relations, I've always have a feeling that Australians are one of those who really know and understand Indonesians. That means understand the Muslims and Islam. I somehow thought Australia as one of the most tolerance countries when it comes to the practice of different religions. Seeing that news was a revelation. It shows the world a reality. Ugly, unpleasant, and shocking, but reality nonetheless.
People are inherently suspicious of others different from them, particularly if those different people are the ones constantly pictured as terrorists by the media. They also have a healthy dose of fear of change, enough patriotism, nationalism, and faith in their bones to defend their country, community, culture and religion against the invaders and interlopers. Conveniently forgetting their very existence in their beloved land was the results of what they are opposing at the moment. Change brought by the unwelcome foreigners.
It shows that we are still a long way from achieving an ideal world where one’s colours, nations, and beliefs will no longer be an issue. When people could see other people without prejudice. When they could see others who come into their community not as a threat but as a welcome resources. As a fellow citizen of this planet, who has the same rights as everybody else in it.
Most of the fear of change has economic reasons behinds it. Most of the time it is because the community doesn't want to share its wealth with others. They don't want their comfort to be diminished. Very selfish indeed. But that's the reality in its ugly but honest form.
Until people have an understanding that they need to share what they have with others, tensions will always be there. Until people learn to accept that people are different and will always be, there will always be bigotry, racism, and conflicts.
Apparently, the world still has much to do to educate its citizens.
One interviewee strongly and passionately stated that she didn’t want to have the terrorists in their community. She didn’t even bother to make differentiation between Muslims for in her views they’re all terrorists.
She then continued by stressing that their community wasn’t against immigration as they had Italians, Greeks, and others from Europe, all were welcomed excepts the Muslims.
What really shocked me wasn’t the opposition itself. I understand how difficult it is for a community to accept foreigners among them, let alone letting them build something which would out last everyone of them and might become new legacies in their community. The shocker was the fact that such strong sentiments are felt by Australians. Our close neighbour.
Regardless of the rather volatile relationship between Indonesia and Australia and the ups and downs in our foreign relations, I've always have a feeling that Australians are one of those who really know and understand Indonesians. That means understand the Muslims and Islam. I somehow thought Australia as one of the most tolerance countries when it comes to the practice of different religions. Seeing that news was a revelation. It shows the world a reality. Ugly, unpleasant, and shocking, but reality nonetheless.
People are inherently suspicious of others different from them, particularly if those different people are the ones constantly pictured as terrorists by the media. They also have a healthy dose of fear of change, enough patriotism, nationalism, and faith in their bones to defend their country, community, culture and religion against the invaders and interlopers. Conveniently forgetting their very existence in their beloved land was the results of what they are opposing at the moment. Change brought by the unwelcome foreigners.
It shows that we are still a long way from achieving an ideal world where one’s colours, nations, and beliefs will no longer be an issue. When people could see other people without prejudice. When they could see others who come into their community not as a threat but as a welcome resources. As a fellow citizen of this planet, who has the same rights as everybody else in it.
Most of the fear of change has economic reasons behinds it. Most of the time it is because the community doesn't want to share its wealth with others. They don't want their comfort to be diminished. Very selfish indeed. But that's the reality in its ugly but honest form.
Until people have an understanding that they need to share what they have with others, tensions will always be there. Until people learn to accept that people are different and will always be, there will always be bigotry, racism, and conflicts.
Apparently, the world still has much to do to educate its citizens.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Fuel Hike
In just a few months I’ve experiencing more than a couple of increases of gas price. For your information I’m using gas with higher level of octane which of course way more pricey than the ones with lower octane level.
The reasons for using a higher octane level gas are because I assume it would be better for my car and because the gas with a cheaper price is heavily subsidized by the government and is designated for those who couldn’t afford it without subsidy.
So, I was feeling quite noble and virtuous for being a model citizen and didn’t really mind those increases.
However, when I stopped in a gas station a couple of days ago, I was pissed of by the new price I saw. It’s Rp 8,750 per liter! Yes, that’s the price I have to pay for being such a model citizen.
Instead of rewarding me for my noble action which now I started to see as a stupid mistake and waste of precious money, the government decided to charge me more! Don’t they know that I am equal to those rare and endangered species needed to be protected? The government needs to preserve people like me. People who did stupid thing when people around them are being smart instead. People who support government stupid initiative at their own costs.
If you’re not using gas with higher level of octane or never pay attention to the going on in a gas station, I’ll tell you what happens when I’m giving my car its expensive drink. I never have to queue. Never! At least not with another car. My only competition is motorbikes.
The common scenes which I saw with mistaken feelings of superiority and righteousness were of luxurious cars using lower level of octane. It didn’t even cross my mind to question why I was the only one using higher octane – a lesson learned: if you’re the only one doing something, it’s probably because you’re doing the wrong thing!
Another thing that I learned is that what the government has achieved with their latest brilliant initiative is opening my eyes that I was being stupid. And it reaffirms my belief that the government is also very stupid.
If the purpose of increasing the price of higher level octane gas is to reducing government burden on subsidy, it fails miserably. This decision has a contrary effect, it pushes me to be like everybody else, to start to be smart and using the cheaper gas, which is heavily subsidized by the government! And don’t they know that no body is buying this expensive gas anyway?!
The government really needs to start to get smarter than that! And brings forth effective initiative like increasing the price of those subsidized gas to close the gap with the price of higher octane gas and therefore forcing those rich people to use what they should be using in the first place while on the other hand maintaining subsidized fuel price for those really needed e.g. public transportation and the have not.
The President said he was thinking of withdrawing Indonesia’s membership of OPEC for a time being as we’ve become an importing country, not that I disagree, but the question is why did we’ve become an oil importing country? What’s wrong? There got to be something wrong. Or am I being stupid again?
With the skyrocketing of fuel price we're supposed to rejoicing the fact and not lamenting it, but of course that's only happen if we are exporting oil. What happens? Have we depleted our resources? Or have the management of our resources to be blamed?
Everybody (translated as foreigners) complement Indonesia for being a rich country with a lot of resources, but if they bother to ask Indonesians, those common people, I'm sure they would be informed that the ordinary people never feel that they are rich, what they feel is that life has become more hard and difficult by day.
Yeah, I'm pissed of alright. So should every other not so stupid Indonesian!
The reasons for using a higher octane level gas are because I assume it would be better for my car and because the gas with a cheaper price is heavily subsidized by the government and is designated for those who couldn’t afford it without subsidy.
So, I was feeling quite noble and virtuous for being a model citizen and didn’t really mind those increases.
However, when I stopped in a gas station a couple of days ago, I was pissed of by the new price I saw. It’s Rp 8,750 per liter! Yes, that’s the price I have to pay for being such a model citizen.
Instead of rewarding me for my noble action which now I started to see as a stupid mistake and waste of precious money, the government decided to charge me more! Don’t they know that I am equal to those rare and endangered species needed to be protected? The government needs to preserve people like me. People who did stupid thing when people around them are being smart instead. People who support government stupid initiative at their own costs.
