Islam-Christianity-Jews, problems-issues

I want to put down my thoughts on Islam. I'm here not to compare faiths, nor do I take sides, nor do I defend one over another. But here we go :)

Over and over again, I hear Muslims defending their religion saying that "Islam is a religion of peace", it desires peace and has characteristics of such and such.

And living in Malaysia, I learn about Islam in a few subjects (history is school, TITAS in university). No doubt, I learn that Islam is good, pure, desires peace, tolerent, 'open minded' ...and how pristine Islam is. Well, I'm not saying it's not. I myself have some Muslim friends who are quite open to ideas, thoughts, non radical and trustworthy, great friends. BUT like what Mahatma Ghandi said about Christianity [ Jesus' character is ideal, but not the Christians ] , I'm saying the same for most Muslims, NOT ALL.

Well, to begin with, the Roman Catholic Church has been extending their hands of friendship for many many years now. What the church has been promoting is DIALOGUE, asking for freedom of religion and reciprocal treatment of the faithful.

What I can't understand is why the Muslim community isn't doing anything to advance and why cannot give reciprocal treatments to Christians living in 'Islamic' countries. Well, Islam do recognise Christ as their prophet, therefore worshippers of the ONE & SAME GOD, ALLAH...YAHWEH,ADONAI and so on, so forth. So why not cooperate for the common good? Talk about tolerance and open-mindedness.

I see a troublesome, problematic times ahead [though it has been problematic since the crusades]. Here in my backyard, the Roman Catholics have to fight in court to uphold the usage of the word "Allah" which means Almighty God. This word is Arabic in origin, and has been used by the Arabs, Christians and Muslims alike, without any fuss. BUT in Malaysia, the MALAY-MUSLIMS want to make exclusive the word "Allah". I ask this question, why? Why do we need to make GOD exclusive to ones' religion when God is actually one and the same for the 3 Abrahamic faith [Christians, Jews, Muslims]?

On the issue of reciprocal, in the west, Muslims are protected by law, given equality, and full freedom of religion. They demand for it, yet in other parts of the world, Muslims are not moving towards that path of reciprocal even though many nations have been tirelessly petitioning for it. Talk about tolerance and open-mindedness.

Most recently, there was an issue by the Islamic council. Many of us realise that huge problems arise when conversion into Islam and out of Islam takes place. I believe that our Prime Minister had a great idea to ease the tension that is building up. He suggested that the candidate that wished to convert into Islam go through a formality step of informing their families first before the conversion takes place. This is done so that if the candidate dies a Muslim, problems with families fighting over their dead relatives' body would not occur. This formality step will NO DOUBT ease tension, and cut down problems within the non-muslim - muslim community. I seriously believe that this step is very good indeed. BUT some idiots have to say no to it-saying its not necessary. BUT COME ON!!! Its much better to prevent such issues from arising again!!!
Talk about tolenrance and open-mindedness.

On terrorism, I clearly know that Islam does not propage terrorism, like what Osama would like us to believe what Islam is. However, I believe that the Muslim community worldwide is not doing all they can to stop this negative notion of their religion. When the Pope Benedict XVI quoted a text from the middle ages, which clearly does not reflect his thoughts, the whole Muslim community rioted WITHOUT EVEN READING THE TEXT properly. When the caricature of prophet Muhammad was drawn, Muslims worldwide rioted. When the Dutch politician released the video, Fitna, that "portrayed Islam", the Muslim world boycott the Dutch.

But what Muslims missed is the lesson learnt. Instead of making a havoc out of things, what Muslims should work towards is to tackle the problem at the grassroot itself. To wash away terrorism, to wash out Osama, to wash out violence in our daily lives... It is only in changing our attitudes and values can we show to the world what our religion is all about.

