Pointing a gun at someone must feel like sitting behind the wheel of a car. In Malaysia, certain vehicle drivers seem to feel free to drive as they please without considering themselves a danger to the public. The power of speed is in their hands and all who value their safety or lives must get out of the way, or be run down.
If you hold a gun, you have the power to gun down or harm anybody you don't particularly like or who has deliberately or unwittingly hurt body or ego. So, you hold a source of power in your hands, and for the moment feel less vulnerable to being bullied or put in fear. You become the source of fear.
In the aftermath of the Sandy Hook, Connecticut tragedy, it was shocking to see the headline of an online news site scream that gun sales had grown. More people decided to own guns. Why? Did this tragedy which cut short the lives of so many young children and teenagers who would have grown up into amazing adults, have virtually no effect or a completely reverse effect on American society?
Yet, should this be surprising, when children, youths and adults, young and old are gunned down on a daily basis in conflict zones all over the globe? Has human life become the ultimate disposable commodity in this age of biodegradability? Despite our delusions of freedom and security, the fear factor is very real, not only in apparently peaceful places like the United States, but also in Malaysia, where alleged suspects and teenage pranksters have been gunned down by police. It seems that the dead tell no tales.
On the contrary, the dead stimulate more questions, many which may remain unanswered for years, or become unsolved mysteries, and guilty secrets of secret perpetrators.
Fear creates a vicious cycle of irrationality and paranoia. Fear instills the need to defend or protect ourselves, using its own tools. So, it goes on, and doesn't solve anything.
Shooting unarmed civilians in any armed conflict is an expression of power, like the rape of women and children. However, this expression of power is an expression and revelation of cowardice in they who wield the power, but cannot control it, like driving a car at speed in a manner revealing the inability of the driver to control the car.
So can freedom be won through the barrel of a gun? In an instance of trigger happy power?To place power in the hands of those who like to wield it but become its slave, is to make slavery an accepted tradition. Will the human being ever be free?
Change must come, if the human race is to see the future, otherwise, we could ultimately face extinction by our own hand.
Thursday, 20 December 2012
Sunday, 2 December 2012
Trying to Force Love
I've been watching a few Taiwanese and Korean soaps on TV. Very often the plots of these stories bear close resemblance, Boy meets Girl1, Girl1 is crazy about Boy, but Boy is crazy about Girl2. So Girl1 goes all out to ruin Girl2 in Boy's eyes, taking the moral high ground to put herself in a good light. As the melodrama moves on, the lengths to which Girl1 is prepared to go to secure Boy's undying love and get rid of her rival become more and more extreme, including murder.
At the end of the day, one wonders if Boy can't make up his mind or has the inability to know how he feels about both Girl2 and Girl1. Are men in reality, so wishy washy? Looks like they're more controlled by down there than up there, or even by a beating human heart.
Even so, can one force someone to love you? Couples get engaged or marry for many reasons and not necessarily because of love. As a woman, I think many men marry because they don't want to be alone. They often depend on another human being for physical and psychological comfort and support. When this has been secured, they tend to take it for granted ( women also do that), life becomes normal and reverts mainly to the needs of each individual. It needn't have anything to do with love.
A few more years down the line, if the couple start drifting apart and finding their individual friends, divorce looms on the horizon. So, is trying to force someone to love you worth it?
Girl1 then, could be putting herself in hell by trying to force Boy to love her. Yet, why does she persist in this obviously lost cause? Her quest could be ego-driven and obsessive. It is an ego-driven greed for vengeance that can't be sated unless, the obstacle to her goal is removed permanently. Even then, I wonder, if she will ever have peace of mind living in fear of losing Boy's affection to anyone else?
Boy, on the other hand seems naively clueless about the 'contest' and rivalry between the two girls. Are men so naive? Or does it boost their ego to see two women fighting for their affection. Some men probably like it and thrive on jealousy. It's like a chain they can pull to reassure themselves that they still appeal to women.