If you’re not using gas with higher level of octane or never pay attention to the going on in a gas station, I’ll tell you what happens when I’m giving my car its expensive drink. I never have to queue. Never! At least not with another car. My only competition is motorbikes.
The common scenes which I saw with mistaken feelings of superiority and righteousness were of luxurious cars using lower level of octane. It didn’t even cross my mind to question why I was the only one using higher octane – a lesson learned: if you’re the only one doing something, it’s probably because you’re doing the wrong thing!
Another thing that I learned is that what the government has achieved with their latest brilliant initiative is opening my eyes that I was being stupid. And it reaffirms my belief that the government is also very stupid.
If the purpose of increasing the price of higher level octane gas is to reducing government burden on subsidy, it fails miserably. This decision has a contrary effect, it pushes me to be like everybody else, to start to be smart and using the cheaper gas, which is heavily subsidized by the government! And don’t they know that no body is buying this expensive gas anyway?!
The government really needs to start to get smarter than that! And brings forth effective initiative like increasing the price of those subsidized gas to close the gap with the price of higher octane gas and therefore forcing those rich people to use what they should be using in the first place while on the other hand maintaining subsidized fuel price for those really needed e.g. public transportation and the have not.
The President said he was thinking of withdrawing Indonesia’s membership of OPEC for a time being as we’ve become an importing country, not that I disagree, but the question is why did we’ve become an oil importing country? What’s wrong? There got to be something wrong. Or am I being stupid again?
With the skyrocketing of fuel price we're supposed to rejoicing the fact and not lamenting it, but of course that's only happen if we are exporting oil. What happens? Have we depleted our resources? Or have the management of our resources to be blamed?
Everybody (translated as foreigners) complement Indonesia for being a rich country with a lot of resources, but if they bother to ask Indonesians, those common people, I'm sure they would be informed that the ordinary people never feel that they are rich, what they feel is that life has become more hard and difficult by day.
Yeah, I'm pissed of alright. So should every other not so stupid Indonesian!
Monday, April 28, 2008
Review: Bones!
It’s been such a long time since I found myself in love with a TV Series. Not since La Femme Nikita and Lois and Clark ended. The first was love at the first sight. The second was love which never ends.
Now after years spending with longing to find something that could capture my passion, attention and time, I finally found Bones.
It definitely is my favourite TV series of date. But why write the review now and not before?
I guessed after finished watching the second season I kind of forget how good it was. But right after watching a few episodes of the third season, all of the old giddy feelings came back full force.
What I love most either in the movies or books is a strong female lead. Someone with intelligence, strong backbones, and high qualifications. In short, no Miss teary, dewy eyed with great body but no brain for me. And Bones is giving me my ideal female character.
Dr. Temperance Brennan (Bones) is not only intelligent but also a brilliant in her field. She’s also a very famous author on the side, and therefore making more than enough money for herself. Working and excel in a rather bizarre field of work makes her quite lacking in other less than impressive skills e.g. social skills.
Her being so used to be in charge, aloof and far from being subtle has caused some problems when she has to work together with a FBI Special Agent Seeley Booth. Luckily, Booth is an easy going type, the complete opposite of Bones.
Their partnership is the main reason why this Series is able to capture my attention. It’s been ages since the last time I saw such chemistry between lead characters. They are so different Bone and Booth! And their differences have been expertly exploited to create strong fascinations for the audiences.
It’s very amusing to see that when they were discussing certain topics which was introduced on purpose by Booth – it was him who ended up blushing and stuttering or got angry instead while Bones were completely ignorant of the facts.
I love seeing the relationship between Bone and Booth is built slowly. Letting the audience see how their feelings toward each other developed and grew into something deeper and stronger.
If the producer and the writers could maintain the good work that they are doing, this Series could become one of the best TV series in its genre. If they could maintain the tension and chemistry between its two leads, they will become one of the most memorable couples on TV Screen.
Now after years spending with longing to find something that could capture my passion, attention and time, I finally found Bones.
It definitely is my favourite TV series of date. But why write the review now and not before?
I guessed after finished watching the second season I kind of forget how good it was. But right after watching a few episodes of the third season, all of the old giddy feelings came back full force.
What I love most either in the movies or books is a strong female lead. Someone with intelligence, strong backbones, and high qualifications. In short, no Miss teary, dewy eyed with great body but no brain for me. And Bones is giving me my ideal female character.
Dr. Temperance Brennan (Bones) is not only intelligent but also a brilliant in her field. She’s also a very famous author on the side, and therefore making more than enough money for herself. Working and excel in a rather bizarre field of work makes her quite lacking in other less than impressive skills e.g. social skills.
Her being so used to be in charge, aloof and far from being subtle has caused some problems when she has to work together with a FBI Special Agent Seeley Booth. Luckily, Booth is an easy going type, the complete opposite of Bones.
Their partnership is the main reason why this Series is able to capture my attention. It’s been ages since the last time I saw such chemistry between lead characters. They are so different Bone and Booth! And their differences have been expertly exploited to create strong fascinations for the audiences.
It’s very amusing to see that when they were discussing certain topics which was introduced on purpose by Booth – it was him who ended up blushing and stuttering or got angry instead while Bones were completely ignorant of the facts.
I love seeing the relationship between Bone and Booth is built slowly. Letting the audience see how their feelings toward each other developed and grew into something deeper and stronger.
If the producer and the writers could maintain the good work that they are doing, this Series could become one of the best TV series in its genre. If they could maintain the tension and chemistry between its two leads, they will become one of the most memorable couples on TV Screen.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Do You Watch American Idol?
Should we be ashamed of admitting that we are not immune to this pop culture instant idol fever? As I already put all my favourite books (which were labeled by a friend as cheap romance novels) and films here for all the world to see, I might as well admit that I do watch and rather enjoy it.
I even used to have a strange infatuation for Ryan Seacreast! Yea, I was one of those girls who watch American Idol in order to drool over him. The strange thing was that I didn’t think Ryan was good looking at all.
What I liked about him was his sense of humor – which come to think of it, I’m not even sure really his – those amusing comments he made might be the results of a very good sense of humor of his script writer! At least now that was over. I no longer find him as amusing as before. Instead in this 7th season I found my self captured by the talent of the contestants.
I was one of those who are deeply disappointed when America decided to send Michael Johns home. He has a very special voice and really blown me away when he sang Bohemian Rhapsody (which I thought was sounded even better than the original). I thought he deserved to be at least at the top 4. Anyway….
I’m not a fan of David Cook, but now that Michael Johns was gone my attentions are turned to him. I have to admit he has almost everything. Week after week he impressed me with his stellar performances. I wouldn’t be surprised if he ended up become the American Idol this season.
