The Mandrake [Published Private Life]

Dear Blog@Friendster,

This will be my last posting to you. I am sorry I have to do this but, you gave me no choice. Since a few months ago, whenever I clicked the ‘SAVE’ button, you dropped down the page I’m viewing. I know it has got something to do with the proxy at my office. But, since I think I am the only one who underwent the problem, I decided to withdraw my postings from here.

It’s been a hard decision for me. But, life goes on, right? Okay, so, I guess this is good bye for the blog. I am still holding on to my account at Friendster.

Many earthquakes are now shaking the earth, especially in this sick country. The latest great one was yesterday. And it happened where the in the most populous island. Up to now, there have been 180 people found dead. The earthquake caused the tsunami.

Prior to this, there have been many earthquake, but with no report of damage or casualties. Are we still thinking that these are only natural disaster? If we are, then I guess it’s a fatal thinking.

In my view, disaster happen for 3 reasons: punishment, warning and test. Disaster happens as a punishment when a place is notorious as where bad things reside. It could be gambling location, prostitute, or free sex is practised as normal life, or other bad things you can normally of.

Secondly, disaster happens as a warning. I heard that Titanic was claimed could not be drowned. They said even God himself could not make it sink. Then, there was this bridge construction in Japan. They said it can hold the most destructive earthquake. Yet, it collapsed. So, warning comes in the form of disaster. Warning to human beings who have forgotten The Supreme One. Warning to human beings to those who forgot to bring their heads down.

Last one, disaster happens as a test. People say that they have faith to God. But, God wouldn’t let them saying things without being tested. Now that they suffer from the disaster, can they still hold on to the faith? I don’t know.

I can only pray that if this is the wrath of God, I beg thy Lord to spare me.

If this is the end of the day we’re living in, then we shall brace ourselves. Evidences are scattered all over the world: the disasters, the wars, the hate, the anger. It all leads to one: destruction.

I guess there’s a moral war in each of every sane person in this country. I claim myself to be sane. So, I’m battling with myself, what is right and what is wrong?

On the streets, people hit the red light. In government offices, corruption goes on like everyday’s business. Everywhere you turn you see something “wrong”. That’s right, I am putting the word in quote. Because I am now questioning what is right and what is wrong.

Let’s start with something simple. Littering. As a sane person, we would know that littering is wrong. For a simple reason, it will make mess. Another simple reason is that people might trip because of the garbage. For complicated reason, if one is littering, and others are also, the pile of garbage could clog the sewer system. Then flood comes. And they blame the nature.

Illegal logging. People cut trees as if they are free gifts from God. Then there is nothing to hold the water from the rain. Then the landslides. Then they blame the nature.

Now, going back to my question, what is right and what is wrong. In my definition, everything must conform to norms. Norm is a standard or model or pattern regarded as typical. By typical, it means exhibiting the qualities or characteristics that identify a group or kind or category.

So, let’s agree that norms are something that most people agree with. For example, if most people agree that you can hit the red light, although the law says that you must not, you virtually are right. Am I going crazy here? I guess not. I am just going on with my definition of what is right and what is wrong. I am not making any justification.

Let me make an example. If you are in a bar, and you order a glass of milk, people will turn to you with strange look. However, if you are in a school canteen, and you order a glass of beer, others will turn to you with strange look. So, wherever you are, the majority determines whether you are right or wrong.

Hence, allow me to conclude that if you are in our country, ride a motorbike, and you stop at a red light, you are wrong. If you hit the red light, and a car runs you over, the car is wrong, even though it comes from the green direction.
If you are in our country, and you are a government employee, and have not been bribed, you are wrong. If the media reports the bribery, the media is wrong.

If everybody does it why can’t we? What is right? What is wrong? Everything is “right” here.

Some time ago, I attended the graduation ceremony of my son. He will go to the elementary school next month.

As I sat there in the audience area, I watched him play the bass drum in the marching band. I forgot how big he was then. I forgot to watch him grow. All this time I was busy with myself. It seemed to feel like it’s only yesterday that I had him in my arms as a baby. I’m affraid if I close my eyes and open them again, I’d find myself in his wedding ceremony. Standing next to a beautiful girl.

I like to think that in the future, people can travel in time. And that I have gone through the tunnel and ended up where I am now. I must have attended my son’s wedding ceremony. Then, I suddenly felt (in the future sense, that is) homesick to the time where he was in his mother’s womb. The time when we liked to play classical music on my wife’s stomach.
Then, the time when he’s still a baby and liked to play funny face.

In short, I like to think that I am now living my memory. That these all have happened before. I am just running it all the way again. I want to enjoy every moment in it.

And now that he’s going to the elementary school, I guess the tape is going to run out. I guess I have to make use of my time. I have to be there for him everytime he needs a mentor.

Death Penalty: Do We Need It?

I saw this small corner article on online newspaper. It said that the State has yet planned to abolish death penalty. Interesting.

Let’s agree first on what death sentence is. I am referring to Wikipedia: “Capital punishment, or the death penalty, is the execution of a convicted criminal by the State as punishment for crimes known as capital crimes or capital offenses.” Capital here means head. So, it means to lose one’s head. Nowadays, types of death penalty vary. But, the idea remains the same: to execute a convict.

Is that wise? Removing a soul out of a human being?

Let’s look at the fact that 87 countries and territories have abolished the death penalty for all crimes, however 11 countries apply death penalty only for exceptional crimes such as wartime crimes. Types of execution also vary: beheading, electrocution, hanging, lethal injection, shooting, stoning. Ouch!

Death penalty still applies in our country.

Do we need it? If one got caught stealing a hen, can he be subject to death penalty? I guess all countries will agree that the person should not be dead for what he has done. Okay, so what if there is a serial killer, killing bitches and all. Or there is a person who kills a member of family of others. Can they all be subject to death penalty?

The USA Amnesty has been crying out to abolish death penalty. Ironically, the country itself is still applying death penalty (http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0777460.html). We agree that everyone has the right to life. But, how about a convict person who has killed someone else? Can we agree that he has the right to life? If so, one can still live while he’s going frenzy killing everyone else in the world? Who has this bright idea?

Do we tolerate? And why? In some points, I guess death penalty can be useful. One, the convict is being released from his/ her obligation from the world. He has no obligation to take revenge to those who has put him/ her in prison. Second, the State prison, whose operational fund is being paid by innocent citizens -who, one of them, could be the victim of the convict- can save a lot of money from acommodating the prisoner, paying for his/ her food, etc.

I guess there is much more advantage to death penalty. Why bother keeping a sinner soul? Are human rights supposed to keep sinner’s life?

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment
http://web.amnesty.org/pages/deathpenalty-facts-eng
http://library.thinkquest.org/28172/ddandhr.htm