Another favorite theme of soaps is emotional blackmail. A means to force someone to do what they are unwilling to, yet, give in under duress. This is another tactic Girl1 resorts to in order to get her way. Girl2 in contrast is often portrayed as not only naive but not too intelligent. She often succumbs to the treachery of Girl1, thinking it best to give in because she loves Boy. She is the victim and waits for her knight in shining armour to rescue her i.e. for Boy to wake up and make a definite choice. Sadly, because of his apparent naive nature, it's often too late when he realizes his preference is for Girl2. She may not be around by then or may have found a more reasonable partner. The joke is really on Boy who can't make up his mind.
If Boy had been single-minded, decisive and committed himself to Girl2, he may have avoided ending up with less than he hoped and dreamed for. Yet, many things in life are uncertain and unclear and often wrong decisions are made. So, one either lives with it or charts a new course.
We often think of what may have been, maybe for a reason, perhaps a very good one, that life plays out differently from our expectations.
At the end of the day, one wonders if Boy can't make up his mind or has the inability to know how he feels about both Girl2 and Girl1. Are men in reality, so wishy washy? Looks like they're more controlled by down there than up there, or even by a beating human heart.
Even so, can one force someone to love you? Couples get engaged or marry for many reasons and not necessarily because of love. As a woman, I think many men marry because they don't want to be alone. They often depend on another human being for physical and psychological comfort and support. When this has been secured, they tend to take it for granted ( women also do that), life becomes normal and reverts mainly to the needs of each individual. It needn't have anything to do with love.
A few more years down the line, if the couple start drifting apart and finding their individual friends, divorce looms on the horizon. So, is trying to force someone to love you worth it?
Girl1 then, could be putting herself in hell by trying to force Boy to love her. Yet, why does she persist in this obviously lost cause? Her quest could be ego-driven and obsessive. It is an ego-driven greed for vengeance that can't be sated unless, the obstacle to her goal is removed permanently. Even then, I wonder, if she will ever have peace of mind living in fear of losing Boy's affection to anyone else?
Boy, on the other hand seems naively clueless about the 'contest' and rivalry between the two girls. Are men so naive? Or does it boost their ego to see two women fighting for their affection. Some men probably like it and thrive on jealousy. It's like a chain they can pull to reassure themselves that they still appeal to women.
Another favorite theme of soaps is emotional blackmail. A means to force someone to do what they are unwilling to, yet, give in under duress. This is another tactic Girl1 resorts to in order to get her way. Girl2 in contrast is often portrayed as not only naive but not too intelligent. She often succumbs to the treachery of Girl1, thinking it best to give in because she loves Boy. She is the victim and waits for her knight in shining armour to rescue her i.e. for Boy to wake up and make a definite choice. Sadly, because of his apparent naive nature, it's often too late when he realizes his preference is for Girl2. She may not be around by then or may have found a more reasonable partner. The joke is really on Boy who can't make up his mind.
If Boy had been single-minded, decisive and committed himself to Girl2, he may have avoided ending up with less than he hoped and dreamed for. Yet, many things in life are uncertain and unclear and often wrong decisions are made. So, one either lives with it or charts a new course.
We often think of what may have been, maybe for a reason, perhaps a very good one, that life plays out differently from our expectations.
Monday, 26 November 2012
Battling the Demons of Enmity
In many countries the world over, there are terrible wars, tearing societies, communities, families and individuals apart. There are so many, yet we often only react to those that attract the most publicity. I needn't mention these, as all who watch or read the news bulletins everyday, are aware of them. It is natural to have a reaction on seeing or hearing such painful news of inhumanity committed against other human beings. Intra-familial wars are actually worse than being attacked by some outside aggressor, a common enemy. The enemy within is harder to eliminate.
In everyday life, there is a demon that can emerge out of our sub-conscious, it is the demon of prejudice, bigotry, generalization and stereotyping. It usually waits for an opportune moment to seize possession of us, suppressing our normal gentle, kind, forgiving and loving natures. When this happens, we can become raving, blood-thirsty lunatics who are capable of doing things we will most definitely regret, when the madness subsides.
