Tell me a lie in a beautiful way. (History lessons from a rock metal band).

"Tell me a lie in a beautiful way,
I believe in answers,
Just not today"
-Avenged Sevenfold, The Stage-

There is a saying that "history is written by the victors".
This relates mostly to histories of wars.

But to paraphrase for other circumstances, history is written by whoever writes history. Honest history writers just write the facts; that is, facts of events as they unfold.

But events do not happen in a vacuum.
There are causes and effects, preceding events that affects the next events, and consequences of those events. People react to these events coloured by their beliefs, values, prejudices, and biases.

Students of history can only extrapolate or guess the intention and motivation of these actors in history based on available evidences.
If they do not like what they find or the inevitable conclusions, they can decide to "rewrite" history, because, sometimes, history writers are also coloured by their beliefs, values, prejudices, and biases (and political expediency).

In one of my previous post, I wrote how one of the reasons the Malay elites at that time assassinated JWW Birch was because he was attempting to abolish slavery in Perak. But somehow, this fact was never mentioned in the history textbook when I was in school. (I do not know about now.)
It was presented as a fight against colonialism.

It may well have been, but it was motivated by the preservation of an adat that gives them free labours.

Now, as I always maintain, the tapestry of history is complex. We can conclude certain things from historical evidences but we are not there and we can never really say for sure that we know everything in details, its nuances and its complexities. But we should not hide what we do know.

Because then, we are lying to ourselves.

In the case of JWW Birch assassination, why does it matter?
After all, we do not practise slavery anymore in Malaysia, do we?
Everyone knows that slavery is wrong...doesn't everyone?

And yet, we still have religious preachers giving ceramah justifying why slavery was OK in the past because of "historical circumstances" but never outrightly saying slavery is not OK in the now, or ever.
They say we do not practise slavery anymore because of "whatever reasons", but they never say slavery is wrong, period.
Did you notice the sleight linguistic trick there?

So, I repeat Avenged Sevenfold...

"Tell me a lie in a beautiful way,
I believe in answers,
Just not today"

We now live in a world where a rock metal band is more truthful than religious preachers. For me, I do not mind. I like to listen to good songs, no matter the genre. And my philosophy is, the truth stands on its own, no matter who speaks it. But for those of you who consider listening to rock metal songs or any songs as haram or sinful, you should be concerned.

Because now, how do you know the truth?
 
 
-----
 
 
FULL LYRICS:
So I arrived, naked and cold
A welcomed change from the abeyance of a ghost town catacomb
No need for counsel I appreciate the time I’m not alone
(Why don’t you get my lawyer on the phone)
 
There were days these child eyes
Would overlook the ugliness and fantasize
I found my heart for the first time and I awakened in me
I left myself to navigate… and oh I felt control
(It appears these sheep have quite an appetite)

Who is the crowd that peers through the cage,
As we perform here upon the stage?

As the boy became a man
In came a calm sophistication I can hardly understand
So lost in ego, didn’t notice when the time had slipped away
(Yeah, Everyone’s got a sob story)

Jesus Christ, was born to die
Leave it to man to levitate his own to idolize
We’re simply sociopaths with no communication baby
I see your angle but we differ from our points of view
(So, what’s your cross to bear)

Who is the crowd that peers through the cage,
As we perform here upon the stage?
Tell me a lie in a beautiful way
I believe in answers
Just not today

Hope my wheels don’t abandon me now,
seein’ that I’m out here alone
I’m runnin’ out of fight
And the wind speaks a comforting voice,
guiding me to her arms
Mother, I’m alright
It took the birth of sin to snake-rattle the mind
Before a blow to the head by the gavel of time to wake up
Won’t you wake up?
When did the walking apes decide that nuclear war
Was now the only solution for them keeping the score?
Just wake up
Can’t you wake up?

(You do know this is just a simulation, don’t you?)
Who is the crowd that peers through the cage,
As we perform here upon the stage?
Tell me a lie in a beautiful way
I believe in answers
Just not today.

Hikayat Moden: Bahagian II (Si Luncai & Pak Belalang)

Baca Bahagian I di sini.
.
.
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Setelah beberapa lama Si Luncai beredar dari kedai makan tadi, Si Luncai bertembung dengan Pak Belalang dan anaknya Belalang.

