The Mandrake [Published Private Life]

The title resembles to a movie title. As a matter of fact, it is. It is starred by Bruce Willis and Alec Baldwin. Now, why would I want to bring up a movie into my web log? Bear with me for a few minutes.

The fact that the movie is starred by Bruce Willis makes me want to watch the movie on the local TV station played last night. I am expecting to see some action movie. Some shouting and scolding which are, you know, so ‘Bruce Willis’. As a matter of fact, I got that from this movie.

Amazingly, most of the time in the movies is consumed by the autistic boy. I’m not saying it’s a negative thing. It’s just that it’s so nice to see how Arthur Jeffries (the character Bruce Willis played) handled the boy patiently. He was so caring and lovable with the boy. The fact that the boy’s parents were also loving and caring -they were shot to death in the first scene- must also be paid attention to.

The plot in the movie makes the movie not so boring. It’s about NSA thing. The autistic boy, as I understand from the movie, gets everything through as oppose to nothing gets through. There was this chase from the assassin. There was this bluffing discussion with the top person of the NSA, Nicholas Kudrow (the character played by Alec Baldwin). It all adds up the tense. There was also this sexy chick who Arthur met in some coffee shop (I bet it’s Starbuck Coffee). She’s like an additional to the movie. Yes, she played a role but not that important. She’s like the caretaker of the boy and Arthur. She provided shelter to both of them. She wouldn’t mind losing her job because of helping others (real American, yay!). I forgot what happen to her in the end.

Anyway, the movie adds a nice touch to the ending. It’s where the autistic boy, Simon sat in a classroom and drawing. Then Arthur came to visit and first met the teacher. He would like to give some presents to Simon. He said to the teacher Simon would probably not remember him and that he asked the teacher to give the presents to Simon.

The teacher wouldn’t mind but suggested that Arthur give the presents himself. So, Arthur approached Simon. He greeted Simon. There was no response. Arthur put the presents, a stack of puzzle book -Simon’s favorite- in front of him. “You like puzzle, don’t you?” Arthur said in a calm and warm way. Simon take the book. “How are you doing, partner?” Arthur greeted. Arthur responded. But his eyes were looking somewhere else. Arthur said, “Simon, look into my eyes” and pointing his index and middle fingers to his eyes. Simon looked and recognised who the man he was talking to. He got up and hold Arthur. It was as if Simon said thank you for taking care of him all this time and being protective and caring. A nice touch to an action movie.

I’d say this is interesting movie. It teaches us how to handle autistic boys. The government secret thing seems just side story. Bruce Willis played his character well. Don’t forget the nice touch at the end.

Firstly, allow me to send my deepest grieve to those who suffer from the earthquake in Yogya. This artcile does not tend to give propaganda in that unfortunate event. I just see a horrific coincidence in that event. I’ll leave the judgement to you.

Okay, here we go.
I follow this mailing list for bloggers. There was this posting on invitation to fight the anti-pornographic law on 26 May 2006. Here’s a copy of the email in its original language:

—– Original Message —–
From: MADIA
To: MADIA INFO
Sent: Friday, May 26, 2006 9:03 AM
Subject: [madia-info] Pawai Budaya Bhinneka Tunggal Ika

Subject: [mediacare] Pawai Budaya Bhinneka Tunggal Ika

*Sebarkan Undangan ini kepada seluruh relasi Anda:

Teman-teman yang baik,

Kebhinnekaan masyarakat Indonesia yang terdiri dari berbagai suku, etnis, agama, dan cara hidup berbangsa yang merupakan kekayaan kita terancam musnah jika Rancangan Undang-undang Anti Pornografi dan Pornoaksi (RUU APP) disahkan. Keberadaan RUU APP akan memusnahkan kekayaan tersebut demi sebuah kepentingan penyeragaman yang tidak berakar pada budaya nusantara. RUU APP juga akan menghancurkan sendi-sendi dasar Bangsa, Pancasila, dan Bhinneka Tunggal Ika, sehingga membahayakan eksistensi bangsa dan Negara Indonesia. RUU APP juga tidak memberikan perlindungan kepada kaum perempuan tetapi justru menyudutkan perempuan dengan menempatkannya sebagai penyebab utama bejatnya moral bangsa.
Oleh sebab itu, sebagai anak bangsa yang mencintai Indonesia kita wajib menolak RUU APP demi menjaga keutuhan dan keanekaragaman budaya Negara Kesatuan Republik Indonesia.
Forum Yogya untuk Keberagaman (YUK!) dan Aliansi Bhinneka Tunggal Ika mengajak seluruh elemen masyarakat Indonesia untuk menentang RUU APP melalui "PAWAI BUDAYA BHINNEKA TUNGGAL IKA" yang akan kita laksanakan pada;
Hari/Tanggal : Kamis, 1 Juni 2006
Waktu : Pukul 14.00 WIB (tepat!)
Rute : Universitas Gadjah Mada - TUGU- Monumen

Serangan Oemoem - Alun-alun Utara Keraton Yogyakarta
Dalam pawai budaya yang akan diisi dengan "PIDATO KEBUDAYAAN GUSTI KANJENG RATU HEMAS KERATON YOGYAKARTA" di Alun-alun Utara Keraton Yogyakarta ini akan menampilkan berbagai kesenian tradisional dan kontemporer dari berbagai penjuru nusantara. Dari komunitas hobby penyepeda sampai motor besar, dari kelompok marching band dan cheerleader sampai prajurit Keraton Yogyakarta, dari komunitas Hip-hop sampai kelompok seni Jathilan, dan lain-lain. Di samping itu, pawai ini merupakan pawai yang meriah dan tontonan yang menarik untuk masyarakat dengan iring-iringan puluhan andong, becak, sepur kelinci, dan lain-lain.

Ajaklah kawan-kawan dan seluruh anggota komunitas Anda dalam pawai budaya ini dengan mengenakan pakaian daerah, kostum kesenian, dan/atau aksesoris bernuansa unik.

Konfirmasikan keikutsertaan Anda ke YUK! (0274) 376.114 atau 0813-9202-3195 atau forum_yuk@yahoo.com Salam, Forum YUK! dan Aliansi Bhinneka Tunggal Ika

forum Yogya untuk Keberagaman (YUK!)
Taman Budaya Yogyakarta
Jl. Sriwedani 1 Yogyakarta
e-mail: forum_yuk@yahoo.com

And here’s the English translation.

—– Original Message —–
From: MADIA
To: MADIA INFO
Sent: Friday, May 26, 2006 9:03 AM
Subject: [madia-info] Carnival of United Various Culture

Subject: [mediacare] Carnival of United Various Culture

*Please spread this invitation to all your relatives:

Dear Friends,

Diversity of Indonesian society consists of many ethnics, races, religions, and way of life that adds to the richness of our culture. They are threatened to extinction if the Anti Pornographic and Pornaction (RUU APP) is to be enforced. The existance of RUU APP will destroy that culture richness just for the sake of uniforming that does not base on the country’s culture. RUU APP will also destroy fundamentals of the nation, Pancasila (the country’s five base), and diverse culture. Therefore, it endangers existance of the nation and the country of Indonesia. RUU APP also does not give protection to female, instead it positions them as the main cause of the immorality of the nation.
Therefore, as the citizen of the nation who loves this country, we are obligated to defy RUU APP to maintain the integrity and the diversity of the culture of this country.

