Obama's Brave Words: Help Him!

U.S. President Barack Obama, gave a speech in Cairo and in it, told the Israeili government to stop their illegal settlements within Palestinian lands. Though I had reservations about him previously, I now salute him as it take real guts for someone in his position to say such words openly, remembering how lopsided the US policy has always been for the region. This, and a couple more of his actions may help to ease the burden of the Palestinian people.

In an effort to assist him, Avaaz, and organisation that has been championing peace throughout the world, has made an appeal to the citizens of the world to show their support, and can be read as below:

Obama: "Stop the Settlements"

President Obama's speech in Egypt today was a stunning step toward achieving Middle East peace. His first new move: to press Israel's right-wing government to stop their self-destructive policy of building settlements on Palestinian land.

But Obama needs help from around the world to face down the powerful opposition already mobilising against him.

Let's raise a massive global chorus immediately to support Obama’s statement that the settlements in occupied territory must stop, by joining our voices to a petition based on his very own words.

We’ll advertise the number of signatures in key papers in Israel and Washington DC – support Obama’s message now, sign the petition below and spread the word today:

Petition to the Government of Israel and the
United States Congress:
In the words of President Obama, just as Israel's right to exist cannot be denied, neither can Palestine's. We do not accept the legitimacy of continued settlements in the West Bank. They violate previous agreements and undermine efforts to achieve peace. It is time for these settlements to stop.

- . -

* Click here to sign as a show of support.

** Read Obama's speech here.

Thank you.

Boycott; It Works!

My personal blogging is now at My My Neverland; do visit it.


Only the other evening Ah Chai was telling me how he is beginning to understand the Boycott issue. Rather reluctantly, he might add though. Still, the fact that he does now is good enough for me as we once had a heated argument on the matter. Well, at least, I did. Anyway, when I read the news below at Window Into Palestine, it sort of made my day; The Boycott, is working.

Israelis Are Beginning to See the Power of BDS

Shir Hever, Alternative Information Center (AIC)

A BDS Israel poster by the Palestinian Campaign for Boycott, Divestment and Sanction Against Israel. In recent years, there has been a gradual growth in the BDS (boycott, divestment and sanctions) movement, calling to put economic pressure on Israel until it recognizes the rights of the occupied Palestinian people and puts an end the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The Israeli attack on the Gaza Strip, starting on 27 December 2008, which lasted for nearly a month, has given this movement a powerful reason to redouble its efforts. Dozens of BDS campaigns have gained momentum and publicity; dozens of new ones were launched during or immediately after Israel's attack on the Gaza Strip. These campaigns range from calls to boycott goods from the illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank, to calls to stop all economic contacts with Israel altogether. They include protests at sporting events, two countries cutting diplomatic ties with Israel (Bolivia and Venezuela), and many demonstrations around the world, attended by hundreds of thousands of protestors. The growing protest against the atrocities committed by the Israeli military in the Gaza Strip have begun to change something in the Israeli political discourse, and the first indication of this can already be seen in the Israeli economic media. Although the Israeli economic media doesn't concern itself with the moral dimension of the attacks on Gaza, the economic dimension of recent events have created a rising level of concern. In order to demonstrate this trend, here are summaries of four articles that appeared in the Israeli The Marker magazine for economic news: 1. On 2 February, Guy Grimland warned about a growing phenomenon of boycott of Israeli high-tech companies, and several Israeli companies received letters from European and U.S. companies explaining that they cannot invest in Israel for moral reasons. 2. In 3 February, Nehemia Strassler, one of Israel's most famous economic correspondents, attacked the Israeli Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor, Eli Yishai, for calling on the Israeli military to "destroy one hundred homes in Gaza for every rocket that falls in Israel." Strassler had nothing to say about the Palestinians living in these homes or about the loss of life, but he warned: "[the minister] doesn't even understand how the operation in Gaza hurts the economy. The horror sights on television and the words of politicians in Europe and Turkey change the behavior of consumers, businessmen and potential investors. Many European consumers boycott Israeli products in practice. Intellectuals call for an economic war against us and to enforce an official and full consumer boycott. Calls are heard in board meetings of economic corporations to boycott trade relations with Israel. So far deals were cancelled with Turkey, the UK, Egypt and the Gulf States, and visits by economic delegations were cancelled. It’s much easier now to switch providers while abandoning Israeli providers. Many company boards are required to take wide considerations into account with regards to the good of society and the environment, and they put political considerations in that slot as well. Of course there is an economic cost to severing diplomatic ties. Qatar cut its trade relations with Israel, Venezuela and Bolivia cut diplomatic relations. Mauritania recalled its ambassador and the relations with Turkey worsened considerably—and this bad ambience seeps into the business sector decisions. Here, just yesterday Dudi Ovshitz, who grows peppers for export, said that 'there is a concealed boycott of Israeli products in Europe.'" 3. On 6 February, Shuki Sadeh wrote about even more companies that have decided to boycott relations with Israel. A Turkish company demanded that Israeli companies sign a document condemning the Israeli massacre in Gaza before they can offer their services for it. Sadeh quoted Naomi Klein's recent call for boycott, the 2005 Palestinian civil society call for boycott and Israeli organizations that support the boycott and provide information for the global BDS movement. Sadeh's article also had concerned quotes by Israeli businessmen who demanded government intervention to protect them from the growing boycott. 4. In 11 February, Ora Koren reported that the Israeli business sectors feel the effects of the attack on Gaza. She reported that Israeli businessmen in Turkey are hiding their names so that the local BDS organizations won't learn about their activities, and that the situation is even worse in the UK. These four articles are a sign that there is a shift in the effectiveness of the BDS movement against Israel, and that if the momentum is maintained and strengthened, Israeli businessmen may decide to move their headquarters away from Israel, or to begin to put pressure on the Israeli government to begin respecting international law, and ending the occupation