STOP THE FIGHTING
STOP THE CRUSADES BETWEEN RELIGIONS
STOP THE RACIAL ATTACKS
END THE MISERY

Shaun^^

Kids say the weirdest things^^

Mother: Why did you get such a low mark on that test?
Junior: Because of absence.
Mother: You mean you were absent on the day of the test?
Junior: No, but the kid that sits next to me was.


Teacher: Why are you late?
Webster: Because of the sign.
Teacher: What sign?
Webster: The one that says "School Ahead, Go Slow"


Teacher: What is the chemical formula for water?
Bongani: "HIJKLMNO" !!!
Teacher: What are you talking about?
Bongani: Yesterday, you said H to O !!


SPREAD THE SMILES, MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

this post is a tribute to Young Visionaries

islam to conquer rome?

I came across this post in http://www.catholic.org/ . I understand that this post is talking about super-power countries and their influence in the world. However, what strikes me most is the usage of metaphores by the Jordanian leader. While, in the past, when the Pope quoted something a phrase that does not reflects his thought, or when the Dutch politician, Geert Wilders made a video entitled Fitna, the whole MUSLIM world made a fuss out of things. BUT now, why the HELL must this MUSLIM leader do the same? All he wants to do is to instill hatred towards Christianity (Catholicism - which makes a large part of Christians). I will write further on this matter in another post.


Jordanian: ' Islam will conquer Rome'
5/13/2008
Catholic News Agency (http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/)
“Islamic lands that were occupied by the enemies will once again become Islamic...We proclaim that we will conquer Rome, like Constantinople was conquered once, and as it will be conquered again."

DENVER, CO (CNA) - A former Jordanian minister has seized upon commentary about the decline of Western power, saying on Arabic-language television that Islam will conquer Rome. He went on to say that Spain is an Islamic land that should be retaken and that America has begun to realize its “end is near.” The remarks by former Jordanian Minister of Religious Endowment Ali Al-Faqir were broadcast on Al-Aqsa TV on May 2. According to a transcript prepared by the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), Al-Faqir said Palestine from the Jordan to the Mediterranean is an Islamic land. “Spain – Andalusia – is also the land of Islam,” he said. “Islamic lands that were occupied by the enemies will once again become Islamic. Furthermore, we will reach beyond these countries, which are lost at one point. We proclaim that we will conquer Rome, like Constantinople was conquered once, and as it will be conquered again. “America has occupied, thundered, and foamed with rage, and proclaimed, like Pharaoh, ‘I am your supreme God,’ but it will come to its end, and they have begun to realize that their end is near,” he said. Al-Faqir then alluded to commentary about the declining prominence of America and Europe. “We have begun to read in American and European newspapers that ‘our glory is on the wane, and there is nothing we can do about it,’” Al-Faqir said, according to the MEMRI transcript. “This morning on Al-Jazeera TV, I saw American scientists and strategic theoreticians, who said that America would soon come to its end. They said it before about the USSR, and, indeed, it has come to its end, and we say now that America and the EU will come to an end, and only the rising force of Islam will prevail.” American and European pundits and commentators have recently discussed the perceived decline in American power, especially economic power. Writing in the Los Angeles Times, national security columnist Fred Kaplan said President George W. Bush’s “follies” had accelerated the decline of American influence. “For half a century, we had been a super-power," Kaplan wrote. "Now we're upper-middle management in a world without bosses.” Parag Khanna, a research fellow at the New America Foundation, wrote in the New York Times that the U.S. is “competing—and losing—in a geopolitical marketplace,” arguing that globalization has eroded American primacy. Fareed Zakaria, editor of Newsweek International, published excerpts from his new book in the May 12 issue of Newsweek. Zakaria argued that a “seismic shift” in power and attitudes has transported the world into a post-American phase where the United States will not have the vastly unequal influence it has enjoyed in recent decades. Other writers argue that American economic and cultural dominance will continue. The American Enterprise Institute’s economic policy director Kevin Hassett has advised readers to “ignore the obituaries.”