The Yogya’s Forum for Diversity (YUK!) and alliance of culture diversity invite all society elements of Indonesia to defy RUU APP through the carnival of united various culture which is to be held on;
Date : Thursday, 1 June 2006
Time : 14.00 WIB (sharp!)
Route : Universitas Gadjah Mada - TUGU- Monumen

Serangan Oemoem - Alun-alun Utara Keraton Yogyakarta
The culture carnival will be filled with "SPEECH ON CULTURE BY H.E. RATUE HEMAS YOGYAKARTA PALACE" in the hall north of the Yogyakarta palace. They will peform various traditional and contemporary arts from many parts of the country. From community of bikers to big bikers, from marching band group and cheerleader to soldiers of the Yogyakarta Palaca, from community Hiphop to community Jathilan art, etc. Besides that, the carnival will be a merry one and interesting for communities with lots of andong, becak, sepur kelinci, etc.

Please bring along your friends and all members of your community in this carnival culture using traditional customes, arts customes, and or other uniqe accessories.

Confirm your participation to YUK! (0274) 376.114 or 0813-9202-3195 or forum_yuk@yahoo.com
Regards, Forum YUK! dan Aliansi Bhinneka Tunggal Ika

forum Yogya untuk Keberagaman (YUK!)
Taman Budaya Yogyakarta
Jl. Sriwedani 1 Yogyakarta
e-mail: forum_yuk@yahoo.com

I only replied one line. Essentially, I asked whether the person who forwarded the message has looked through the disputed RUU APP. Because, in my opinion, having read the porn laws, it is stated that the RUU APP ackonwledges the diversity of the culture. Hence, it won’t ban people from wearing their traditional customes. But, no, these people are being hard-headed.

By the way, that was on 26 May 2006. Then, on 27 May 2006. Very early in the morning, there was earthquake. It was shaking Yogyakarta hard enough that, until this article is being written, the death toll has reached to 5000. Some would say, that it was only natural disaster. It has got nothing to do with people’s attitude. I am completely dumbfounded if anyone would speak of this. Again, I must emphesise that I am truly sorry for the lost of the people. But, this event must be taken as our eye-opener. We must now introspect ourselves. What if, the moment you are reading this article, the earth split. And you die. And you are still arguing that it’s only natural disaster. You blame God. By that time, you only have to argue with the Supreme one. See if you can win the argument with Him.

I guess they won’t go with the carnival after all. I just see this event too coincidental for me. I just wish God would accept the soul of the lost ones.

Okay, time for a quiz. You are a citizen of a country whose former president is very old, say, 70-80 years old. He is now in very sick condition. In the past, the former president was corrupted. However, things were very good back then. You can buy everything at reasonable price.

Things are completely different now. Though, corruption is still going on, but the power to buy things are decreasing. Back then, when he still ruled you could buy gas for only Rp.700 per litre. Now, it has gone 7 folds! All in only 8 years.

Now, question: if you are the citizen of the country, would you agree that this former president must be put on trial for the past mistake?
I wouldn’t agree to that.

The current government and the previous one tend to blame the corruption this former president had done in the past. How could they blame him? They have been given 8 years to put what’s wrong into the right order? And what have they done? Corruption is even worse than when the former president still ruled.

The college students are on a strike right now. They are protesting the release of the former president from the trial. What do they now? They are still in junior high school when the former president still ruled. All they know is that this former president had done wrong things in the past. And that he must be put on trial.

Little do they know that there are more worse curropter hanging arround out there. And they have done nothing to chase those rats.

So, my answer is yes. We must release the former president from the trial. We must appreciate for what he had done in the past. He was the one who found the regional organisation in the South East Asian region. He was the one who succeeded to make the market stable. He was the one who made this country respected (unlike now, mind you).

I missed the time when this country was still respected. I guess it takes a lot of power to give someone, huh.

This is rather sensitive case, I know. But looking at the situation in the country, I’d say things are not going so good. There is this law on porns which rule the way women how to dress and other thing which are related to porns. At one side, the women are protesting this draft regulation. They say that it is ridiculuous for the government to rule how a woman should dress. On the other side, there are people who agree to such regulations. They say porn is like a sale at the mall here. You can find FHM, Playboy, etc. almost like you want to find public toilet: it’s there and everybody knows where it is, yet no one else needs to know what happens inside.