If the madness is rationalized and justified, it continues and progressively erodes our humanity, turning the once gentle, humane person into an inhuman abomination, capable of anything.
Why do people run 'amok'? Why does the killing continue? It spares none.
Yet, those delusioned by the madness might still smile the smiles of hatred and glory in the blood they have spilt.
Here at home, in Malaysia, where racial and religious politics are the occupation of many of our politicians, especially those still hogging the reins of power, the common people are realizing the futility of in-fighting and the creation of division and disunity. People are trying to unify, trying to find common platforms and causes that counteract, the divide-and -rule system of governance that is our colonial legacy. This method of governance was adopted by the subsequent leaders of our 'independent' nation eversince we divested ourselves of colonial rule.
In truth, we have not really eliminated a neo-colonial structure. The same arrogance prevails, but by a different group of bureaucrats. Now, it is for us the common people to battle the demons as those who assume rule of this place have succumbed to their self-interests and given the demons full sway over themselves.
To help build this fortress of peace and unity we come together to talk honestly without antagonism, to forgive and heal the rifts that have frequently driven us apart in animosity and enmity. We dialog with one aim - to be united in our diversity. A family of a nation, accepting each other and being part of the spectrum of the cultural rainbow that makes up our unique Malaysian world.
If you would like to participate in this effort to build our rainbow, use this link to see how you can do it - http://www.projekdialog.com/
"Project Dialogue" is a project under the "Say NO to Racism Campaign" in Malaysia. Use the link to find out more about it.
You may find something you never thought was possible.
May the Light overcome the Darkness, and all demons be vanquished.
In everyday life, there is a demon that can emerge out of our sub-conscious, it is the demon of prejudice, bigotry, generalization and stereotyping. It usually waits for an opportune moment to seize possession of us, suppressing our normal gentle, kind, forgiving and loving natures. When this happens, we can become raving, blood-thirsty lunatics who are capable of doing things we will most definitely regret, when the madness subsides.
If the madness is rationalized and justified, it continues and progressively erodes our humanity, turning the once gentle, humane person into an inhuman abomination, capable of anything.
Why do people run 'amok'? Why does the killing continue? It spares none.
Yet, those delusioned by the madness might still smile the smiles of hatred and glory in the blood they have spilt.
Here at home, in Malaysia, where racial and religious politics are the occupation of many of our politicians, especially those still hogging the reins of power, the common people are realizing the futility of in-fighting and the creation of division and disunity. People are trying to unify, trying to find common platforms and causes that counteract, the divide-and -rule system of governance that is our colonial legacy. This method of governance was adopted by the subsequent leaders of our 'independent' nation eversince we divested ourselves of colonial rule.
In truth, we have not really eliminated a neo-colonial structure. The same arrogance prevails, but by a different group of bureaucrats. Now, it is for us the common people to battle the demons as those who assume rule of this place have succumbed to their self-interests and given the demons full sway over themselves.
To help build this fortress of peace and unity we come together to talk honestly without antagonism, to forgive and heal the rifts that have frequently driven us apart in animosity and enmity. We dialog with one aim - to be united in our diversity. A family of a nation, accepting each other and being part of the spectrum of the cultural rainbow that makes up our unique Malaysian world.
If you would like to participate in this effort to build our rainbow, use this link to see how you can do it - http://www.projekdialog.com/
"Project Dialogue" is a project under the "Say NO to Racism Campaign" in Malaysia. Use the link to find out more about it.
You may find something you never thought was possible.
May the Light overcome the Darkness, and all demons be vanquished.
Sunday, 11 November 2012
Celebrating the Light
Today is the eve of a very important festival for our Hindu friends, it is the day before Dwali (as some call it) or Deepavali ( as others in Malaysia, call it). Dwali is known as the Festival of Light, a triumph of Light over Darkness. I read the legend once, that was a long time ago. But, will tell it to you when my memory is refreshed. The story is about the battle between Good and Evil, where Evil is defeated and Good illuminates the world.