A Donut, A Keria

In a corner of the South-bound of an overhead rest area of the North-South Expressway, 3 friends crowd a table of one of the eateries there. While two of them seem to be heavily engaged in some deep and serious argument, the other was nonchalantly enjoying the food, turning his face from one to another, smiling at each, then continued to tuck in, even though some very loud words were spoken between the other 2, oblivious to the stares of other tables or passersby, or even the shop owner who wore a worried look on her otherwise attractive face.

Uncertain where the argument would lead to, she spoke to one of her workers only to received an equally blank look. And after several long minutes, she finally gathered her courage and approached the guy who was eating through the argument and tapped his shoulder gently. The guy, with a body size that could easily tip the scales of any weighing machines at home, looked at her and smiled. As if he already knew her intention, he put out his hand to each of his friends and said loudly "Look guys, I think you're scaring this lady as well as many others around us already!".

The 2 looked at him then glanced around to each face looking their directions who, in turn, averted their eyes or just looked away, perhaps with a slight fear of attracting needless commotion. Then, one of the 2 friends raised the fingers of his right hand and smiled towards the lady who was looking straight at the big guy she tapped on the shoulders earlier.

"Tell you what guys", said the big guy "let us call it quits. To me, the matter is simple. No matter what its called, no matter how its made or how different they each may taste, a donut or a keria are basically the same thing", and he scooped up the last remaining pastry on the plate.

Picture Credits: southbound.ph / Rozzan Blogspot.

I have no doubt many would not take the comparison kindly but deep down, each of us are human no matter where we are, or what race we belong to. Whether we are here in Malaysia, or far away in Gaza, everyone of us deserve to be treated equally and and justly. Kugan may have not been a Muslim, but could his tormentors admit being one with the amount of injuries inflicted upon him? Below is a text from Md Sha'ani of FOMCA:

"I am Kugan' Campaign" We have different faces, different faiths but we have one thing in common - we are all human beings and we have our rights. I am Kugan too".

If ever we did cry during the barbaric war against the people of Gaza, then we should feel equally sad at what Malaysians are capable of too! Incidentally, YB Doctor Lo'lo' together with a team of volunteers, are trying to find ways to enter Gaza. Below, is her text message from somewhere near the border:

"We just left Rafah border going back to Cairo. Since yesterday, no group was allowed to enter. In fact, Egypt Health Ministry ambulances has also been waiting for several hours. So we decided to move on and make other arrangements to give the contributions and to enter Gaza next time, insyAllah".

Please continue to spread the Petition to Investigate War Crimes in Gaza (click here). And please continue giving to the donation drive (click here). [Tabung Kemanusiaan Harakah di akaun BIMB: 14069010021298].

Correction: I have been made to understand that though the volunteers mentioned are there, YB Doctor Lo'lo' is in Gaza together with the leaders of PAS, led by Dato' Seri Tuan Guru Abdul Hadi as reported here.