His strongest contender David Archuletta is also very good. He has a very beautiful voice but lacked the hard edge which is owned by Cook. But being only 17, Archuletta has huge potentials to become a very big star and to win the American Idol.
I’m not that impressed with the rest.
Brooke botched her performance by forgetting her lyrics, something which should have never happened at this late stage! Jason was unimpressive. Syesha was good but her voice wasn’t distinct enough. Carly….well, she was never my favourite.
I even used to have a strange infatuation for Ryan Seacreast! Yea, I was one of those girls who watch American Idol in order to drool over him. The strange thing was that I didn’t think Ryan was good looking at all.
What I liked about him was his sense of humor – which come to think of it, I’m not even sure really his – those amusing comments he made might be the results of a very good sense of humor of his script writer! At least now that was over. I no longer find him as amusing as before. Instead in this 7th season I found my self captured by the talent of the contestants.
I was one of those who are deeply disappointed when America decided to send Michael Johns home. He has a very special voice and really blown me away when he sang Bohemian Rhapsody (which I thought was sounded even better than the original). I thought he deserved to be at least at the top 4. Anyway….
I’m not a fan of David Cook, but now that Michael Johns was gone my attentions are turned to him. I have to admit he has almost everything. Week after week he impressed me with his stellar performances. I wouldn’t be surprised if he ended up become the American Idol this season.
His strongest contender David Archuletta is also very good. He has a very beautiful voice but lacked the hard edge which is owned by Cook. But being only 17, Archuletta has huge potentials to become a very big star and to win the American Idol.
I’m not that impressed with the rest.
Brooke botched her performance by forgetting her lyrics, something which should have never happened at this late stage! Jason was unimpressive. Syesha was good but her voice wasn’t distinct enough. Carly….well, she was never my favourite.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
A Wake Up Call from SBY
A wise person once mentioned that it’s better if we don’t hate or love excessively because those whom we love today could be the one we hate tomorrow and vice versa.
I don’t love nor hate SBY. I just don’t like him. The reason for my dislike wasn’t even personal. It was his military background. I believe that since this country was run by military people most of the mistakes made in the past were their responsibilities. But it’s going to be very difficult to bring those people to justice if the President is their comrade.
I know some people who really hate SBY’s style and policies. I just don’t care. I’m only curious to see whether he will run for the second time, as he mentioned once during his campaign that once is enough.
I told a friend that although I don’t like him, if he raises the salary of the civil servants to Rp 5,000,000 (less than $ 600) I’ll vote for him and do his campaign freely. I’m convinced that SBY will never be able do that. It takes a very tough and corruption free oriented President to raise the civil servants’ salary to that level.
To cleanse this country of corruption, the government must clean its employees first. The main reason which is often used as a justification for bad public services is low salary. Based on personal experience with people from the Ministry of Finance who got exorbitant income I disagree with this assumption, but it does have a merit. Low salary is one of the factors which has caused bad services and lack of enthusiasm to give a good performance.
Good governance could be started with the improvement of the salary of the civil servants. I really hate government’s excuses when they refuse to raise civil servants’ salary. The standardize excuse was that the government doesn’t have enough money at the moment. Ordinary people might buy that one. But we government employees know better.
There’s money a plenty. Money which goes to the pockets of small percentage of fortunate government employees – instead of being use to increase the salary of every lowly level employee who had the bad luck not being placed in the ‘lucrative’ Ministries or positions. Those lucky people could earn at least from 5 – 10 times of the average salary of the average civil servants.
I don’t mind if some people are making more than other based on their qualification and job specification. But to let a few people enjoy that kind of income simply because they are lucky enough to be there is unreasonable. To let that kind of practice continue is unfair and irresponsible. To let people’s money being used and taken like that is tantamount to corruption.
And there is something else which is conveniently forgotten by the government when they raised the salary and benefit for some people in selective Ministries: the fact that the living costs are the same for everyone! No matter who you are, regardless of your Ministries or positions, everyone needs to have a decent salary which could cover the standard basic living costs.
Will SBY be able to handle this problem? I doubt it. It takes a revolutionary approach to cleanse a systematic corruption in the government bodies. A band aid is not going to help.
Despite his military background SBY is very soft. To me he looks like he is afraid of creating displeasure and discontentment.
Just the other day, I told a friend that one of the qualities needed to be had by a leader is a readiness to be hate by others. When a necessary policy is needed to be implemented for the greater good of the people he must have the courage to offend and be on the opposite side of those few who’ll stand to lose if it was implemented.
A leader needs to have courage to correct a wrong when he sees it. I don’t think SBY has it. Until last night.
I was stunned. I was amazed. And quite suddenly my opinion of him changed. It improved significantly. It was like love at the first sight. I’m not saying that I love him all of a sudden. But I do start to like him. I started to see there’s hope for him after all.
What he did might not seem incredible or extraordinary for foreigners. But for us Indonesians or even Asians, it was a very great deal. What did he do?
He chastised one of the attendees in his meeting for sleeping. He also ordered him out by saying that it’s highly inappropriate for government employees to fall asleep in the middle of the discussion to better the lot of their people. Marvelous!
I often saw that some people were closing their eyes during a meeting – perhaps as a sign of boredom – and some even pretending to be sleeping regardless of the number of attendees, regardless of the fact that they were sitting in the front row. And no body dares to say anything. Not even the chairman.
It’s not an easy task to talk directly to people about their mistakes. It’s hard to point it out to them why what they’re doing is wrong. It’s even harder to punish them for what is already accepted as a norm.
My highest respect and admiration for SBY for doing what he did. I hope that he will be able to extend that kind of approach to other areas as well. This country is in desperate need for someone who could wake it up and shake it off of its bad habits if it wants to catch up with its neighbours.
I don’t love nor hate SBY. I just don’t like him. The reason for my dislike wasn’t even personal. It was his military background. I believe that since this country was run by military people most of the mistakes made in the past were their responsibilities. But it’s going to be very difficult to bring those people to justice if the President is their comrade.
I know some people who really hate SBY’s style and policies. I just don’t care. I’m only curious to see whether he will run for the second time, as he mentioned once during his campaign that once is enough.
I told a friend that although I don’t like him, if he raises the salary of the civil servants to Rp 5,000,000 (less than $ 600) I’ll vote for him and do his campaign freely. I’m convinced that SBY will never be able do that. It takes a very tough and corruption free oriented President to raise the civil servants’ salary to that level.
To cleanse this country of corruption, the government must clean its employees first. The main reason which is often used as a justification for bad public services is low salary. Based on personal experience with people from the Ministry of Finance who got exorbitant income I disagree with this assumption, but it does have a merit. Low salary is one of the factors which has caused bad services and lack of enthusiasm to give a good performance.
Good governance could be started with the improvement of the salary of the civil servants. I really hate government’s excuses when they refuse to raise civil servants’ salary. The standardize excuse was that the government doesn’t have enough money at the moment. Ordinary people might buy that one. But we government employees know better.