Why the use of religion - has to do with super-powers?

Shaun^^

my comments on the statement of Malacca's Chief Minister

Here below is an extract from the blog of the Chief Minister of Malacca, Mohd. Ali Rustam, and below is my comments on his thoughts.

Pengantin lama, pengantin baru

BEBERAPA hari lepas kerajaan Selangor dan Perak menonjolkan ‘keprihatinan’
mereka dengan mengumumkan pemberian bantuan kepada rakyatnya. Di Perak
misalnya, kerajaan negeri bercadang mahu menaikkan sewa tanah bagi kampung-kampung baru di negeri itu.

Tetapi mereka lupa bahawa semua yang dilakukan itu sudah dilaksanakan oleh kerajaan BN. Di Melaka sendiri, perkara tersebut sudah lama dilaksanakan iaitu semenjak saya mengambil alih sebagai Ketua Menteri. Jika dahulu lease tanah ialah 30 atau 60 tahun, tetapi kini semuanya 99 tahun. Saya sudah mengambil tindakan lebih awal.

Begitu juga dengan langkah kerajaan Perak yang membayar RM1 untuk rumah ibadah, juga sudah dilaksanakan di Melaka iaitu selepas pilihan raya umum 2004 lalu. Apa yang mereka buat semuanya BN sudah lakukan. Cuma kerajaan baru, jadi
mereka baru hendak sebut. Macam pengantin baru, kita pengantin lama buat seperti itu juga, cuma pengantin lama orang tidak peduli.

Begitu juga dengan rungutan guru agama. Saya percaya guru agama di Melaka adalah yang terbaik di Malaysia. Gaji mereka dari RM1,089 hingga RM2000. Di Pulau Pinang mereka mendapat RM500 dan kerajaan baru menambahRM50 lagi. Apa ada pada RM50 sedangkan di Melaka sudah membuat penambahan sejak 3-4 tahun lalu. Rakyat tidak tahu sebab itu tidak ditayangkan di dalam TV.

Oleh sebab Lim Guan Eng pengantin baru, maka dia bagi RM50 pun boleh keluar TV. Tetapi RM500 ditambah RM50 baru RM550. Sedangkan di Melaka, guru agama yang serupa mendapat RM1,089 hingga RM2000. Kalau kelulusan SPM tetapi tidak
mendapat sijil penuh kerana gagal dalam Bahasa Malaysia, mereka masih mendapat RM750, jauh lebih baik dari guru agama yang Guan Eng naikkan RM50 ataupun di
Kelantan yang diperintah Pas sejak beberapa tahun lalu, yang elaun guru agamanya hanya RM500.

Tetapi itu semua tidak keluar TV sebab saya pengantin lama tetapi pengantin baru, naik RM50 pun keluar TV. Kalau itu semua ditayangkan, mana lebih baik sama ada BN di Melaka, Pas di Kelantan atau DAP di Pulau Pinang yang baru sebulan tubuh
kerajaan.

Inilah nasib pengantin lama…

• Firstly, the CM is wrong to compare the 2 states as we cannot compare an apple to an orange.
• Secondly, if the CM is so proud to say that it was Barisan Nasional's idea, then WHY THE HELL DIDN'T BARISAN NASIONAL IMPLEMENT THOSE POLICIES WHEN PENANG WAS UNDER BARISAN NASIONAL? Now all they do is to complain, compare, argue and accuse the opposition party for trying to run their states.

signing off,

shaun^^

my days

Foo Cheong trying out... lolz...before going to Poland. But he decided that itz not working...lolz.. look below to see the jacket he bought.