A Malaysian Voice for Gaza

On her own initiative, Tehsin, has launched her own petition on Gaza here. Please spare a few minutes of your time to read the petition below and sign it here, in the name of all just and humane. For Muslims, in the name of Allah s.w.t. It is, the very least we can do. And do read her posting here as well when you have the time and tell others about this petition as well. Thank you.

To: of the Prosecutor, International Criminal Court

Appeal for Intenational Criminal Court Chief Prosecutor to Investigate War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity in Gaza.

ATTN: Office of the Prosecutor, International Criminal Court
Mr. Luis Moreno-Ocampo, Prosecutor
Information and Evidence Unit
Office of the Prosecutor
Post Office Box 19519
2500 CM The Hague
The Netherlands
Email: otp.informationdesk@icc-cpi.int
i.int
Phone: Tel. + 31 (0)70 515 851


We the undersigned citizens of Malaysia/International Community hereby formally petition you to investigate and prosecute any and all government officials named for heinous war crimes, crimes against humanity and other criminal acts of commission and omission by Shimon Peres, Ehud Olmert, Tzipi Livni, George W. Bush, Hosni Mubarak, Dick Cheney and Condoleeza Rice who have participated directly or indirectly in War Crimes in Gaza.

The Israeli military, aided indirectly and directly through munitions supply by the United States of America are accused of:

• Using powerful shells in civilian areas sending blast and shrapnel over a wide area which the army knew would cause large numbers of innocent casualties;

• Using banned weapons such as phosphorus bombs which inflict horrific burns; and testing powerful new explosives such as DIME which cause the massive injuries and amputations as described by Gaza doctors and by a previous Al-Jazeera report;

• Holding Palestinian families as human shields;

• Attacking medical facilities, including the killing of 12 ambulance men in marked vehicles;

* Shooting civilian men, women and children in cold blood after asking them to leave their homes or as they seek refuge in shelters. One case out of many was that of Haneen al-Batran, a nine year old girl who was shot in the face and abdomen by Israeli snipers as her family ran to the Al-Quds hospital in Tel al-Hawa. She died later.

* Prohibiting rescue services to attend to the dead, injured and trapped for days, as in the case of the Al-Samouni family in Zeitoun which is only one uncovered so far in many of such incidents and the sad case of Shad, a four year old Palestinian girl killed in her backyard in Jabalya and her body left for the dogs to eat by Israeli soldiers who shot at her family attempting to retrieve it for 5 days, resulting in another two family members being shot dead (more eyewitness accounts of other cases have been reported in Free Gaza, Window on Palestine and Al Jazeera sources);

• Killing large numbers of policemen who had no military role;

* Shelling designated UN facilities which served as safe havens for the displaced fleeing from indiscriminate bombings;

* Targeting UN aid convoys and destroying badly needed food, water medical and fuel supplies;

* Bombing mosques, universities, schools and hospitals, cemeteries and infrastructure with lame excuses of "militant" activity;

* Imprisoning terrorised, starved and injured civilians in a small open air "prison" with no safe haven to flee by blockading and sealing off borders and shelling them indiscriminately. In the latest UNHCR newsletter, a high ranking official stated that; Gaza (is): "The only conflict in the world in which people are not even allowed to flee" - High Commissioner Guterres

* Total disregard and impudence towards a democratically elected government of the people of Gaza;

* The continued harassment and instilment of fear by low-flying drones, fighter jets, helicopters, and movement of tanks in civilian areas despite a unilateral ceasefire;

* A hugely disproportionate "retaliatory" campaign against rocket threats; threats which were falsely used as a pretext for the latest invasion when it has been clear that Israel violated the previous existing ceasefire agreement.

* The continued unjust imprisonment and deprivation of the Palestinian population by a continued siege and economic and physical blockade of Gaza and the destruction of tunnels used to funnel necessities to enable decent living conditions.

In short, as an occupying power, Israel has totally and willfully violated its obligations, with the full support of the United States of America, as to protect the occupied citizens of Gaza and violated the Geneva conventions and the Statutes laid out in Article 8 of the International Criminal Court by the deliberate and sustained targeting of civilians and humanitarian aid workers, halting the full delivery of much needed aid to Gaza, and totally destroying the infrastructure in Gaza which will cost billions to rebuild and which is almost impossible to do so, due to the blockade, thus rendering the population homeless and open to the risks of the natural elements of extreme weather, abscence sanitation, healthcare, education, food, water and any economic activity.