There’s money a plenty. Money which goes to the pockets of small percentage of fortunate government employees – instead of being use to increase the salary of every lowly level employee who had the bad luck not being placed in the ‘lucrative’ Ministries or positions. Those lucky people could earn at least from 5 – 10 times of the average salary of the average civil servants.
I don’t mind if some people are making more than other based on their qualification and job specification. But to let a few people enjoy that kind of income simply because they are lucky enough to be there is unreasonable. To let that kind of practice continue is unfair and irresponsible. To let people’s money being used and taken like that is tantamount to corruption.
And there is something else which is conveniently forgotten by the government when they raised the salary and benefit for some people in selective Ministries: the fact that the living costs are the same for everyone! No matter who you are, regardless of your Ministries or positions, everyone needs to have a decent salary which could cover the standard basic living costs.
Will SBY be able to handle this problem? I doubt it. It takes a revolutionary approach to cleanse a systematic corruption in the government bodies. A band aid is not going to help.
Despite his military background SBY is very soft. To me he looks like he is afraid of creating displeasure and discontentment.
Just the other day, I told a friend that one of the qualities needed to be had by a leader is a readiness to be hate by others. When a necessary policy is needed to be implemented for the greater good of the people he must have the courage to offend and be on the opposite side of those few who’ll stand to lose if it was implemented.
A leader needs to have courage to correct a wrong when he sees it. I don’t think SBY has it. Until last night.
I was stunned. I was amazed. And quite suddenly my opinion of him changed. It improved significantly. It was like love at the first sight. I’m not saying that I love him all of a sudden. But I do start to like him. I started to see there’s hope for him after all.
What he did might not seem incredible or extraordinary for foreigners. But for us Indonesians or even Asians, it was a very great deal. What did he do?
He chastised one of the attendees in his meeting for sleeping. He also ordered him out by saying that it’s highly inappropriate for government employees to fall asleep in the middle of the discussion to better the lot of their people. Marvelous!
I often saw that some people were closing their eyes during a meeting – perhaps as a sign of boredom – and some even pretending to be sleeping regardless of the number of attendees, regardless of the fact that they were sitting in the front row. And no body dares to say anything. Not even the chairman.
It’s not an easy task to talk directly to people about their mistakes. It’s hard to point it out to them why what they’re doing is wrong. It’s even harder to punish them for what is already accepted as a norm.
My highest respect and admiration for SBY for doing what he did. I hope that he will be able to extend that kind of approach to other areas as well. This country is in desperate need for someone who could wake it up and shake it off of its bad habits if it wants to catch up with its neighbours.
Monday, March 31, 2008
How Much Does It Cost to Bandung by Train?
For 3 tickets it’s Rp 325.000. Don’t raise your eye brows yet. There’s a story behind this unbelievable price. Most of it was my own fault but I’d like to put some blame to the KAI (Indonesian State Owned Train Company).
If only they have a phone in the reservation/selling counter and if only they didn’t charge Rp 10.000 per ticket for issuing a new one (I was told by someone in the call center that before April I wouldn’t be charged at all) it wouldn’t cost me that much to go to Bandung.
The original costs for Argo Gede and Parahyangan to Bandung are Rp 45.000 and Rp 35.000 consecutively. However the transportation costs + errand boy fee + costs for changing 3 tickets twice + the original tickets'price in total it was amounted to Rp 325.000.
For KAI please put a phone in your selling/reservation counter! Or let us order our tickets online so that we could correct the mistake ourselves!
Ps.
For your information there’s no phone in Stasiun Gambir to cancel or change your tickets, you have to come in person to correct it.
If only they have a phone in the reservation/selling counter and if only they didn’t charge Rp 10.000 per ticket for issuing a new one (I was told by someone in the call center that before April I wouldn’t be charged at all) it wouldn’t cost me that much to go to Bandung.
The original costs for Argo Gede and Parahyangan to Bandung are Rp 45.000 and Rp 35.000 consecutively. However the transportation costs + errand boy fee + costs for changing 3 tickets twice + the original tickets'price in total it was amounted to Rp 325.000.
For KAI please put a phone in your selling/reservation counter! Or let us order our tickets online so that we could correct the mistake ourselves!
Ps.
For your information there’s no phone in Stasiun Gambir to cancel or change your tickets, you have to come in person to correct it.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Review: Great Teacher Onizuka (GTO)
I’ve read numerous raving reviews of GTO, and that’s why I decided to buy it. But since I’m not a big fan of Japanese series, it took me a long time to finally spare some time and watched it. It didn’t disappoint. It’s simply great. What ever your tastes regarding movies are you’ll like it.Watching GTO reminds me of the stark differences between Korean, Taiwanese and Japanese series. I don’t think most Korean and Taiwanese series could reach the depth of substance touched by the Japanese series.
Most Japanese series even the light hearted ones have dark and serious side to it, while Korean and Taiwanese series are full of silliness. However, I love the very silliness in Korean movies and series. They bring out a fresh point of view of the sad and unfortunate things in one’s life and enable us to look at them with laughter.
Although Koreans rarely able to reach the depth mostly found in Japanese movies or series, they’re excelled in conveying the depth of love or hurt felt by their characters which is rather lacking in Japanese movies and series.
Back to GTO… based loosely on its manga GTO will capture and open your eyes and heart to the hypocrisy and idiosyncrasy of our world. Takashi Sorimachi plays Eikichi Onizuka to perfection. I’m a little bit surprised when I heard that “Poison” the theme song of this series is sung by Sorimachi himself.
The main character Onizuka loves being a teacher. He has his very own philosophy for teaching. Unconventional though it is, it suits him and his students. His care for their well-being supercede his non-existing concern for school politics.
Besides having an unorthodox philosophy in teaching, Onizuka also has a principal philosophy regarding his personal life which resulted in him not having a girl friend and become the last virgin available in the neighbourhood. They caused him to be at odd with his colleague Azusa Fuyutsuki.
Being female and the youngest in their school had made Fuyutsuki did things which were not included in her job description as a teacher, like, making a cup of coffee for her male colleague or do photocopying for them. She resented it but had no courage to buckle under the hierarchical order which had put her at the bottom simply because she was a female.
She disagrees and dislikes Onizuka’s methods of dealing with students but deep down she also admires his ability to stand up for what he thinks is right. Other teachers not only dislike and disagree with Onizuka’s methods, they were also plotting to kick him out of their school. While on the other hand some of the students also trying their best to humiliate and besmirch his reputation.
Just watch it. It’s worth your time.
Ps.
Another surprising bit out of this series was the fact that Takashi Sorimachi (Eikichi Onizuka) and Nanako Matsushimi (Azusa Fuyutsuki) were actually become a couple in their real lives as a result of their meeting in this series. And then years latter finally tied the knot and live happily ever after....
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Standing Up Against War!
1.How do you feel when you see news of people getting killed on daily basis?
