About Barriers, Dividers and Walls

I was reading an article in the NST this morning about the wall that divided Baghdad erected by the Americans. This is just another example of how callous and indifferent the occupying forces can be when it comes to other nations. How easily for them to divide a nation just like that. It seems history repeat itself. From the Berlin Wall, to the Palestinian Barriers, to the Baghdad Wall. All a form of repression.

Though repression can come in many guises whether it's physical or non-physical in nature. Looking back at American histories, you can see full well the repression of the Americans first upon the natives of the land, later upon the African slaves brought to America (this repression lasted for more than 200 years) . If we look further back in European history, the feudal system is also a form of repression, where the conditions of the serfs were no better than slaves.

Nearing the present time, another form of repression exist within the South African Apartheid regime, not to mention the Israel apartheid policy (I'll state my position clear on this one, the Israeli government is no better if not worst then the South African Apartheid regime, their whole nation state existence is base on the perceived rights of the Jewish race upon the land of Palestine).

A more subtle form of repressions is through education. By denying certain portion of history or skewing the facts of history thought in schools, some government repressed not only the right of children to judge by themselves according to the facts, but also those involved in the events. Examples are the Japanese text book omitting the facts of WWII and also the lack of references on the Communist participations in WWII in Malaya within school text.

There will always be a group of people who will try to repress others, whether through strength of arms, political and economical superiority, mass media and even education. Because of that it is not enough that we must always guard ourselves from the myopic view and flawed reasoning of these kind of people but we must also resist and fight all kind of repression. Only than can we emancipate our mind, free our souls and achieve understanding that transcend boundaries.

Taking the day off

Just came back from Kota Baru, Kelantan. The weather there was hot, extremely hot. Went there for a meeting in the morning and came back that very afternoon. Already not feeling well then. This morning, I got up and realized that I have a headache. I hate headaches..And I'm also feeling exhausted. I'm sure it's not enough rest. Since I've started studying by myself, I slept very late, around 12.30 am to 1.00 am. Still have to wake up early the next morning.

Well, I need my rest today. I have to go to Penang tomorrow.

Opportunities in Self-Improvement

So, it's been several days now that I started studying back again my programming. As luck would have it, I have to be fully dependent on the Internet for sources and references. Indeed the Net open up countless opportunities for you to improve yourselves. The question is whether or not you have the will to do it. Everybody can do it. Provided they have Net access.

What about those that have not access to the internet?. Well they can always try to find books to buy and broaden their knowledge or perhaps register with some institutions for part time learning. Oh!, before I forget, all of the above requires some amount of cash, which as usual the poor is without. Some of you would say that, the government have given a lot of incentives especially income tax deductions, for people to pursue the so called "life long learning". Well unfortunately the poor do not have enough income to start paying income taxes. Those that qualifies is pretty rich enough to buy lots of books. The rich can also deduct from their income taxes monies spent on furthering their studies. Wow ain't that great all those incentives for the wealthy.

Meanwhile the poor can continue being poor.