These and numerous other war crimes must be investigated and the perpetrators brought to justice to ensure that all international laws are respected and there exist no avenue and space for any nation to act with such total impunity and disregard for other nations and peoples and that regard for the sanctity of human lives and property and the environment be preserved. We cannot allow the law of the jungle and barbarism to continue to prevail in this day and age.

What has occurred in Gaza, and is still continuing, is a crime against humanity and a test of our own.

We the undersigned citizens demand a full and thorough investigation immediately This investigation should be pursued no matter where it may lead and no matter what the political implications may be. To this end, we remind you that you work not on behalf of the United States of America of for Israel but for Justice itself.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

From A Need, Comes A Want

The Giant looked out from the window to the tree where, in a prolonged winter not so long ago,
a boy had melted his heart and awakened him from his selfish attitude.

Once, before meeting the boy, he had chased children out children and refused to allow any to play in his beautiful garden. Then winter set in his garden with a duration he had not seen before.
Till one day, when the world around him had been celebrating spring much earlier,
a corner of his garden looked cheerful with colours
and the lively chirping of birds and the buzzing of insects,
a little boy was in tears trying to climb up the tree.

Perhaps it was the colours of spring that did it. Or, the Giant's dislike for the dull and
bitter coldness of winter. Or, the cry in the boy's voice. Or perhaps, the combination of all 3
where each were in contrast to the other, nobody knows for certain.
But whichever of the 3, or in any combination one would like to think, the scene moved the Giant
and he lent a hand for the boy to climb the tree.
And no sooner after that, he realised that he has been selfish,
denying the village children their need to play, and their want to play in his garden.
And so, he broke the walls surrounding the garden along with the gates too.
And when the children saw the Giant was kindly with the small boy, they came slowly,
one by one, still uncertain of the Giant's temper.
But when the Giant does nothing towards those first few,
the children at the rear began rushing into the Giant's garden, one which they loved to play in.
Soon, the entire garden was a picture of gaiety with children's voices and antics,
and the vibrant colours of spring which followed the children into the garden.

Out of the children's need, comes the Giant's want.
- adapted from The Selfish Giant, by Oscar Wilde.

Although it can be considered just a stone throw away, today, I walked for the first time into the recently opened Giant in Kota Damansara. And had it not been for the need to buy some bread for tomorrow, perhaps I would never have. I mean, what's the big deal, a mall is just like any other mall. Having been born and bred here, what is there to see anymore? But the need, which led to a want.

Perhaps similarly, when some people came to realise that another groups of people had a need to survive in a world that viewed them harshly, came a want to provide.

Zam Zam Cola. Mecca Cola. 2 out of the many names and brands that has emerged not to compete with the traditional and established brands in each respective market, but to provide an alternative for the mass to decide and choose from, of brands which are closely linked to brutal mass murder of a people, a nation, who was found guilty to be living in an area which yet another group of people who lives in a farflung land, came to a conclusion that the land belong to another. Then came the butchery and inhumane treatment of not only Muslims there, but the Christians as well; both, belonging to the Palestinian group of people. Men, women, children, and even the old were murdered in cold blood, some while sleeping in their own bedroom. And the world just stood and watched. But not all.

It may have had its roots since the early 1970's, during a period known as the Oil Embargo. Short-lived as it was, the idea soon hatched to another: instead of denying sale of supply, could denying purchase be as or, more effective? The boycott.

From the vacuum created in denying the purchase of goods either linked or owned by individuals and corporations of the illegal entity, rose new products which are not only owned by people of the opposing idealogy, but people who found a want to provide for a need. The tough part is in making people switch brands and products which they are accustomed to. And slowly, more and more people are realising the need to switch. And from there, it may ultimately lead to a whole new economy, one that is not repressive, feeding like a leech on the very people it was meant to serve. One, that was introduced more than 1,400 years ago.

For a growing many, this need has now become a want.

* As silly as some people make out of the Boycott effort, sillier are they who tend to forget that a similar effort helped bring about the downfall of the apartheid regime in South Africa.

** Do visit Innovative Minds here for a more comprehensive listing of products and reasons why we should boycott them.

Some News

It would be easy to forget Gaza and the sufferings of the people there since the illegal regime along with Egypt closed the borders just to punish the Palestinians for voting Hamas into office (sounds familiar, does it not?). But to push Gaza out of our life and forget the injustice there, especially now - I cannot say for the rest - would make me a much lesser human, and putting myself down on the same level as those minions of the illegal regime.