2.How do you feel when you see people brimming with excitement when stating their intention to wage war on other countries?
3.How do you feel when you hear your government spent hundreds of million of your money on daily basis just to finance their beloved war while here in your own neighbourhood you could see where that money could be used more effectively?
4.How do you feel about profit making arms/guns industries?
I’ll tell you how I feel about those questions above. Concern, deep resentment, disgust, frustration and anger. Sometimes I think if I’m not such a peace loving person I would become a war monger myself and bring the war right down to the bold heads of those people who love war so much without having to face the direct consequences and the horror of their creation.
When I’m thinking about how safe and comfortable those people sit in their luxurious couches watching the news and reports on the wars they waged while millions died miserably, inhumanely and unnecessarily out there my anger increases thousands fold. When I heard the War President said that his war is just, honorable and necessary I wanted to puke and wonder about those who heard his speech and nodded their heads in agreement.
One of the ugliest and unfortunate facts about war is that it is supported by the masses. George W. Bush might be a war monger, but he wouldn’t be able to attack and annex Iraq without the support of the American people. I know not all Americans support this war, I know that some was coerced and deceived into supporting it, however, that didn’t change the fact that they supported it. There wasn’t enough opposition inside the US against the war in Iraq. That was why it happened.
The peace loving people, peace loving by nature, didn’t show enough strength in their opposition. They hate confrontation in any form, and that’s why the war mongers got their way easily. I come to the conclusion that if we want to maintain peace in our planet, we have to have enough strength and determination to wage our own war against those war mongers and whoever got it in their genes the tendency to support war. If we don’t stand up against them, they would walk all over us and use our resources to satisfy their lust for blood, power and create destruction to unprecedented level that would surpass our wildest imagination.
I have no objection what so ever if those war mongers want to wage war and follow it through by going to the war zone themselves. It wouldn’t sadden, angered nor frustrated me. I’d say good riddance. It served them right to be injured or even killed by their own war.
However, sadly, in our current wars, those war mongers wouldn’t even get a scratch. Other people will die in their war. Other people will become refugees because of their war. Innocent people who didn’t even want it in the first place and would get nothing out of and after the war is finished had to suffer the consequences of it. And had they been asked: “Would you be willingly forfeiting your life for this cause?” might give a resounding no as their answer.
What might be a surprise to some of us or perhaps not, is that if the same question were asked to the war mongers in Washington – if they think their lives is worth losing just to topple Suddam Hussein or to bring in the so called democracy which they profess to love so much for the Iraqi people, and saying how eager we are to see them off as soon as possible to fight this war themselves – is that we might also hear the same resounding no.
The war mongers might have no concept of lives. But if it is their own lives they understood it completely. They valued and priced it quite highly. The difference between us and them is that we understood and treasure life. Period.
People mattered to us regardless of their colours and origins. Death and destruction saddens us regardless where they happened. We see huge differences between the means and the ends. The war mongers don’t. Collateral damage horrified us. For them it just collateral damage. It happens.
I was completely chagrined and appalled when I heard one of Bush’s speech writers said that this generation (Iraqi) might not be looking kindly toward the war in Iraq, but the future generation might feel quite differently about it.
Would the future generation ever going to look kindly toward Hitler’s policy I wonder? Would the Jews ever thank Hitler for having conducted such – I’d like to used the term used by the War President – honorable, just and necessary war against their ancestors which has resulted in giving them their very own state. Yeah, let’s hope that our future generation will congratulate, honor and worship our war mongers for the results of their crimes.
War should be avoided at all costs. War should never be an option. There’s always other ways. Ways which have never been given a chance to be fully explored and taken because the war mongers run our world together with the powerful people connected to the arms industries which will get huge profit from war.
War kills not only people it kills our humanity. It kills us. Let’s not let the war mongers determine our world. Let’s not let them shape our lives and world to their liking which is only profit making regardless of its means. Let’s not let them bringing us down to their level. Fighting against war is a fight against good and evil and we should take our part in it by saying no loud and clear to their agenda. By voting against the war mongers and beware of them and their ilk.
The top priority of MDGs should be alleviation and eradication of war! Otherwise we would never be civilized and humane enough to realizing and bringing prosperity for all inhabitants of our beloved planet.
2.How do you feel when you see people brimming with excitement when stating their intention to wage war on other countries?
3.How do you feel when you hear your government spent hundreds of million of your money on daily basis just to finance their beloved war while here in your own neighbourhood you could see where that money could be used more effectively?
4.How do you feel about profit making arms/guns industries?
I’ll tell you how I feel about those questions above. Concern, deep resentment, disgust, frustration and anger. Sometimes I think if I’m not such a peace loving person I would become a war monger myself and bring the war right down to the bold heads of those people who love war so much without having to face the direct consequences and the horror of their creation.
When I’m thinking about how safe and comfortable those people sit in their luxurious couches watching the news and reports on the wars they waged while millions died miserably, inhumanely and unnecessarily out there my anger increases thousands fold. When I heard the War President said that his war is just, honorable and necessary I wanted to puke and wonder about those who heard his speech and nodded their heads in agreement.
One of the ugliest and unfortunate facts about war is that it is supported by the masses. George W. Bush might be a war monger, but he wouldn’t be able to attack and annex Iraq without the support of the American people. I know not all Americans support this war, I know that some was coerced and deceived into supporting it, however, that didn’t change the fact that they supported it. There wasn’t enough opposition inside the US against the war in Iraq. That was why it happened.
The peace loving people, peace loving by nature, didn’t show enough strength in their opposition. They hate confrontation in any form, and that’s why the war mongers got their way easily. I come to the conclusion that if we want to maintain peace in our planet, we have to have enough strength and determination to wage our own war against those war mongers and whoever got it in their genes the tendency to support war. If we don’t stand up against them, they would walk all over us and use our resources to satisfy their lust for blood, power and create destruction to unprecedented level that would surpass our wildest imagination.
I have no objection what so ever if those war mongers want to wage war and follow it through by going to the war zone themselves. It wouldn’t sadden, angered nor frustrated me. I’d say good riddance. It served them right to be injured or even killed by their own war.
However, sadly, in our current wars, those war mongers wouldn’t even get a scratch. Other people will die in their war. Other people will become refugees because of their war. Innocent people who didn’t even want it in the first place and would get nothing out of and after the war is finished had to suffer the consequences of it. And had they been asked: “Would you be willingly forfeiting your life for this cause?” might give a resounding no as their answer.
What might be a surprise to some of us or perhaps not, is that if the same question were asked to the war mongers in Washington – if they think their lives is worth losing just to topple Suddam Hussein or to bring in the so called democracy which they profess to love so much for the Iraqi people, and saying how eager we are to see them off as soon as possible to fight this war themselves – is that we might also hear the same resounding no.
The war mongers might have no concept of lives. But if it is their own lives they understood it completely. They valued and priced it quite highly. The difference between us and them is that we understood and treasure life. Period.