This is a Holy Day for Hindus (Hindoos) and many significant cleansing rituals are carried out. It is symbolic of repentence, renewal and rebirth.
In Malaysia, despite the many controversies prevalent in our pluralist society at the moment, it is customary to give a greeting of "Happy Deepavali" to almost anyone, not just the Hindus celebrating this special religious celebration. It is a friendly gesture, one that recognizes the importance of the day and the shared universal belief that Good will ultimately be victorious. That is what, most of humankind believes and aspires to. Whilst, this is still in the realms of an ideal within our minds and hearts, unimaginable to some in reality. Yet, the possibility raises hope of peace in our embattled circumstances.
Although it seems easy to revel in goodwill, it is far harder to recognize that the hardships arising from conflict situations at home and around the world are also situations we share, and indirectly or inadvertently, contribute to, in some ways. This brings to mind Barack Obama's presidential election victory. It is a first in history which was celebrated, not only by Democrat supporters of the United States, but joined in by peoples in Africa and Asia. His first presidential victory celebration was even more widespread.
To think that a single person is capable of uniting so many nations in one event, due to his variegated past is rather astounding. He is an international icon, not just small town US, or Afro-American minority.
It feels like the world is on the threshold of a new era, the era of 'internationality', where perhaps we will realize the dream of being world citizens, besides identifying ourselves as belonging to the subsets of citizenship i.e. of a nation, by ethnic, religious or cultural communities, language, or skin colour.
If this ever happens, the peoples of the world will find their own roles in combating the evils t overrunning our lives today, that will continue to enslave a majority of us till the end of time.
With this I wish all the world, a "Happy Dwali" and may Good be ever victorious, within ourselves and beyond ourselves.
Deepavali Eve 12th November 2012
This is a Holy Day for Hindus (Hindoos) and many significant cleansing rituals are carried out. It is symbolic of repentence, renewal and rebirth.
In Malaysia, despite the many controversies prevalent in our pluralist society at the moment, it is customary to give a greeting of "Happy Deepavali" to almost anyone, not just the Hindus celebrating this special religious celebration. It is a friendly gesture, one that recognizes the importance of the day and the shared universal belief that Good will ultimately be victorious. That is what, most of humankind believes and aspires to. Whilst, this is still in the realms of an ideal within our minds and hearts, unimaginable to some in reality. Yet, the possibility raises hope of peace in our embattled circumstances.
Although it seems easy to revel in goodwill, it is far harder to recognize that the hardships arising from conflict situations at home and around the world are also situations we share, and indirectly or inadvertently, contribute to, in some ways. This brings to mind Barack Obama's presidential election victory. It is a first in history which was celebrated, not only by Democrat supporters of the United States, but joined in by peoples in Africa and Asia. His first presidential victory celebration was even more widespread.
To think that a single person is capable of uniting so many nations in one event, due to his variegated past is rather astounding. He is an international icon, not just small town US, or Afro-American minority.
It feels like the world is on the threshold of a new era, the era of 'internationality', where perhaps we will realize the dream of being world citizens, besides identifying ourselves as belonging to the subsets of citizenship i.e. of a nation, by ethnic, religious or cultural communities, language, or skin colour.
If this ever happens, the peoples of the world will find their own roles in combating the evils t overrunning our lives today, that will continue to enslave a majority of us till the end of time.
With this I wish all the world, a "Happy Dwali" and may Good be ever victorious, within ourselves and beyond ourselves.
Deepavali Eve 12th November 2012
Tuesday, 6 November 2012
Apologies from this Rookie Blogger
Dear Readers,
I didn't realize that posting comments on this blog was a big problem, due to its being restricted to certain providers. I only became aware of it today when I spoke to my blogger friend Anil Netto. He's helped me to put posts on Wordpress instead, so comments can be more easily posted by any reader who has one.