What disappointed me was these women have been propagated by the media. The media says that the porn regulations would rule the traditional customs, which, almost all of them show parts of women’s body. This is not true, actually. The regulation acknowledges the variety of the nation’s culture. It won’t ever ban such custom. It would be ridiculuous. Just as ridiculous as these women who are protesting such regulation.

They say they have the right to their own body. Of course. Well, we have the right to look at whatever we would like to see, right? So, women should not protest if they are wearing mini skirt and tank top and many craving-for-more eyes undress (so to say) them. At one side, we have to behave, while on the other side they are wearing something that could arouse men. It’s not fair, really.

How to draw what is porn and what is not? Is that a trick question? Man who says that he is not aroused by looking at a pair of woman’s naked leg is prone to be, either lying or not paying attention; or, gay. Man who says that he is not interested in the cleavage of a woman shown behind her gown is prone to be, either lying or not paying attention; or gay.

Normal man likes b**bs. Normal man likes woman’s pair of naked legs. Normal man likes woman’s body. It comes naturally. There’s no arguing about it. But, why would the women say they have the right to their own body, and wear mini skirt and tank top? Some men would restrain themself from looking and enjoying women’s body because the religion says so. Some would go too far and forget about what the religion says and… well.. disaster.

Let me give you a fictious story. I got this from a friend.

There was this drop dead beautiful girl, wearing mini skirt and tank top. She walked into a drugstore. While she was at the counter, a man was watching her, from head to toe. He looked at her as if she were a piece of meat. He walked closer to the girl and asked, “How much is it for an hour?” The girl was shocked and angry to this question. “Who do you think I am? I am not a s**t! How dare you!” The girl scolded. “I am sorry, but you look like one.” The man defended. “How I dress is up to me. You shouldn’t look at all at me in the first place. It’s my right!” The girl scolded again. “Yeah, well, it’s my right too to look at whatever I want. And it’s my right too to think whoever person as whatever.” The story hangs there.

Women scream outloud about the human rights. But, do they know anything about it? Do they know that one’s right is not limitless. It is limited by other’s right. The others’ right are to be free from terror. And I’d say porn is terror. It can come to your home, under your bed, or in your cubicle.

Women’s right? I agree with that. I should also propose death penalty to rapist. There should be zero tolerant over men who conduct such crime. On the other hand, women must also help themselves and wear something proper. Remember, man will always like woman. It is by nature.

Two days ago, the radio hostess told her audiences that there was a Metro Mini (the city’s public bus) hit by an express train. The train shattered the bus into pieces. The crash was so hard that 6 (some sources said 5, or 9) were dead and that some of them had their bodies’ parts dettached.

And why did it happen? Pretty simple, actually. The bus drove crossing the portal of the railway when it’s already blocking the way because an express train would come. Unfortunately, there was another public vehicle blocking its way. And that, BANG!

This was not the first time we heard and knew such news. We were not surprised anymore. Catastrophy has lost its charm of impressing us and shocking us. Then, I start to wonder: what happened to us? Have we lost our sense of humanity?

Then I start to analyze. First, why did the driver run over the portal? Was he being chased by police? Nope. He hadn’t done anything wrong before. Then, what’s the motivation of risking his life and his passengers’? I bet the economy situation. He wasn’t paid on salary. Rather, he’s paid on the fare he could gain in a day, subject to cut by the owner of the bus and also buying gasoline, etc. And, he probably had family to support.

I’d say the root of the problem is more than just disciplinary action. Why do people violate rules nowadays? Even when breaking the rules could cost their own life? I’d say that people do not trust the guy who made the rules, the laws and the regulations. They have seen corrupted guy got loose easily. They have seen convicted guy being sentenced in jail, yet live a life like a king. To add things ugly, they have to pay the fuel, whose price has been increased like crazy, for daily operations. And that they have to buy their daily needs, whose prices, in effect to the fuel price, have been increased also.