Si Luncai terfikir dalam hati kenapakah dua beranak ini dikenali dengan nama si anak. Ini adalah terbalik dengan kebiasaan masyarakat Melayu. Biasanya, nama bapa lebih dikenali dan si anak akan dibinkan dengan si bapa. Tapi bagi Si Luncai ini hanya satu dari beberapa "keterbalikan" yang ada pada dua beranak ini. Si Luncai tahu rahsia-rahsia lain dua beranak ini yang dia hanya simpan.

Belalang mencari rezeki dengan mencuri kereta masyarakat sekeliling dan menyembunyikan kereta tersebut untuk seketika waktu. Dalam waktu tersebut, bahagian-bahagian elok kereta-kereta berkenaan dicabut dan diganti dengan bahagian-bahagian yang kurang elok dan hampir rosak.

(Hanya dua jenama kereta sahaja yang mereka tidak akan curi, iaitu BMW dan Alfa Romeo. Logo dua jenama kereta ini ada tanda silang dan mereka takut iman mereka akan tergugat jika mereka sentuh benda-benda yang ada tanda silang.)

Apabila kerja-kerja pencurian tersebut selesai, dia akan beritahu kepada Pak Belalang di mana kereta-kereta tersebut boleh dijumpai.

Pak Belalang akan memberi khidmat siasatan & penujuman kepada mereka yang kehilangan kereta tersebut. Dia meyakinkan semua orang yang dia boleh selesaikan masalah kehilangan mereka. Apatah lagi apabila dia mewar-warkan yang dia menggunakan khidmat jin baik untuk menolong dalam hal ini.

Masyarakat sekeliling yang percaya akan perkara ini mengupah Pak Belalang dengan harga yang tinggi. Kadar kejayaan Pak Belalang dalam menyelesaikan masalah ini adalah 100%. Masyarakat sekeliling tidak sedikit pun mempersoalkan akan kadar kejayaan yang sempurna ini. Mereka percaya ini adalah kerana jin baik yang Pak Belalang guna.    

Kerana kejayaan menolong masyarakat sekeliling ini, Pak Belalang menjadi sangat terkenal. Masyarakat mengangkat Pak Belalang menjadi pemimpin masyarakat dan Pak Belalang telah menjadi ahli politikus dan bertanding dalam pilihanraya untuk menjadi pemimpin negeri tersebut.

Untuk meraikan kejayaannya dalam pilihanraya, Pak Belalang telah belanja minum semua orang kopi buntut kuali Belalang yang sangat kaw kaw dan terlajak laris.


Bersambung di Hikayat Moden: Bahagian III bulan hadapan...

Ghosts & Jinns are racist: Part II

Read Part I here.

In the 70's, there was an academic paper written by a university professor on mass hysteria that happened in several schools in the Peninsular at that time.

He collected data on all the mass hysteria in order to study the common factors.
If you haven't guessed it already, the usual suspect emerged.
It happened at boarding schools and it inflicted mostly Malay girls only, even when the schools are a mixed race school and/or co-ed schools.

As usual, the Malay community blamed it on the supernatural.
They never asked the questions that I asked.
Why are these supernatural entities only disturbed Malay girls?

Like I asked in Part I, are they racist? And sexist?
If they have two genders like us, male and female, and both genders take part in the possession, then, the female jinns must be lesbians since they do not seem interested in disturbing the Malay boys.
They prefer to disturb Malay girls only.
It is almost as if the ghosts and jinns, or whatever they are, are xenophobic and sexist and may even be LGBT.
Oh, what horror!

I got hold of that research paper.
(The internet is a wonderful thing! You can find almost anything that has ever been written and/or published!)
If you are interested in reading it, you can download/read it here.

The professor used his skills and knowledge in psychology/psychiatry to study the matter and not "jinn"ology or demonology (are there such words?) Among all the cases, he studied one case in depth.

Unfortunately, I think he felt he needed to restrain himself when writing his paper, less he is accused of being racially and culturally insensitive.
Or maybe it was his professional ethics of not passing judgement before collecting and analysing more data.

Whatever it was, whatever data he collected for that one case, he put it in his paper matter-of-factly.

Reading the data he presented in the paper, it was so obvious what the situation was (at least to those who can see beyond their superstition).
A half baked psychology student, could draw the conclusion.

Let me summarize the data for you (and possible conclusion in brackets).

---

(i) a few months before the outbreak, there was a big flood across the Peninsular that also affected the school (presumably leading to stress).