I AM SO, SO, SORRY for preventing you from free speech. To make up for it, all previous posts have been exported to my Wordpress blog at shannanjp.wordpress.com. My blog is still called, "Winking at Life" and I will continue 'winking' at you there, so you can 'wink' back.
Thanks so much for reading my blog and listening to my 'e-soap box' speeches. So, forward we go. Hopefully, see your comments soon, at Wordpress.
My Wordpress blog is still in process, as I need to familiarize myself with it. It is a little more complicated but will enable comment from readers more easily. So, in the meantime, I'm keeping this blog, that is relatively user friendly and less complicated. You may visit me at my new blogsite and try the comment facility, out of curiousity. Looking forward to talking to you in another room.
Wishing you a good day,
Jasmine Tea
20th December 2012
Dear Readers,
I informed you in the earlier post that I had opened another "Winking at Life" blog in Wordpress. To diffuse confusion, the URL of my current blog is "Winking at Life" at shannanjp.com. I decided to try 'renting a house' metaphorically, so have to do my own housekeeping at my dot com address. Visitors are definitely welcome! So, do continue to enjoy reading my posts.
For those who prefer to come to this "Winking at Life" URL, I will still be posting my thoughts for your reading pleasure from time to time.
Have a good day and may you always be blessed with peace of mind.
Thanks,
Jasmine Tea
I didn't realize that posting comments on this blog was a big problem, due to its being restricted to certain providers. I only became aware of it today when I spoke to my blogger friend Anil Netto. He's helped me to put posts on Wordpress instead, so comments can be more easily posted by any reader who has one.
I AM SO, SO, SORRY for preventing you from free speech. To make up for it, all previous posts have been exported to my Wordpress blog at shannanjp.wordpress.com. My blog is still called, "Winking at Life" and I will continue 'winking' at you there, so you can 'wink' back.
Thanks so much for reading my blog and listening to my 'e-soap box' speeches. So, forward we go. Hopefully, see your comments soon, at Wordpress.
My Wordpress blog is still in process, as I need to familiarize myself with it. It is a little more complicated but will enable comment from readers more easily. So, in the meantime, I'm keeping this blog, that is relatively user friendly and less complicated. You may visit me at my new blogsite and try the comment facility, out of curiousity. Looking forward to talking to you in another room.
Wishing you a good day,
Jasmine Tea
20th December 2012
Dear Readers,
I informed you in the earlier post that I had opened another "Winking at Life" blog in Wordpress. To diffuse confusion, the URL of my current blog is "Winking at Life" at shannanjp.com. I decided to try 'renting a house' metaphorically, so have to do my own housekeeping at my dot com address. Visitors are definitely welcome! So, do continue to enjoy reading my posts.
For those who prefer to come to this "Winking at Life" URL, I will still be posting my thoughts for your reading pleasure from time to time.
Have a good day and may you always be blessed with peace of mind.
Thanks,
Jasmine Tea
Sunday, 4 November 2012
A Leaky Tub in the Ocean
The world is like a leaky tub in the ocean. Here we are undergoing climate change that's punching holes in our planet, yet human kind is aiding its sinking by creating conflict on the lamest excuse. Those trying to repair the leaks can't keep up with the rate at which these are being created. It looks like the negative elements are getting the better of us and taking the upper-hand. Samuel Huntingdon's proverbial "clash of civilizations" seems to be the thing influencing certain minorities who seem intent on making that premise a reality.
World media attention gives world wide publicity to these negatively distructive minorities on both sides of the civilizational clash, just to sell these 'toxic products' to 'children' who very often believe anything and everything they read or see, and react in an equally juvenile manner, without question. Advantage is also taken of the situation by any seeking 'cheap' publicity to feel elevated above the generally silent population.
Let's not get wrong and right confused. Every religion ( for want of a better word) preaches peace, justice, charity and goodwill. That's a universal truth. Even an aetheistic subtraction of God doesn't change what is perceived as good. Moral codes and laws overlap to maintain a civilized order in every country in the world, whether they prevail or otherwise, is another matter. Yet, big words and well intentioned edicts don't change reality.