Yet, we’re still reading and looking at this horrible news. Too many have we seen people died. All because of the lousiness of the top people who couldn’t handle the situation. They only REACT to such situation. They are too incompetence to ANTICIPATE the catastrophy. Plane’s been going down, because they use old planes. Crime rate’s been increasing, because they can get away with it. Do we still need the government? All they do is only increasing price, chasing taxes… I can do that. No need a Doctor from some educational institute. Their hands have been tainted with the blood of these people who are helpless in dreaming about a good life.

“The United States comes not to conquer, but to free, to end tyranny“. More or less, that’s what is said on the pole in front of the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. How nice. America comes to free countries which are ruled by tyranny. One of the proof they’ve given is Iraq. We can see now that the former leader of the country is now on trial. He is defenseless. Take that, you tyranny president. But, wait. On what charge did he sent on trial?

Oh, oh, oh,… I remember now. He was accused of possessing Weapon of Mass Destruction (WMD). Yeah, yeah… that’s it. So, did US find it? Until now? Nope. But, they manage to kill insurgents -as well as women and children. And what’s that? Did I see US company drills Iraq oil? Side effect mission?

Okay, so Saddam is now detained for being a tyranny. He killed many innocent people. But, there’s another leader of a country who had done the same thing. Can the US send their own president on trial? I mean, his trooper has been killing people like crazy. Defense attack? Against pebble? They shoot at suspect suicide bomber? Don’t you think they do suicide bombing because they’re there?

The US has been safer since September 11, 2001? What was it like before then? War in the US? Attacks from many countries? Did Iraq attack the US? Pre-emptive attack? So, when I see an ugly guy, I might as well hit him on the face before he hit me? What the…

A new dangerous country is now arising. Iran has declared itself as a nuclear country. Nope. They didn’t declare that they have nuclear weapon. But, with that kind of amount of nuclear, they can swith their nuclear facility into a weapon. Who got annoyed by this? The Tyranny Ender. They’ve been ragingly lobbying the United Nations to put sanction to Iran. Hey, now on what charge? They don’t have the weapon!

Why not put sanction on other country which is obviously in possession of nuclear weapon? Oh, I forgot. The country is the US alliance. Sorry.

So, why bother attacking Iran? The Tyranny Ender needs to settle things in Iraq first. Show some responsibilities. They said that they’re going to end the tyranny. Everything will be safe. Well, I’d say delay stabbing claws in other countries. Delay tyranny ender mission. Show to the world that they are really the world police. That they are just. That they are fair. And that they don’t apply double standard.

Marriage seems to be losing its importance nowadays. I’ve seen married couples divorced leaving children in broken home. I’ve also seen married couples with same sex. Is marriage considered a joke now? Something that you can do instantly and then forget it just like that?

Ironically, I saw this show on The Simpsons, the most famous dysfunctional American family. This specific edition was about marriage. It’s when Marge Simpson was being approached by Moe -the owner of Moe’s bar, where Hommer Simpson likes to hang out and drinks beer. To keep the story short, Marge and Moe were on the plane. I forgot why they were on the plane, but Hommer was speeding on the highway and got pulled over by policemen. Fortunately, they knew Hommer and asked why he was speeding. He said he’s going to save his marriage. So, the policemen helped Hommer and made way for him (romantic, huh?) to the airport.
The story continued to where this one policeman helped Hommer chase the taxiing plane using ladder with wheel. Hommer managed to get on the plane. Don’t ask how. It’s too gross.

Anyway, on the plane, Hommer wanted Marge to go with him. Moe, being a pain in the neck, said that he loved her and that Hommer didn’t know anything about Marge. When asked about her favorite color (or favorite something, I don’t remember) Hommer didn’t know. Moe did. So, Hommer reluctantly went and left them alone in agony.

However, Marge said that she didn’t love Moe. He loved Hommer. So, eventually, Marge was still with Hommer and that she loved him.