People mattered to us regardless of their colours and origins. Death and destruction saddens us regardless where they happened. We see huge differences between the means and the ends. The war mongers don’t. Collateral damage horrified us. For them it just collateral damage. It happens.
I was completely chagrined and appalled when I heard one of Bush’s speech writers said that this generation (Iraqi) might not be looking kindly toward the war in Iraq, but the future generation might feel quite differently about it.
Would the future generation ever going to look kindly toward Hitler’s policy I wonder? Would the Jews ever thank Hitler for having conducted such – I’d like to used the term used by the War President – honorable, just and necessary war against their ancestors which has resulted in giving them their very own state. Yeah, let’s hope that our future generation will congratulate, honor and worship our war mongers for the results of their crimes.
War should be avoided at all costs. War should never be an option. There’s always other ways. Ways which have never been given a chance to be fully explored and taken because the war mongers run our world together with the powerful people connected to the arms industries which will get huge profit from war.
War kills not only people it kills our humanity. It kills us. Let’s not let the war mongers determine our world. Let’s not let them shape our lives and world to their liking which is only profit making regardless of its means. Let’s not let them bringing us down to their level. Fighting against war is a fight against good and evil and we should take our part in it by saying no loud and clear to their agenda. By voting against the war mongers and beware of them and their ilk.
The top priority of MDGs should be alleviation and eradication of war! Otherwise we would never be civilized and humane enough to realizing and bringing prosperity for all inhabitants of our beloved planet.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Spitzer's: Another Sex Scandal
Watching Spitzer’s faithful, brilliant, and beautiful wife stood beside him to face the public with grim face and gritted teeth once again I felt very disappointed and sadden, not with Spitzer for I don’t know him at all – and I don’t think many American knows who he is before this latest scandal regarding the shady side of their male political figure’s love lives – but with the ugly reality of how utterly untrustworthy, hypocritical, and deceitful the men who are chosen to run the country by their constituents. I’m purposefully didn’t choose ‘most men’ as I believe it’s more difficult to find good, honorable and decent guys in the political arenas than finding gold in the rivers or sewage for that matter.
Eliot Spitzer who was the attorney general before he becomes the Governor of New York had built his career by destroying ring of call girls, while apparently at the same time he’d been enjoying the same service himself.
He knows the in and out of the operation like the back of his hand. He knows the procedures used by the government to trace anybody with connection to this prostitution business.
I wonder whether because he is so expert in this matter he thinks he’ll be caught by no one and nobody could trace his tail. Some source says that Spitzer has very likely spent about US$ 80,000 for his pleasure or downfall, depending how one looks at it I guess.
My disgust for politicians has increased by unprecedented leaps. My respect for men has plummeted farther below zero. My believe in the intelligence of constituents has eroded with alarming speed. And my heart aches when I saw those betrayed wives standing besides their cheating and deceitful husbands.
No women deserved that kind of public humiliation. Those husbands had no rights what so ever to demand their wives to show her public support and endure the results of his infidelity. It’s like putting salt over the wounds. There should be law written against it.
Those men had selfishly loved and enjoyed their affairs so at the very least they should be man enough to shoulder the results of their happy hours. And unlike the betrayed wives who have no choice but to helplessly stand besides these deceitful men, the public should not forgive them!
I long to hear news about someone who could inspire respect and trust in the hearts of his supporters and opponents alike. I sometimes wonder whether that person really exists or whether is it because they’re so honorable all their actions and lives deemed as not news worthy by the media and therefore we don’t know about their existence.
What we’re witnessing on our daily news diet are depressing, disappointing, degenerated and violent news around the world. No wonder we become depressed, stressful, degenerate and violent lot ourselves.
Eliot Spitzer who was the attorney general before he becomes the Governor of New York had built his career by destroying ring of call girls, while apparently at the same time he’d been enjoying the same service himself.
He knows the in and out of the operation like the back of his hand. He knows the procedures used by the government to trace anybody with connection to this prostitution business.
I wonder whether because he is so expert in this matter he thinks he’ll be caught by no one and nobody could trace his tail. Some source says that Spitzer has very likely spent about US$ 80,000 for his pleasure or downfall, depending how one looks at it I guess.
My disgust for politicians has increased by unprecedented leaps. My respect for men has plummeted farther below zero. My believe in the intelligence of constituents has eroded with alarming speed. And my heart aches when I saw those betrayed wives standing besides their cheating and deceitful husbands.
No women deserved that kind of public humiliation. Those husbands had no rights what so ever to demand their wives to show her public support and endure the results of his infidelity. It’s like putting salt over the wounds. There should be law written against it.
Those men had selfishly loved and enjoyed their affairs so at the very least they should be man enough to shoulder the results of their happy hours. And unlike the betrayed wives who have no choice but to helplessly stand besides these deceitful men, the public should not forgive them!
I long to hear news about someone who could inspire respect and trust in the hearts of his supporters and opponents alike. I sometimes wonder whether that person really exists or whether is it because they’re so honorable all their actions and lives deemed as not news worthy by the media and therefore we don’t know about their existence.
What we’re witnessing on our daily news diet are depressing, disappointing, degenerated and violent news around the world. No wonder we become depressed, stressful, degenerate and violent lot ourselves.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Is a Visit by the President and Vice President to Your Office a Good Thing?
Not for me. It’s a bother. We’re told not to bring our cars to the office. All the spaces are to be reserved for the VIP guests.
And how do the big guys propose for their lowly subordinates to come to the office in this rainy season? Are we supposed to use a cab with our meager income? Or try the unreliable not to mention unsafe public transportation – braving the wind, the rain and the floods not to mention the traffics – for a change and still be on time?
I’ve always felt that there’s something wrong in the way we treat our VIPs. We’re treating them like they’re some kind of holy aliens to be protected against all the pains and inconveniences which plague the daily lives of other unfortunate mortals, namely us. And what worse is that I think these VIPs are also expecting that they are to be treated differently, to be given special treatments.
While you and I have to keep reminding ourselves to be patient in the middle of terrible traffic jams, those VIPs would cruise freely, and adding another kilo or two of parking cars in the middle of highways, since we’re forced to let them through.
No wonder the traffic problems have never been solved. I tell you what would speed up the effort to solve it. Let all those VIP drive their expensive cars by themselves (without a driver) and then let them enjoy the lovely and educative experience of driving in Jakarta in the middle of heavy traffic. See how they’ll love that.
How could you hope those powerful people to solve your problems, if they don’t have a clue and never experience those problems themselves?
I really hate VIPs. Well, I guess I don’t hate them personally, what I hate most are those special treatments given them. And the fact that they take it as their due.
What I’m trying to say is that those VIPs don’t have the divine rights to live comfortably when their subjects (you and I) live miserably. And they definitely have no right what so ever to experience all the comforts they enjoy at the costs of their subjects!