Still, when it comes to the crunch, people instinctively revert to viewing themselves as members of the human race. At least, that's what generally occurs in times of disaster in various parts of the world. So, why do we maintain conflict in times of relative peace and prosperity, as if we have nothing else to do, but pick a fight with anyone and everyone?
In personal experience there are small victories in over-coming racial, religious and class barriers that give an insight into the possibilities of a completely different world from the current one. These little sparks of goodness, hopefully will some day become the order of the day. But it needs more participation, and more personal victories over personal barriers that end in defeat, contributing to the general on-going personal wars.
A few years ago, my father under went an operation. Dad is over eighty (nearer to ninety) and his chances of survival were at first 50:50 but fell during the operation due to his heart rate being very low, affecting his blood pressure. In this crisis situation, friends and family came together.
Friends from all faiths, ethnic and cultural backgrounds sympathized with us in this crisis, and petitioned God ( in their own ways). What doctrine or beliefs they subscribed to was totally immaterial. A miracle did happen, and Dad miraculously survived this major operation, and is still around today, despite having to use a wheelchair to be mobile.
After Dad was discharged from the hospital, Mum and I would have been completely sunk in looking after him as my siblings returned to their homes in the southern state of Selangor, and overseas to Europe, due to work, family etc.
The multi-national 'aid army' was sent out again and this time we had Christian and Buddhist help, bringing in nursing care for Dad. Not a penny was asked for it, just love and care, in exchange. We've been truly privileged to be looked after by a peoples' multi-national force, in the persons of friends and relatives regardless of our different views, attitudes and beliefs.This is not the first nor, I believe, will it be the last such experience, as the world gets smaller.
Amazing presents some times come wrapped in ordinary newspaper. Perhaps, we, ordinary folk with no claims or pretensions to vast empires, elite status, or celebrity, but who out number those with such claims, can make a bigger difference to this culture of conflict that has been imposed on us by recognizing that we all bleed in red.
Maybe, by doing this, we can work to patch up the leaks that keep springing in our drifting tub on these rough seas. Rub-a-dub-dub!
World media attention gives world wide publicity to these negatively distructive minorities on both sides of the civilizational clash, just to sell these 'toxic products' to 'children' who very often believe anything and everything they read or see, and react in an equally juvenile manner, without question. Advantage is also taken of the situation by any seeking 'cheap' publicity to feel elevated above the generally silent population.
Let's not get wrong and right confused. Every religion ( for want of a better word) preaches peace, justice, charity and goodwill. That's a universal truth. Even an aetheistic subtraction of God doesn't change what is perceived as good. Moral codes and laws overlap to maintain a civilized order in every country in the world, whether they prevail or otherwise, is another matter. Yet, big words and well intentioned edicts don't change reality.
Still, when it comes to the crunch, people instinctively revert to viewing themselves as members of the human race. At least, that's what generally occurs in times of disaster in various parts of the world. So, why do we maintain conflict in times of relative peace and prosperity, as if we have nothing else to do, but pick a fight with anyone and everyone?
In personal experience there are small victories in over-coming racial, religious and class barriers that give an insight into the possibilities of a completely different world from the current one. These little sparks of goodness, hopefully will some day become the order of the day. But it needs more participation, and more personal victories over personal barriers that end in defeat, contributing to the general on-going personal wars.
A few years ago, my father under went an operation. Dad is over eighty (nearer to ninety) and his chances of survival were at first 50:50 but fell during the operation due to his heart rate being very low, affecting his blood pressure. In this crisis situation, friends and family came together.
Friends from all faiths, ethnic and cultural backgrounds sympathized with us in this crisis, and petitioned God ( in their own ways). What doctrine or beliefs they subscribed to was totally immaterial. A miracle did happen, and Dad miraculously survived this major operation, and is still around today, despite having to use a wheelchair to be mobile.