So, the moral of the story? Isn’t that obvious? Even if there’s someone else along the way in a marriage, you must stick with your partner.

There’s also this celebrity couples. They’ve been married for 9-10 years. They have 3 children. The oldest son is going to go to Elementary School. The husband is going to divorce his wife on the base that she conducted abortion besides the fact that the husband has undergone vasectomy operation.

What’s going on to this world now? Are these events meant to occur as a joke? So that people who live together can say, “See what happen to married people?” Why can’t they stick together? I think they have lost the basic thing in marriage. In fact, the basic thing for relationship to everyone: TRUST.

Amazing, come to think of it. A dysfunctional family can stick together (I know it’s a movie and that there’s a lot of stake to bet in the business) but in real life couples can’t. Why don’t people think twice before sentencing divorcement? Why can’t they look in the eyes of their couple and see if they can be trusted? Or they don’t their couples well? Even from the beginning? Why can’t they look in the eyes of their children. The children they bring to this world. The children who have no choice of chosing who their parents are and that they have to accept that they have bad parents. Look into their eyes who need the love of mother and father.

Hollywood movies play a role in this, also. Have you been noticing Hollywood movies in which children live with their father or mother only? That their father or mother has divorced or live separately. And that the father or mother visits his/ her children regularly? It seems that Hollywoord tries to teach that it is a normal American family life nowadays.

People must remember that when they got married, God is there and He blesses the marriage. That’s why, although divorcement is allowed, it is not condoned by Him. People need to take marriage seriously and to remember that the keyword for marriage is: TRUST.

I couldn’t help noticing how chaos the traffic situation in this city. If you are a foreigner coming to visit this country, I bet you wouldn’t last 5 minutes on the road. How come?

First, when you cross one-way street, you might look at vehicles coming from, say, your left. But not here, you have to look both ways. Bikers, sometimes public van drive on one-way street in the opposite direction. And, sometimes, they drive at pretty high speed.

Second, you think green light means go. But, the other corner thinks the road is his. So, you step on the gas and you hit the no-brain biker to the ground and he’ll wave his punch in the air to you. That is, if he’s alive. If he doesn’t, or at least lose conciousneess, you better step on the gas to the floor if you want to save your neck from the surrounding people who might want to burn you alive for causing such accident.

Third, you drive on the correct lane. But wait, what’s that? There’s a bike coming to your direction? He doesn’t ride on his lane? You didn’t know? The other lane is jammed. Even bikes can’t go through. So, the bikers and the others that follow have this creative idea: hey, the opposite-direction lane is not jammed, we should ride on that lane. What. You think you can be smart by scolding them? Telling them that what they’re doing is wrong? You’d be surprised of how they respond.

The police? What would you expect them to do? They’re the ones who ride their motorbike on the fast lane where it’s supposed to be for 4-wheelers only. They’re the ones who ride their bike on pay highway where it’s supposed to be for 4-wheelers and more.

Sad as it may seem, I always despise those who cannot respect the law. I myself ride a motorbike. But, I stop at the red lights and start to squeeze the gas on green lights. I don’t ride on the wrong direction lane. But, it seems I’m 1 in a million here. Then this thought comes to me. If everybody does it, what makes something is right? Have I done the right thing? I guess it’s a jungle out there. I see monkeys who like doing things the way they like doing it.

WARNING: Please read this post with mature mind.

There’s this new laws on porns that are going to be forced to apply in our country. The laws are composed with good-will -at least, in my opinion- in mind. Morality has been an issue nowadays in this country. The media have been our traitors. They’ve destroyed many lives of those who can’t afford to think clearly.

People have been going crazy defending the so-called art. Even job title they don’t give a damn before now has stood its chance against the government who pushes the law. Who cares about fashion designers before? Who wears their products for daily customs? God knows.