If we’re miserable than they have to be as miserable as us. They only deserve to have their comfort after all of us – their subjects and people, live comfortable lives, not vise versa!
Bit of Wisdom:
Leaders are chosen to lead their people into prosperity and out of misery and not achieving them by imposing poverty and hardship.
Good leaders would be ashamed to display any sign of wealth and privileges while their people have no wealth nor dignities/rights to mention about.
And how do the big guys propose for their lowly subordinates to come to the office in this rainy season? Are we supposed to use a cab with our meager income? Or try the unreliable not to mention unsafe public transportation – braving the wind, the rain and the floods not to mention the traffics – for a change and still be on time?
I’ve always felt that there’s something wrong in the way we treat our VIPs. We’re treating them like they’re some kind of holy aliens to be protected against all the pains and inconveniences which plague the daily lives of other unfortunate mortals, namely us. And what worse is that I think these VIPs are also expecting that they are to be treated differently, to be given special treatments.
While you and I have to keep reminding ourselves to be patient in the middle of terrible traffic jams, those VIPs would cruise freely, and adding another kilo or two of parking cars in the middle of highways, since we’re forced to let them through.
No wonder the traffic problems have never been solved. I tell you what would speed up the effort to solve it. Let all those VIP drive their expensive cars by themselves (without a driver) and then let them enjoy the lovely and educative experience of driving in Jakarta in the middle of heavy traffic. See how they’ll love that.
How could you hope those powerful people to solve your problems, if they don’t have a clue and never experience those problems themselves?
I really hate VIPs. Well, I guess I don’t hate them personally, what I hate most are those special treatments given them. And the fact that they take it as their due.
What I’m trying to say is that those VIPs don’t have the divine rights to live comfortably when their subjects (you and I) live miserably. And they definitely have no right what so ever to experience all the comforts they enjoy at the costs of their subjects!
If we’re miserable than they have to be as miserable as us. They only deserve to have their comfort after all of us – their subjects and people, live comfortable lives, not vise versa!
Bit of Wisdom:
Leaders are chosen to lead their people into prosperity and out of misery and not achieving them by imposing poverty and hardship.
Good leaders would be ashamed to display any sign of wealth and privileges while their people have no wealth nor dignities/rights to mention about.
Review: The Tiger Prince by Iris Johansen
I don’t think I’ve read her book before and if The Tiger Prince is to be a showcase of her works, it got me hooked big time.
One of the things that I dislike in romance novels is its supporting characters. I have a mountain of disgruntlement had the writers dare to write more extensively on the sub-plots of their love stories. As most of the time all they’ve managed to do was wasting pages and getting me extremely annoyed and bored for being distracted from the main story.
The Tiger Prince is an exception of exceptional proportion. Its two leading characters Ruel MacClaren and Jane Barnaby are ones of the strongest and most steadfast heroes and heroines that I’ve ever encountered. Its supporting characters happen to have the most remarkable and unforgettable quirks and repartees which give you no choice but to love them.
With his extra-ordinary good looks and vengeful nature Ruel MacClaren is perhaps the closest thing to what is often described as fallen angel. Despite his looks, not many people dare to make a mistake of underestimating him, as the result would be deadly.
When he sets his goals there’s no other way for him except going forward to accomplish them even if he has to trample whoever happens to be on his way. His passion for gold had him traveled around the globe to chase the trail of the golden lady and slaved over her.
Jane Barnaby has always had a strong determination. Even when she was eleven, she believed that if you want something bad enough, you could make it happen by the sheer power of will.
She got herself out of a destiny which she didn’t like, leaving everything behind, including a drug addict whore of a mother, bringing with her her beloved pet and best friend Li Sung toward a new beginning in destination unknown. Despite her strong and tough appearances - though physically small, she has a soft, kind and loyal heart.
Her soft heart put her in a difficult and dangerous position when she decided to protect John Kartauk – the self proclaimed greatest goldsmith in that era, against Abdar the crown prince of one of the richest Maharajas in India. It also brings her path to cross with Ruel MacClaren who came to India to materializing his biggest dream. Acquiring Cinnidar, an island of gold.
Despite Ian MacClaren’s warnings – his brother, the Scottish Earl who has big generous heart and great wisdom – Ruel set to use Jane in order to get help from the crown prince.
Having no personal experience with love and so used to putting people at arm length – including Ian himself, who crossed the ocean to take him home after their father’s death – Ruel doesn’t know that ever since the first moment he laid his eyes upon her, his heart was already captured. He mistakenly thought his feelings and emotions for her as lust.
When he saw the love and affection between Jane and Li Sung, and witnessing how close the two really were and experiencing the sudden pain in his heart, he didn’t recognize it as jealousy. When he hurt her and felt hurt instead, he still didn’t know that it was love that caused him to feel her pain as his own. Not even when he felt happy the first time he saw and heard her laugh, and want nothing more than to keep her that way.
I love the fact that Jane never shed a tear during her encounter with Ruel. But what I love most is the fact that we could see how deeply Ruel has fallen in love with Jane without realizing it himself. I love the fact how everybody else around Ruel like Ian and Kartauk can see that his dealing with Jane has changed him, showing what a good person he actually is.
Besides the main characters, I also love its supporting characters. I love Li Sung with his intelligence, tart remarks, pride and pragmatism. I also love Kartauk with his arrogance, perceptiveness, and self-serving nature. The most surprising is that I also love Ian MacClaren! I don’t normally like a good guy either in the novels or movies, since the most they can do is grovel. But I think I’ve fallen in love with Ian MacGregor. I love his good sense and great understanding of human nature. The part that I love most about him was when he asked Kartauk to come to his apartment, and then ask Margaret to leave them to have man to man chat. Gosh… It was so touching. It beautifully conveys how deep his love for Margaret is. It also shows what a great man he is.
I don’t know what else could I write about it without spoiling the reading for you. It’s simply magnificent. Now, I’ll consider Iris Johansen as one of my favourite authors and start looking for her other books. Hopefully they are as good as this one if not even better.
Ps.
I don’t really like the ending though. I didn’t even realize it was the end. I was still turning the page to look for something more…
One of the things that I dislike in romance novels is its supporting characters. I have a mountain of disgruntlement had the writers dare to write more extensively on the sub-plots of their love stories. As most of the time all they’ve managed to do was wasting pages and getting me extremely annoyed and bored for being distracted from the main story.
The Tiger Prince is an exception of exceptional proportion. Its two leading characters Ruel MacClaren and Jane Barnaby are ones of the strongest and most steadfast heroes and heroines that I’ve ever encountered. Its supporting characters happen to have the most remarkable and unforgettable quirks and repartees which give you no choice but to love them.
With his extra-ordinary good looks and vengeful nature Ruel MacClaren is perhaps the closest thing to what is often described as fallen angel. Despite his looks, not many people dare to make a mistake of underestimating him, as the result would be deadly.