The other night when I was driving to a petrol kiosk and had to pass a McD, 2 young people were walking towards it. As I do not drive with the air conditioner on when weather permits, I heard one of the guys mentioning 'but people are beginning to boycott now...', the rest of the statement was lost as I drove passt them. Passing by the front of building, I saw a lesser number of people than usual. Sadly though, many of them there were young Muslims, obviously oblivious to the sufferings of their fellow humans in Gaza - for every ringgit one spend there, at least 5 to 10% adds to the Palestinians' tragedy. This, I was informed by Ustaz Maszlee some years back, who interestingly has an entry entitled "Not All Jews Are Zionist" (click here), and I would recommend all to read it.

Also, kindly listen to this video of George Galloway which was made available by Information Clearing House (click here).

Sad, but I think its rather absurd that while we have people like Mr Galloway and even Jews speaking out against the attrocity in Gaza, we still have Muslims partonising outlets which contribute towards it. Please, help spread the boycott news.

Also, please read and watch the links from WIP which I've logged into NYMHM for wider reach. Just click on the titles.

1. Israel Admit "No Hamas Rockets Were Fired During Ceasefire!"

2. Are We Not Human?

3. Gaza: A Scene of Destruction

4. A Message from a Gazan to the World


Last but not least, do enjoy the song below sent to me by bro Zul.

Best Actor, Actress, Supporting, Extras etc etc Award

Many of the news I received of late, are email-subscription from Window Into Palestine. Though they are not the only blog/site available, they are, one of the most active, such as the the news below.

Israeli's - Have they no blood ???

As you can imaging on days like this I
watch the TV news on several multinational
channels especially due to the fact that I
speak 5 languages and politics runs in my blood....

Taking of blood , I noticed
(and not for the first time) that all
the Israeli-victims shown on all channels,
never do have blood running..... Which leaves me with two possibilities
(or two explanations) :

1- The Israelis have no blood
2- Israeli-victims are no victims , but rather actors .

So please , if anyone in the near future sees any
Israeli-victim of the Hamas rockets , wounded with blood.....
then please let us have a copy of that picture .

Thank you !! Sherlock Hommos sceptic-photo-analyst

****.****

Monday, January 12

What will you do if you were born a Palestinian?

Salah Mansour

After doing lots of research on the internet, I was shocked to find that the most candid answer to this question comes from Israelis; most importantly from Israeli leaders who gained political notoriety as a result of crushing Palestinians. This question started to interest me several years ago when I read a eulogy written by Moshe Dayan (a former Israeli Defense Minister) to his Israeli friend who was killed by a Palestinian from the Gaza Strip in 1955:

". . . Let us not today fling accusation at the murderers. What cause have we to complain about their fierce hatred to us? For eight years now, they sit in their refugee camps in Gaza, and before their eyes we turn into our homestead the land and villages in which they and their forefathers have lived.

We should demand his blood not from the [Palestinian] Arabs of Gaza but from ourselves. . . . Let us make our reckoning today. We are a generation of settlers, and without the steel helmet and gun barrel, we shall not be able to plant a tree or build a house. . . . Let us not be afraid to see the hatred that accompanies and consumes the lives of hundreds of thousands of [Palestinian] Arabs who sit all around us and wait for the moment when their hands will be able to reach our blood." (Iron Wall, p. 101)

Similarly, Ehud Barak (the current Israeli Defense Minister) was asked this question, and his reply was:

"If I were a Palestinian of the right age, I'd eventually join one of the terrorist organizations." (interviewed by Ha'aretz's Gideon Levy in March 1998)

Here in America, we're a brought up to believe in our sacred right to bare arms because the right of self-defense is enshrined in our American constitution. As an American, I have the right to defend my home and family here in Chicago by all possible means, even if my defense results in the death or injury of the assailant. However, as a Palestinian defending my home and family in Palestine, that makes me automatically the "terrorist" in the eyes of many in the Western world. It should be noted that when Palestinians rocket Israeli towns, they are rocketing their own homes and farms which have been usurped by Jews who recently escaped European anti-Semitism and pogroms, here are the names of a few of the usurped Palestinian towns which are located in what is now southern Israel: al-Majdal Asqalan, Faluja, Yibna, Huj & Najd.

The more I research Israeli history, the more I discover that Israelis have a hidden empathy to what Palestinians have experienced for the past 60 years. In my opinion, this is a proof that this conflict isn't only a colonial conflict over lands, but most importantly it's a conflict about the national identity which is connected to the land. Deep at heart, every Israeli Jew suspects that the Zionist narrative to be farce. However, because Israel was created by usurping Palestinian rights, Israelis and most Jews find it necessary to deny Palestinians of their national rights and identity. This Israeli insecurity (or paranoia) increases whenever Palestinians assert their national identity (i.e. resistance to colonialism, demanding the right of return, ..etc) because it reaffirms that this is a conflict that will transcend generations.