After Dad was discharged from the hospital, Mum and I would have been completely sunk in looking after him as my siblings returned to their homes in the southern state of Selangor, and overseas to Europe, due to work, family etc.
The multi-national 'aid army' was sent out again and this time we had Christian and Buddhist help, bringing in nursing care for Dad. Not a penny was asked for it, just love and care, in exchange. We've been truly privileged to be looked after by a peoples' multi-national force, in the persons of friends and relatives regardless of our different views, attitudes and beliefs.This is not the first nor, I believe, will it be the last such experience, as the world gets smaller.
Amazing presents some times come wrapped in ordinary newspaper. Perhaps, we, ordinary folk with no claims or pretensions to vast empires, elite status, or celebrity, but who out number those with such claims, can make a bigger difference to this culture of conflict that has been imposed on us by recognizing that we all bleed in red.
Maybe, by doing this, we can work to patch up the leaks that keep springing in our drifting tub on these rough seas. Rub-a-dub-dub!
Wednesday, 31 October 2012
Not Everything Old is Bad
This post may sound like one for middle aged to elderly readers, if they manage to use a computer and access the internet. Actually, it's for the young, who are now wanting to look hip amongst their peers and trying to ignore the advice of their elders. Having been young myself, I look back and remember how I used to have the idea that "old people" like my parents, grand-parents etc. could not understand the way we thought or acted according to our times and the ideas then. I grew up in the 1960s to late 70s and 80s. It was the time of the Anti-War protests, Womens' Lib, mini skirts and baby doll fashion, flower children, free love, Anti-nuclear protests, and "peace, man, peace". Not forgetting, bell-bottom Levis jeans.
The most wonderful thing about that time was the pop music. "Pop" means popular as in peoples music. We had 'wild' parties just like teenagers nowadays with blaring heavy metal music - Deep Purple, Uriah Heap, Black Sabbath etc. and of course, singsong sessions. Men had long hair like Marc Bolan of T-Rex, and we thought the world was ours.
What we didn't think of was, that our parents and grand-parents had also gone through the same phase in their lives and knew about 'wild parties', possibly drugs and 'free love'. Yet, in their time society often frowned on freedom and labelled non-conformism immoral. We were very influenced by western culture then, as youth are today. Still, their fears of our going astray, were to some extent justified. Perhaps, they did not want us to repeat their errors. But, the human condition remains unchanged.
The 1960s and 70s, particularly, seemed to be a time of revolution, non-conformism was the in thing. A breakaway from the old world culture. It was a time when people decided to be individualistic, but in some ways unselfish. There were the hippy communes. The music reflected many good values but explored areas of uncertainty, like inhumanity and oppression, it was really quite philosophical. It spoke about the lack of social justice and suffering of people, of increasing materialism, countered by environmentalist singers like John Denver, social singers like Bob Dylan, Don McClean, Bob Marley, Simon and Garfunkel and many more who questioned establishment. It was a time of questioning.
R&B and Jazz also caught on, and Asia saw its own rise in the pop world. I remember well the popular Filipino singer, Freddie Aguila's hit - "Child". It was in English and Tagalog, and would bring tears to many eyes. Freddie Aguila was like the Bob Marley of Asia, having a slum background and weaving personal experiences and life around him into his music. There was the birth of "Asia Beat" and at 19, attended a gig in a local university on the invitation of friends who were students there.
It was at this time that protest songs like, "We will Overcome", "Blowing in the Wind", "American Pie", etc. achieved popularity. It became an era of protests. A time to challenge authoritarian establishment and ancient codes of morality. A peoples' cry for peace in the world, whilst governments waged a Cold War and interfered in other countries civil conflicts.
Sadly, the new morality that followed from the mid - 1980s and later, seems to have taken an opposite path where materialism became the order of the day, probably turning into super-materialism as it is today with wealth, elitism, hedonism and image, dictating the suppression of humane and community values. Individualism has turned to something more ugly, expressed in greed, gluttony, domination, and avarice, overriding consideration, civil consciousness and courtesy. The world seems to have come full circle, but hope still exists. The wheel has not reached it's starting point yet.
