1Malaysia? I just don't get it!

How long has it been since this 1Malaysia slogan been bandied about?  I don't know and, really, I don't care.

It's not easy to believe in it when so many things around me is contrary to the 1Malaysia clarion call.

Even more frightening is that we are so detached from this 1Malaysia concept, today, than we ever were before.  I could easily make a long list where the 1Malaysia is not being observed.   What would be the point of that?  

Show me one aspect where it is being practised in every sense of the slogan and I'll buy you dinner.  It didn't have a chance to take off because the powers that be, don't give their all to make it work.

We are being bombarded by racists and racism in a country that we call our home.  We are bruised.  We are battered.  We are hurt.  We are injured.  What other forms of evidence does anyone need in order to know that the 1Malaysia sounds like a scam.

Simply put, I just don't get it at all. 

I love my country and I have the hope that things can change.

This IS Malaysia.  Not 1Malaysia or 2Malaysia or whatever and I wish it could be the way it was before.

Happy Birthday, D!

My dad would have been 78 today.  As I sit here and think of him, I smile at all the memories I have in my heart and mind.

This is one of them:-

When I got married and left home, I remember calling him one day and telling him that I might have changed my name but I was still a "Soliano" in spirit.  It was the only time he had no reply.  I suspect he had a lump in his throat that day.

I can't write better than this.

"Tell me the weight of a snowflake," a hawk asked a wild dove.

"Nothing more than nothing," was the answer.

"In that case, I must tell you a marvelous story," said the hawk.

"I sat on the branch of a fir. Close to its trunk it began to snow...not heavily, not a raging blizzard, no, just like in a dream, without any violence. Since I had nothing better to do, I counted the snowflakes settling on the twigs and needles of my branch. Their number was exactly 3,741,952 when the next snowflake dropped onto the branch. 'Nothing more than nothing', as you say, and the branch broke off." 

Having said that, the hawk flew away.

The dove, since Noah's time, an authority on peace, thought about the story for a while and finally said with resolve, "Perhaps only one person's voice is lacking for peace to come about in the world."

Somehow this reminds me of my blogger/friends who champion the causes they believe will benefit the people.  I salute them and respect them for all they do.

It's a pity that the author is unknown.  If anybody knows, please tell me.

Stop Lynas Solidarity Walk on 20 May 2011 - Pics only

STOP LYNAS!

SPECIAL INVITATION TO ALL MEMBERS OF CIVIL SOCIETIES, NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS, THE MALAYSIAN BAR COUNCIL AND MEMBERS OF THE PRESS:

We are organizing a HUGE Stop Lynas! Solidarity Walk on the 20th of May 2011 (Friday, 2pm) from KLCC to the Australian High Commission.

This is a peaceful walk that will end with the handing of a people's memorandum to the Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia.

We come together united as citizens of Malaysia, regardless of race, religion and social standing, to protest against the Lynas Advanced Materials Plant (LAMP) -The world's largest rare earth plant in Gebeng, Kuantan. This project endangers the lives of the Rakyat and it violates our rights as Malaysian citizens to determine the destiny of our country. I urge everyone who wants to see a better future for our children and our country join us in this 'once in a lifetime' event!

Bus trips will be arranged on the 20th of May from Kuantan to KL and returning that very same day (to Kuantan). For more information about the Solidarity Walk & bus arrangements,

PLEASE CONTACT:

(For Malay speaking participants): 

En. Mahmud 012-9571497 

(For Chinese speaking participants): 

Mr. Loo Foo San 016-9862308

(For English speaking participants): 

Mr. Clement Chin 012-9883210

(For People's Green Coalition):

Dr. Jayabalan : 012-402 7445

Dr. Khim Pa : 012-477 7706

WE HOPE TO SEE EVERYONE THERE ON FRIDAY! TOGETHER WE WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Regards,

The Committee

(KUANTAN ENVIRONMENTAL WATCH GROUP / JAWATANKUASA BERTINDAK ALAM SEKITAR KUANTAN / 关丹环境监督小组)

For more info about the Stop Lynas! Movement, visit the Facebook group: 

PAHANG DOESN'T NEED "HAZARDOUS" PROJECT

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_117036588370543

Happy Wesak Day

Sending wishes for peace, harmony and love
to all who celebrate.