Our DATE is 60 years LATE, God willing sooner or later we shall return.

* Salah Mansour is the founder and editor of PalestineRemembered.com, the largest Palestinian online community.

Why Should I Be Angry?

Why should I be angry?
Just because some fellow humans
find it cumbersome to stand for their fellow human
find it a futile effort to speak out against the tyranny and cruelty towards another
feel tired to make it to a gathering within Klang Valley
Why should I be angry?

I am not angry
I, am sad
I am sad that
there are those who feel
that any misfortune befalling their fellow human
wrongs committed, life massacred
of a child that barely know what happiness or justice is
of the tender soul of a pious woman
of the father to the child,
or the husband to the woman
these are all of little or no bearing to them
and all that concern them is of their immediate sphere
and nothing else

No, I am not angry
but look at the pictures below
and do try to arouse the compassion within
or at least,
pretend to
even that is better than not feeling anything at all



From: Abdul Razak Abu Bakar

Plzzzzz Keep forwarding this e-mail. Let people know what happens there. .
أرجوك استمر في تمرير هذه الرسالة، اجعل العالم يعرف ماذا يحدث هناك في فلسطين&nbs! p;

If you are not satisfied with the truth, the following pictures are war crimes as defined by the UN, The Hague and the Geneva Convention.

Using images of your enemy dead or alive (violation)



Human shields (violation)






Live Burial Torture (violation)



And as a last resort, Execution (violation)

(click on image to enlarge)
These IDF soldiers have faces... I can clearly see them...Cant you? Why are they not being prosecuted? Because it is systematic process that is driven by the government designed to force the people of Palestine into exile so Is! rael can claim all the land and resources.

Note* The picture above is of an incident several years old. This, and many more incidences, are how life is for the Palestinians. Do we have the right to complain when we missed watching Akademi Fantasia or its like - cakapaje.

This where my American tax dollars are going, do you know where your tax dollars are at? TAKE THE TIME TO FIND THE TRUTH. So many lives depend on it. I, like so many Americans, am Caucasian, non-Arab, and religious. I can no longer sit back with good conscience and do nothing while my government is supporting the types of terrorist actions that we have condemned Muslim Fundamentalist for. Call your Congressman and Senator, send an email to the White House and demand that our government negotiate FAIRLY with both sides and bring a fair and just solution to Palestine and Israel .



(CRUELTY OF ISRAEL


PLS SEND IT TO YOUR FRIENDS

He Aint Heavy, Hes My Brother - Hollies

AmanPalestin, Nov10, 2008

What's there left to be said? Almost all the dailies carried the news of the rally in Stadium Melawati, Shah Alam, on Saturday, November 10, 2008. If any, then the only question left to be asked is "Where were the rest of the people of KL, PJ, Shah Alam, Klang, and neighbouring areas?"(click here), and why the double standard (click here).

Join The Boycott Campaign!

More pictures at Pictures-Only.

I Need My Baby!

In the days before Custer was even born, the vast land of North America was the home to peace-loving people of various tribes and nations, and not the war-mongers and scalp hunters as western movies of the past portrayed them to be. True, the different tribe did engage themselves in battles with their neighbours. But it might be surprising to note that in at least one of the tribes, a greater honour is placed not in the killing of an enemy, but to touch him in a battle: coup! (click here).

To claim a coup, the warrior would be need to confront an enemy, touch him with his hand or coup-stick, and escape unharmed. The more coup the warrior achieve (each coup must have a witness), the higher he stands in his tribe, with feathers worn on his headgear as a testament to his bravery. However, there is another form of coup which does not add to a warrior's tale. And that is when he hunts a deer not for food, but just to touch it. The idea, is to test his skills in approaching a quarry undetected.

That's it! I need my own baby! I mean, it can real tiring especially on days like today has been, where I had to cover 2 events. Never mind the fact that at the second event, Wak Kasiran was on hand and doing most of the job there. But that I had to drive and run around just to get pictures and stories even before I lubricate my body properly, is enough to make me near short fuse. And after covering several events this past week I've come to realise that yes, I do need my own baby!