The irony of our current times is, that there may be another reversion to those good old days of noble values which have existed since time immemorial. The values of humanity, as old as the mountains, that some youth today are starting to pick up and re-examine. A push towards the protection of our human dignity.
Climate change is another omen of a changing world order, what will the world be like, if human kind survives that? People have to think of the future, and present day youth must take on the responsibility of knowing that the necessities for survival are found in giving rather than receiving only. They will have to sift through history to help human kind survive the upheaval of climate change, propelling a changing world order. The best of the old values may yet save the human race.
To those reading this 'soap box speech' detecting the many inaccuracies in it, I give my sincere apologies, for a flagging memory.
The most wonderful thing about that time was the pop music. "Pop" means popular as in peoples music. We had 'wild' parties just like teenagers nowadays with blaring heavy metal music - Deep Purple, Uriah Heap, Black Sabbath etc. and of course, singsong sessions. Men had long hair like Marc Bolan of T-Rex, and we thought the world was ours.
What we didn't think of was, that our parents and grand-parents had also gone through the same phase in their lives and knew about 'wild parties', possibly drugs and 'free love'. Yet, in their time society often frowned on freedom and labelled non-conformism immoral. We were very influenced by western culture then, as youth are today. Still, their fears of our going astray, were to some extent justified. Perhaps, they did not want us to repeat their errors. But, the human condition remains unchanged.
The 1960s and 70s, particularly, seemed to be a time of revolution, non-conformism was the in thing. A breakaway from the old world culture. It was a time when people decided to be individualistic, but in some ways unselfish. There were the hippy communes. The music reflected many good values but explored areas of uncertainty, like inhumanity and oppression, it was really quite philosophical. It spoke about the lack of social justice and suffering of people, of increasing materialism, countered by environmentalist singers like John Denver, social singers like Bob Dylan, Don McClean, Bob Marley, Simon and Garfunkel and many more who questioned establishment. It was a time of questioning.
R&B and Jazz also caught on, and Asia saw its own rise in the pop world. I remember well the popular Filipino singer, Freddie Aguila's hit - "Child". It was in English and Tagalog, and would bring tears to many eyes. Freddie Aguila was like the Bob Marley of Asia, having a slum background and weaving personal experiences and life around him into his music. There was the birth of "Asia Beat" and at 19, attended a gig in a local university on the invitation of friends who were students there.
It was at this time that protest songs like, "We will Overcome", "Blowing in the Wind", "American Pie", etc. achieved popularity. It became an era of protests. A time to challenge authoritarian establishment and ancient codes of morality. A peoples' cry for peace in the world, whilst governments waged a Cold War and interfered in other countries civil conflicts.
Sadly, the new morality that followed from the mid - 1980s and later, seems to have taken an opposite path where materialism became the order of the day, probably turning into super-materialism as it is today with wealth, elitism, hedonism and image, dictating the suppression of humane and community values. Individualism has turned to something more ugly, expressed in greed, gluttony, domination, and avarice, overriding consideration, civil consciousness and courtesy. The world seems to have come full circle, but hope still exists. The wheel has not reached it's starting point yet.
The irony of our current times is, that there may be another reversion to those good old days of noble values which have existed since time immemorial. The values of humanity, as old as the mountains, that some youth today are starting to pick up and re-examine. A push towards the protection of our human dignity.
Climate change is another omen of a changing world order, what will the world be like, if human kind survives that? People have to think of the future, and present day youth must take on the responsibility of knowing that the necessities for survival are found in giving rather than receiving only. They will have to sift through history to help human kind survive the upheaval of climate change, propelling a changing world order. The best of the old values may yet save the human race.
To those reading this 'soap box speech' detecting the many inaccuracies in it, I give my sincere apologies, for a flagging memory.
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