I would like to bring our attention to art. Is nudity an art? I’ve asked this question before. Allow me to bring an example here. Click this link: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v414/dewaperang/LRS/Majolelo/nude.jpg Now tell me what you think: is it an art or a porn picture? Are you offended?

Are you saying the picture is an art? How can you be so sure? Because it’s shot in a studio? How do you know it’s a studio? Or, is it because the girl is drop dead beautiful? So, if the girl is ultimately ugyl, you won’t call it an art? Who are we to judge that something is art? This is to oppose the question what is porn. For God sake, isn’t it clear: the girl is nude. And only insane man who wouldn’t like to see such a beautiful creature. A man who says it’s an art is man who makes an excuse of keeping the photograph to himself or even hang the picture on the wall of his bedroom and daydreaming about her.

Personally, I’d think that so long time ago, there was this freak man and this sexy beautiful freak woman. The woman liked to be naked and the man liked the woman’s body. So, he made an excuse of saying that he’d make an art out of her body. So, he made sculptures, body figures, paintings out of her body. Then, he sold his “arts” to the world. Ain’t that great? You got to see naked woman and sold the picture to the world.

I think we have been too permisive about this. At first, there’s only mini skirt, then tank top. Next, you’ll see chicks on the street wearing only bikini. You’re saying I’m paranoid? Have you looked at 70s movies? What kind of dress the women wearing back then? Even shooting a woman’s leg in 70s movies can be considered to be arousing. Now? I believe it still is. But, the portion has been decreased. We need to stop this. We don’t need to find out that our little John has been keeping Playboy magazine in his bedroom. We don’t need to find out that our little missy is pregnant because his boyfriend can’t keep the monkey well after glimpsing a second on a woman wearing swimsuit in a beer ads.

Don’t be silly by being outraging and allegedly accuse the government wants to control traditional customs. I believe the government wouldn’t want to ban people from wearing ‘kebaya’s, it won’t ban people from wearing ‘koteka’s. I’d suggest people get smart and wake up that it’s not about women wearing sexy dress. It’s about people being responsible to the world they’ll provide to their children and the children they’ll have after them.

Of course, we need to plant the moral alarm in our kids. But, the effort would be useless with the fast stream of porn pix and movies. Remember our kids. We owe them clean world. And, by clean, I mean clean from dirty minds.

How hard is it to make a clean world?

When I was thinking about the phrase in our language, I couldn’t find the equal phrase in English. This phrase is usually uttered by a person who’s asked by his/ her acquaintance about something but is reluctant/ refuses to tell. In general, it’s okay. For example, you meet your friend at a bookstore and he/ she buys a lot of stuff more than you’d expect from a person who buys something at a bookstore. You’d occasionally ask, “What did you buy?” Just for a sake of conversation. Then comes this annoying answer: “Ada deh“. Or you meet a friend at a lobby and he/ she’s smiling then you’d ask “What’s up?” Again, for the sake of petty conversation. Then the silly answer: “Ada deh“.

So, referring to my first sentence in this post, I just couldn’t find the equal phrase in English. This must be because it’s not a culture of the western. Usually, foreigners would just say “oh nothing” or make something up to avoid talking about something. I mean, if these people decided to tell anyway, I wouldn’t even care.

I just don’t understand these people. What’s with the short answer? It’s not like I want to sniff around things they do. They could’ve responded, “Oh nothing. By the way, what did you buy?” or just kept on smiling and ask how my day had been. What’s so hard about that? I guess people in this country just could not pay respect to others. They just care about their own friends.

I guess I should’ve known better. When you meet your friends at someplace outside the office, you shouldn’t start petty conversation. Especially with those who are not close to you. Greetings would be enough. If you get the annoying answer from your close friend, you might want to start thinking about your closeness. I don’t know, is it just me who look like want to sniff around? I mean, even if I found out what they’re up to, I’m not going to care about it. Ada Deh. I’ve never used this phrase before. And never will, I guess. It’s just so annoying.