I mean, I don't mind going to places where some struts their baby with pride, holding them in front for everyone else to gawk. No, I don't mind that. After all, to each, his own rezeki-lah! But I do mind when I walk into a hall and every stares at me from head to toe and seem to be asking....well, you know what. But that is not so bad. What gets to me is not being able to do what those guys do with their babes!

Yes, I desperately do need a baby!

But, she's got to be something real special. Elegant. Stylish. Pleasant to look at.

She should also be able to focus on the subjects I have in mind and not succumb to some bodily dysfunction which could...well, ruin the occasion.

Most importantly, she must be digital.

Take this shot, for example. I wanted to get a close-up of the woman in yellow but did not want to get near her as I do not want her to be conscious of the camera. With a DSLR and zoom lens, the picture of someone elderly like her attending the rally against the inhumane mass murder in Gaza might open more hearts to attend future rallies as well as the boycott campaign.

Or this girl. She was quite lively on the floor facing the stage.

And this guy, I simply had to snap him for the A-Card slung over him advertising a book
"Mat Jenin Jadi PM?" Hmm...wonder who that Mat Jenin is.

And later in the afternoon, PAS Kelana Jaya held a ceremony to welcome over 100 people into its fold. Led by the former ameno Branch Chief in USJ1, they were officially accepted by Dato' Dr Hassan Ali. But what a shot I could have take of the beauty had she not realised it.
But alas, she slips lower than the table height. Er...I mean that small girl in her mother's arms ya :)

What beautiful shots, what tremendous coups I could have achieved had I my own DSLR. No offence to the borrowed Olympus which is handy and good for picnic shots...but I just must have my own baby! And they, don't come cheap. Woe me.

Will make a proper entry tomorrow on Aman Palestine's as well as the PAS Kelana Jaya events tomorrow.

Coffee-soaked Muruku

Life must go on. So the saying goes. No matter how heavy the burden, how highly stacked the odds, one must find the will to continue one's life no matter the direction it leads. Hopefully, however, the direction leads to the silver lining in the sky, and who knows, perhaps the pot of gold at rainbow's end. Not literally, off course. The alternative to this course of life? Well, that's as good as being 6foot under...even when one is still breathing; truly sad state of affair not worth looking into, what else living it.

Understandably, its difficult for one to trudge on with one's life when bullets are whizzing just above one's head, or having nip one's ear in the process of find a mark. A single bullet, is a blind and deadly projectile that recognise neither friend nor foe, piercing itself deep into a body with a hole that can be smaller than the size of an ordinary button, but sometimes, much larger than that. And just as easily it invades the body, it can also leave it from the opposite end, leaving a wound that that is normally fatal. If not, then the searing pain may lead a lesser mind shrieking in agony, or silently numbed with shock. Left unattended, life oozes out in the form of a red liquid; itself more precious than the black gold which ironically is valued more by some. If not the black gold, then the very earth which, again ironically, every single one of us living beings, will turn into.

And that, was just about a single bullet. Not yet about the landmines, booby-traps, shrapnel, or the massively destructive missile launched from a safe distance away. A single girl by the name of Huwaida Araf however, stood defiant.


Tomorrow, just after the Jumaat prayers, Malaysians will be marching again towards the US Embassy in KL, from the KLCC Mosque. I regret not being able to join them there but insyAllah, will be at Stadium Melawati, Shah Alam, for another show of protest which will begin at 10am, and led by Aman Palestine (click here).

Life, must go on.

For me and another one or 2 bloggers who just did not have the heart to continue blogging, we are actually admitting defeat for a people who have not. For them, we must steel our heart and continue with our own while not forgetting their struggle. For instance, indulge in a Indocoffee-soaked Muruku quite similar to eating cereal with milk.

Having been a Nescaffe drinker for more than 20years, the shift to Indocoffee was necessitated several years back in an effort to boycott any organisations which either have links, or directly or indirectly contribute to the illegal zionist regime. Care to join?

Oh! Do visit Elviza here for ways to contribute towards the Palestinians. Alternatively, there are 2 donation drives:

1. 'Tabung Amanah Cakna Palestin', Bank Islam Malaysia melalui akaun 03018010122939, and

2. Tabung Bantuan Kemanusiaan Rakyat Palestin atas nama PARTI ISLAM SEMALAYSIA di akaun Maybank 564070703248".


ps. Hey! I do need this space too! I mean, I do find a need to go bonkers every now and then. Well, that and besides the fact that this blog is the only decent place I can practice my English before it sinks deeper than a sinking ship in the deepest abyss. That is, off course, if its not there already.