Just for Mother's Day!

REFLECTIONS OF A MOTHER 

-author unknown

I gave you life, 

but cannot live it for you. 

I can give you directions, 

but I cannot be there to lead you. 

I can take you to church, 

but I cannot make you believe. 

I can teach you right from wrong, 

but I cannot always decide for you. 

I can buy you beautiful clothes, 

but I cannot make you beautiful inside. 

I can offer you advice, 

but I cannot accept it for you. 

I can give you love, 

but I cannot force it upon you. 

I can teach you to share, 

but I cannot make you unselfish. 

I can teach you respect, 

but I cannot force you to show honor. 

I can advise you about friends, 

but cannot choose them for you. 

I can advise you about sex, 

but I cannot keep you pure. 

I can tell you about alcohol & drugs, 

but I can't say "No" for you. 

I can tell you about lofty goals, 

but I can't achieve them for you. 

I can teach you about kindness, 

but I can't force you to be gracious 

I can pray for you, 

but I cannot make you walk with God. 

I can tell you how to live, 

but I cannot give you eternal life. 

I can love you with unconditional love all of 

my life... and I will. 

pic from photobucket

Of me and my moms

On Mother’s Day, most people only talk about their biological mother.  In my case, I’m going all out to boast that I have a mother for each day of the week.  Yup, it’s true. I have SEVEN of them!

Of course, there’s my mom.

Since my parents are divorced,  I have a step mom.

I was a widow and now remarried so I have two mothers-in-law.

Then I found out, I have a step-mother-in-law.

If all that isn’t enough, I also have 2 godmothers.

All of them have completely different personalities.  The only similarity is that all of them are great cooks.  I guess in their time, it was a necessity and they honed that skill to perfection.  They look after the home and hearth, without fuss or fanfare.  They love without any expectations.  They are my moms and I am blessed.

Today being Mother’s Day, I want to highlight the best quality in each of them.

Mom Virginia - Her best quality is her quiet, gentle strength.  She takes everything in stride and gives without any reservation.  I have watched her struggle without complaining.  It has been a challenge for me to match her courage in the face of adversity.  She is an amazing woman.

Stepmom Julie - She loves with every fiber of her being.  It took me a bit of time to accept her but once I did, she became “Mama”, in every sense of the word.  She has intuition and will pick up the slack if she notices you need something.  She is an amazing woman.

Mom-in-law Rose - I learnt many things from her strong sense of duty towards every member of the family.  She gave me wings to fly when I needed it.  She stood by me for so many decisions I made.  She is an amazing woman.

Mom-in-law Myra – Generosity is her middle name.  I don’t know of anybody kinder and more giving than her.  She will not take more than she needs.  She will give her last dollar if you ask her for it.  In this, she is selfless.  She is an amazing woman.

Stepmom-in-law Ibu – Stephen and I call her Ibu Darling.  She is soft-spoken and sweetness personified.  From the first moment that I met her, I loved her.  I know she loves us more, and without any reservations.  She is an amazing woman.

Godmother Corazon – I am the daughter she never had.  She’s the one who pampered and spoilt me.  She understood my first heartbreak.  She never asked questions when I didn't have answers.  My teenage years were easier because of her.  She is an amazing woman.

Godmother Cathy – The most elegant woman I know.  She is always prim and proper.  Though we’d not been in touch for years, when she came back to Malaysia, we just picked up where we last left off.  She is an amazing woman.

So there you have it!  7 amazing women in my life.

Amazing women become amazing mothers.

Only when I became a mom, I found out that I could truly and deeply love another human being more than myself. 

Happy Mother’s Day to me and to all of them!!!!!

All pics from photobucket.