When he sets his goals there’s no other way for him except going forward to accomplish them even if he has to trample whoever happens to be on his way. His passion for gold had him traveled around the globe to chase the trail of the golden lady and slaved over her.
Jane Barnaby has always had a strong determination. Even when she was eleven, she believed that if you want something bad enough, you could make it happen by the sheer power of will.
She got herself out of a destiny which she didn’t like, leaving everything behind, including a drug addict whore of a mother, bringing with her her beloved pet and best friend Li Sung toward a new beginning in destination unknown. Despite her strong and tough appearances - though physically small, she has a soft, kind and loyal heart.
Her soft heart put her in a difficult and dangerous position when she decided to protect John Kartauk – the self proclaimed greatest goldsmith in that era, against Abdar the crown prince of one of the richest Maharajas in India. It also brings her path to cross with Ruel MacClaren who came to India to materializing his biggest dream. Acquiring Cinnidar, an island of gold.
Despite Ian MacClaren’s warnings – his brother, the Scottish Earl who has big generous heart and great wisdom – Ruel set to use Jane in order to get help from the crown prince.
Having no personal experience with love and so used to putting people at arm length – including Ian himself, who crossed the ocean to take him home after their father’s death – Ruel doesn’t know that ever since the first moment he laid his eyes upon her, his heart was already captured. He mistakenly thought his feelings and emotions for her as lust.
When he saw the love and affection between Jane and Li Sung, and witnessing how close the two really were and experiencing the sudden pain in his heart, he didn’t recognize it as jealousy. When he hurt her and felt hurt instead, he still didn’t know that it was love that caused him to feel her pain as his own. Not even when he felt happy the first time he saw and heard her laugh, and want nothing more than to keep her that way.
I love the fact that Jane never shed a tear during her encounter with Ruel. But what I love most is the fact that we could see how deeply Ruel has fallen in love with Jane without realizing it himself. I love the fact how everybody else around Ruel like Ian and Kartauk can see that his dealing with Jane has changed him, showing what a good person he actually is.
Besides the main characters, I also love its supporting characters. I love Li Sung with his intelligence, tart remarks, pride and pragmatism. I also love Kartauk with his arrogance, perceptiveness, and self-serving nature. The most surprising is that I also love Ian MacClaren! I don’t normally like a good guy either in the novels or movies, since the most they can do is grovel. But I think I’ve fallen in love with Ian MacGregor. I love his good sense and great understanding of human nature. The part that I love most about him was when he asked Kartauk to come to his apartment, and then ask Margaret to leave them to have man to man chat. Gosh… It was so touching. It beautifully conveys how deep his love for Margaret is. It also shows what a great man he is.
I don’t know what else could I write about it without spoiling the reading for you. It’s simply magnificent. Now, I’ll consider Iris Johansen as one of my favourite authors and start looking for her other books. Hopefully they are as good as this one if not even better.
Ps.
I don’t really like the ending though. I didn’t even realize it was the end. I was still turning the page to look for something more…
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
What Does the Reprinting of Prophet Muhammad’s Cartoons Mean?
It means that there are people out there who strongly feel that they have rights to do what ever they want to do regardless of the consequences of their actions. To say what ever they want to say regardless of the feelings of others who would be hurt or offended by the things they said.
These peoples believe that freedom of speech give them immunity to hurt and offend others. They are extremely proud in flaunting their ability to hurt and offend others and then without same hide behind this powerful new religion called Freedom of Speech.
I think they are basically and inherently mean. These peoples who worship freedom of speech without limit and caution are no different from those fanatics or brainwashed people who do whatever they want to achieve their goals, and then hide behind ideologies or religions. While the plain fact is that they don’t care about others except themselves.
I wouldn’t dream of calling one of my friends “Chinese” with certain intonation here in Indonesia, even though he/she is a Chinese, as I am aware of the hurt that this calling will cause them. I wouldn’t dream of calling one of my friends ‘Nigger’ even though he/she is black, as it might offend them.
Do I have a freedom to say what ever I want to say? Of course I do. But why don’t I try to exercise it? Because, common sense, good heart and good manner will prevent me to offend or hurt others intentionally.
I could only see the reprinting of Prophet Muhammad’s cartoon as an extremely aggressive stance intentionally designed to offend and hurt others (Muslims). The first printing could be accepted and understood as a misinformed decision made without understanding the cultures and believes of others. But to do exactly the same thing twice after seeing how offended and angry most Muslims were, it could only mean one thing. Those people are shouting to the Muslims worldwide:
I DON’T CARE HOW YOU FEEL! I HAVE THE RIGHTS TO SAY WHAT EVER I WANT TO SAY!
It’s simply mean, bad, inflammatory and lack of better judgment.
With such people around, no wonder we live in such violent world. They don’t try to promote peace. They’re more than willing to go a mile to insisting what they believe to be their rights regardless of the costs.
They thrive in promoting hatred and angers when there are other ways, more peaceful, non confrontational, more respectful ways to convey their meanings and goals.
Unless their true goal is not to make a point that they have a freedom of speech but to offend others. Which in this instance I believe is the case.
These peoples believe that freedom of speech give them immunity to hurt and offend others. They are extremely proud in flaunting their ability to hurt and offend others and then without same hide behind this powerful new religion called Freedom of Speech.
I think they are basically and inherently mean. These peoples who worship freedom of speech without limit and caution are no different from those fanatics or brainwashed people who do whatever they want to achieve their goals, and then hide behind ideologies or religions. While the plain fact is that they don’t care about others except themselves.
I wouldn’t dream of calling one of my friends “Chinese” with certain intonation here in Indonesia, even though he/she is a Chinese, as I am aware of the hurt that this calling will cause them. I wouldn’t dream of calling one of my friends ‘Nigger’ even though he/she is black, as it might offend them.
Do I have a freedom to say what ever I want to say? Of course I do. But why don’t I try to exercise it? Because, common sense, good heart and good manner will prevent me to offend or hurt others intentionally.
I could only see the reprinting of Prophet Muhammad’s cartoon as an extremely aggressive stance intentionally designed to offend and hurt others (Muslims). The first printing could be accepted and understood as a misinformed decision made without understanding the cultures and believes of others. But to do exactly the same thing twice after seeing how offended and angry most Muslims were, it could only mean one thing. Those people are shouting to the Muslims worldwide:
I DON’T CARE HOW YOU FEEL! I HAVE THE RIGHTS TO SAY WHAT EVER I WANT TO SAY!
It’s simply mean, bad, inflammatory and lack of better judgment.
With such people around, no wonder we live in such violent world. They don’t try to promote peace. They’re more than willing to go a mile to insisting what they believe to be their rights regardless of the costs.
They thrive in promoting hatred and angers when there are other ways, more peaceful, non confrontational, more respectful ways to convey their meanings and goals.
Unless their true goal is not to make a point that they have a freedom of speech but to offend others. Which in this instance I believe is the case.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)