Tie Your Camel

Lyrics Excerpt

Angie, angie, when will those clouds all disappear?
Angie, angie, where will it lead us from here?

Angie, I still love you, remember all those nights we cried?
All the dreams we held so close seemed to all go up in smoke

Oh, angie, don’t you weep, all your kisses still taste sweet
I hate that sadness in your eyes

Come on baby, dry your eyes
But angie, angie, ain’t it good to be alive?
Angie, angie, they can’t say we never tried

One day Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) noticed a Bedouin leaving his camel without tying it and he asked the Bedouin, "Why don't you tie down your camel?" The Bedouin answered, "I put my trust in Allah." The Prophet then said, "Tie your camel first, then put your trust in Allah" (At-Tirmidhi).
- IOL

Please sign the petition:
http://www.petitiononline.com/etgs1/petition.html

Pictures credit: Windows Into Palestine

No Appetite

For 2 days now, I've tried to put in an entry or 2 but the moment I am online, I feel lost and decided to scrap my thoughts. Not quite like the way Gaza is being scrapped, but related to it. Then I became highly irritated was at short-fuse, spitting venom at the CSR staff of a hypermarket simply because it took ages for them to locate their supervisor who was needed to key in her code to print the receipt for the stuff I bought.

Hey! I paid for the stuff and the cashier was kind enough to give me a handwritten receipt as his printer ran out of paper. But I just do not want to walk off only to be stopped by some store detectives who may think differently. And sure enough, even as I was walking towards the CSR counter, the lady waiting to check the receipts of buyers walking out, was herself hesitant about letting me through. Only after the cashier inform her, was I able to proceed. And I really did cause a scene at the CSR Counter.

So earlier tonight, I thought it would be wiser for me to start another blog to put the serious stuff there and let this blog be gila-gila - an outlet for my...well, gila-gila lah! But no sooner when I came online, I just had to view the video below, and the accompanying text at IIR. Needless to say, I again lost my want to write.

For A People Far Away

Indeed, several did ask, of what great use we stood and voiced out against the mass murder in Gaza? I ask back, if not us, then who else should? Or perhaps, the poem below would make sense.


Unknown Author
First, they came for the Communists.
and I didn't speak up,
because I was not a Communists
Then, they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak up,
because I wasn't a Jew
Then, they came for the Catholics,
and I didn't speak up
because I was not a Catholic,
Then, they came for the Protestants,
and I didn't speak up
because I wasn't a Protestants...

Then they came for the Palestinians,
and I still didn't speak up,
because I am not a Palestinian
Then they came for the Muslims,
I tried to speak up, because I am a Muslim
But by then my voice is drowned by my own frenzy
...and there is no one else to speak for me.

/end


The number of people who came to show their support for the Palestinians under siege in Gaza, numbered no more than one thousand. But considering the short notice given, and the year-end holiday period, it suffice. But perhaps, had it been held on a Friday and after the prayers, the numbers may equal to protest at Denmark House, as well as the US Embassy (during Israeli invasion of Lebanon). Still, it was heartening to note that several came from Ipoh specifically for this show of protest.

Cikgu Ali of AlHusseyn (brown kopiyah) came all the way from Ipoh
together with a bus load of supporters.

Just after 11.30am, the Malaysians who came from all walks of life -
muslimin, muslimat, the elderly, and the young -
and had been garthering at Bangunan Tabung Haji,
began their short march to the US Embassy some 500meters away.

Leading the people were leaders from PAS: YB Salahuddin Ayub, YB Dr Lo'Lo',
Dr Syed Azman, and Mohammad Sabu.

While the leaders handed the protest memorandum to a US Embassy representative,
the crowd displayed their flags, banners and placards.

After handing the memo, YB Salahuddin then led a short press conference right outside the gates of the embassy, and later led the crowd back to Bangunan Tabung Haji to disperse peacefully...just as many of the PAS-led protest have always been.

More pictures at Pictures-Only.

*off note:
It does seem sad, that while these group of Malaysians are tyring to stand up for justice, another was not. During the Anti-ISA campaign in Bangi last night, this other group wore T-shirts displaying the words 'Kekal kan ISA', where the ISA itself is against humanitarian grounds and affronts Islamic Laws; their very act can be construed nothing else but provocative. I will not dignify them with their pictures here, but one can always read about it here.

Gaza Latest

Please read

1. Gaza strike is not against Hamas, it’s against all Palestinians’

2. Gaza: The Untold Story.