(ii) there were reports of enmity and jealousies between the girls (psychological tension and stress).

(iii) the hostel are managed and run by a male headmaster who had voyueristic tendencies (leading to fear of exposed modesty).

(iv) he conducted surprised visits day and night (leading to constant state of fear of the above).

(v) the girls feared he may caught them in a state of undress during these surprise visits (again constant fear and shame).

(vi) many of the affected girls have anxiety problems and other "negative" personality traits (anxiety problems).

Not stated in the paper, but can be inferred by logic, are the fact that the girls are separated from their families for long period of time with no direct communication. Remember, this is the 70's - no mobile phones and landlines are expensive. (Possible depression or kemurungan and lack of familial/emotional supports).

---

So, we have tension, stress, fear, personal space violation, personal shame, anxiety, depression.
Cumulatively altogether, these are enough to make even some grown men "crazy", let alone teenage girls at the onset of puberty and raging hormones.

Some of you will say that I am not a psychologist or psychiatrist, and that, I do not know what I am talking about.
And you are right.
I am not a psychologist or a psychiatrist.
I would love to hear what actually happen from a real psychologist/psychiatrist (assuming they are given access to investigate these cases fully without fear of reprisals from religious dogmatists).

Still some others would say that I am not an expert, but instead of pointing to psychologist/psychiatrist as possible experts, they point to other people which they claim have expertise in "jinnology" or demonology.

If your narrative is that they are possessed by ghosts or demons or spirits, then I ask you again, why are the ghosts and jinns being racist and sexist and possibly practising lesbianism?
(Refer to my Part I here.)

I would love to hear that explanation...!
#sarcasm
 

Trans Arong, Mersing Hiking Trip: Second Hiking Trip 2020 (15th Feb 2020).

Gunung Arong is located in Mersing, Johor.
It is part of the "Hutan Taman Negeri Gunung Arong" (Gunung Arong Recreational Forest).

The hiking trek started at Masjid Tg Resang, traversing the forested rocky hilltop along the coast, towards Pantai Rekreasi Mersing, to the south.

The trek is easy for seasoned hikers, and the view is breath taking, especially on a clear sunny day, just like on the day of the hike.

The waters simmered from light emerald green to minty lime to sapphire green to blue azure, aquamarine and turquoise.

The white cotton candy cloud that seems glued to the deep blue sky made the view even more perfect.

The tiredness from the steep climb were forgotten when we encountered the view. The half heart-shaped bay was a sight to behold.

 

The highest point of the climb provided us with a 360 degree view of the bay and the forest.

All in all, it was a rewarding hike.
A definite recommendation to all hikers and nature lovers.

The hike started at dawn.

Sunrise over Arong.

Sunrise silhouette.

Half heart shaped bay.

Full heart bay now after some edit.

Fajar menyinsing...

 

Gunung Arong elevation 240 metre.

  

Blue & green.

 

"De Hemel Is Dichtbij"

 

Enjoying the view...

 

Breath taking...!

 

Cotton...

 

...candy...

  



...cloud.



 

Peace...

 

...and quiet.

 

The twig and the horizon.

 

Not for the faint-hearted.

 

Top of the world...(almost).

 

Where the sea meets the land...

 

At the beach after the descent.

Resting the feet.

 

View at the finish line.

Relic.

  

YOU DID IT!

 

 

 

Yesterday When I Was Young...

"Yesterday When I Was Young" by Charles Aznavour.

 

 

 

I don't know a thing about love...

"I Don't Know a Thing About Love" by Floor Jansen.





Lyrics:

I asked my mother what she knows about love.

She said: girl, not that much but I do know,
that my heart led me to make honest choices,
Who to go to, who to live with, with whom to share.

I asked my father what he knows about love.

He said ask your mom please, but I can say
that my heart led me to make honest choices,
Who to go to, who to live with, with whom to share

For I know much about riches, and I know more about bliss.
And I also feel the sting when once again it’s hit and miss.
And I know all about joy, and maybe more about mourning,

but about love, about love, I don’t know a thing

So when you asked me what I know about love.

I said darling, not that much but I do know,
that my heart will lead me to make honest choices,
Who to go to, who to live with, with whom to share

For I know much about riches, and I know more about bliss.
And I also feel the sting when once again it’s hit and miss.
And I know all about joy, and maybe more about mourning,

but about love, about love, I don’t know a thing

I only know, I only know,

Only when you’re with me. 2x