TUESDAY
So yea... I finally am done with my exams....at least for this semester :P ... my last paper was on Tuesday. Immediately after my exams, Lydia and I went to a shopping (somewhere - don't remember the name! lolz) as they are having stock clearance of some branded goods. Then after that, we went to pick Eunice,An Chee, Mandy and Jessica up. We headed towards One Utama for more shopping... hehe. We spent few hours there eating and shopped for food. It was mostly because on Wednesday, the gals were going to Taman Negara. I wanted to go with them but just too bad, I had Management Team interview on Thursday. So after hours of food hunting, high and low, we decided to go back home as we were all tired. While at home, Eunice, Mandy and Jessica looked through Friendster contact photos reminiscing about the past, how friends have changed their looks, and who has coupled up and who's not. I fell asleep while they were chit chatting. I was damn tired as I only slept for about an hour in the morning before the exam. (some friends came over to Lydia's place to have discussion). So yea, I fell asleep and they waited for me to wake up before going to Paandi's for dinner. Lydia cycled her bicycle worth rm2000+ , while the rest of us walked. At Paandi's, I brought Lydia's bike in the shop as she did not have a chain to chain up her bike. The workers at Paandi's were like all staring and making noise at me but i couldn't care less. I just brought in the bike and placed it as a corner and i think its worth about rm2500 :P Later on the workers were all staring and admiring the bike to the point that one of them even came to me asking me about the bike. They all assumed that it was my bike... :P and I said that it was worth rm2500. After dinner, we went back and we just sat down talking and talking and talking until early morning.

WEDNESDAY
Was basically a boring day. I was in my room most of the time... sleeping and resting as I wanted to recuperate from not sleeping during exam times. I guess thats a mechanism for all of us right...lolz... post exam mechanism^^. In the evening, I went for evening mass and then waited for Melvin to fetch me. We were supposed to head towards The Curve. However, he came late... I dont know why... Horng Cherng tagged along. Since he came late, there was a traffic built up heading towards Bandar Utama. So we decided to have our dinner at Taman Megah (Ming Tian) instead. Horng Cherng ate the most... lolz... and hmmm .... we didn't make it to The Curve but it was ok :P after dinner, once again I was tired. So basically laze around in my room as I was still tired.

THURSDAY
Woke up about 11 a.m. and get myself ready for AIESEC Management Team interview. Interview was FABULOUS, AWESOME & FUN :p My interview was at 1 p.m. After my interview, all of us went to Mc D's at Section 14. Foo Cheong had to go the the Public Bank to do some transaction BUT he forgot to bring his NRIC. haizz... We got summoned rm100 for not putting up the time card (from MBPJ). (@@) then we went back to AIESEC office at 3 p.m. Chee Guan had his interview. I met Prudence and Jolene after that. We were there for a meeting at 3.30 p.m. but Foo Cheong didn't turn up until 4.30 p.m. He went to MBPJ to pay the summon and went to the bank once again to get the transaction done. We had quite an intense meeting till bout 6.30 p.m. It was intense as it was quite new to us, the Management Team. We then headed to MV to help Foo Cheong get some last minute shopping done. BUT just before we left, a bird decided to have its DROPPINGS DROPPED ON ALIF'S HEAD :p lolz..he then washed it with shampoo on the road.lolz. Then we headed off to Strawberry Field Cafe to meet the AIESEC Malaysia Committees ( all UM'ers except Daryl from TBS). It was basically a meet to forge good ties between the Local Committee and the Member Committee. Finally, we went home after dinner.

So, thats basically what I did, what I busy doing and will be busy doing in future :P

my shoutout goes to FRIENDS who are sitting for their midterm examinations :P and those graduating... GOOD LUCK!

FOO CHEONG!! HAVE A GREAT TIME IN KRAKOW, POLAND!!! LCUM's GONNA MISZ YA!

signing off,

shaun^^

paradox by george carlin

The PARADOX of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways , but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness. We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, LOVE too seldom, and hate too often. We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but NOT better things. We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less. These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but MORE divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete... Remember; SPEND some TIME with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side. Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all MEAN it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you. Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that PERSON WILL NOT BE THERE ALWAYS.Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.AND ALWAYS REMEMBER: Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.