Destruction breeds creation?

Was listening to my iPod on the bus.. and a line in Franz Ferdinand (Which occurs to be my absolutus favouritus British Rock band..) said this.. Descrution breeds Creation.

And the crisis in the middle east struck my mind. After offering up prayers at the Novena for all the suffering Israelis and Lebanese alike.. The reason behind the conflict still evaded my thoughts. I could not understand why such an inane conflict was actually taking place in the other side of the planet.

Then it struck me that it was this theory, that is behind most of the conflicts that we have seen in the past 100 years or so.

Wars that occured more then a 100 years ago were a result of egoistical and maniacal monarchs with so much hot air they decided to let it out on other countries. The 1st world war was an insane family squabble that went a little too far. The American civil war was first of all, caused by the insanity of King george, and the 2nd war was caused by southerner's retarded anti-free-slaves movement that caused a bloody cessation. And i really mean bloody. literally.

Thereafter, we thought we were fighting for real causes (as again, our American friends tried to dignify and honor the vietnam war and so forth.. just for the sake of their exploding egos).. But more often then not, we were led by the unseen notion that we are being chained to the devil, believing that War, is the best way out.

It all started in 1965, The Korean War. Surely! The yanks hated the communists like hell. So.. they shipped themselves cross the pacific, and secured half the chosun peninsula to form what is known as South Korea today. Well. I wouldn't say that was a bad move. But it was a result of the ideaology that Destruction breeds Creation. By brining war to the Chosun peninsula, it meant that the degree of destruction and collateral damage caused by troops were larger. Sure, it was a struggle for the freedom of the Korean peoples, and to safekeep the general security of the fragile international neighbourhood. But it was still rooted in the American notion that Destruction Breeds Creation!

Then there was the Vietnam War. Kill them communists! Shouted the Americans with so much zeal that the peoples of South east asia quivered with fear, and cowered strongly from our early communist or socialist ideas. Surely, killing them all would just solve the problem isn't it? Killing them all would just make space for more American-friendly governments isn't it? Ah. But they didn't anticipate losing the damned war.

What happened to Cambodia? Surely... genocide is less important as compared to a couple of communists running the country right? Of course! Let Pol Pot and gang rip through Cambodia, chain up King Sihanouk, and set ablaze Siem Reap and Phnom Phenh, while the Americans land 200Km away, killing communists who. erm. in retrospect killed lesser people?? (By the way, communist rule in vietnam was proven to be somehow, more effective, and less corrupted as compared to the earlier democratic government. Years of colonial rule has led to large poor-rich dichotomy in both rural and urban vietnam. Corrupt and inefficient government officials added more pressure to the hardships of the people, which in turn led to the communist uprising. It was a matter of cause and effect). And yes. you lost that war. Just admit it. A bunch of spear wielding guerillas won the great almighty American Army. (the Ptolemic might have done better i must say).

All these wars, in the name of freedom??? Look at the world. Sudan is disappearing under genocide, Cambodia suffered under a hideous regime for 15 years with more then 2000000 people MASSACRED for no reason. The starving multitudes in North Korea!

And what does out international community do? Sorry.. these things take a long time. Is that the best answer you can give, while you take a few months to rally your armies to invade Iraq? What about the other 1/6th of the world who is genuinely suffering in horrendous conditions? Why did you oust Saddam while he obviously did a better job then the current government? Why did you point to his genocidal crimes and scream shrewly, when the death tolls on saddam's hands are only a tenth of the Khmer Rouge's or even Kim Jong Il's, and you just sit by smiling and talking about diplomatic relations when these matters are raised!? WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU DEAR WORLD!??

And now, we have the Israeli - Lebanese conflict. Wrong. It isn't even Lebanese. Its Hezbollahs. How marvellous. A 'politcal party' that has an Arabic influence, that owns its own rockets. Surely our local party owns a few rockets that shoot a few hundred kilometres. Surely. so. its the Israeli - Hezbollah conflict. And look at the destruction caused, the numbers of people killed. Just because of a stupid stubborn leader of a militia claiming to be a political party. sigh.

Destruction, now, according to Isreali terms, breeds Creation. A new creation, hopefully more peaceful.

But has Mr Ehud thought through this seriously? What about all the good in lebanon? The children? The womenfolk? The kind? Do they desreve this?

No one in the world should even preach destruction breeds creation. There is no country, no nation, no peoples that horrible enough for destruction to be unleashed relentlessly on them.

Not even YOU, President Bush.

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Wala's was grrrrrrreat. been a long time since i went there. More activities next week. Friday night gone. One Rochester on sunday night, canteen duty on sunday. etc etc. Wine Party on National Day. yay.

On hindsight, Je coucherai si j'ai dit que je ne suis pas fâché. Je me sens tout à fait dégoûté à cette chose entière. Bien que les leçons de l'incident précédent m'ont enseigné à confronter le problème et le résout. Mais je ne peux pas ! trop de fierté a impliqué.

I read your blog too!

Annoyed. Stop telling me you read my blog. I don't really care. Because i read your blog too.

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The question plagued me for a good whole day. The question about why morality is a pillar to modern society. Or rather, why should morality be the pillar. I didn't have an answer for that when Alvin asked me that last night. I was rather dumbfounded.

Was I moral? Was I immoral? Took a while to come to terms with what morality meant to me, and to you.

Anyway. We went to watch Superman last night, and I decided to rename him Lousyman.

It sucked. so bad. I nearly wanted to bite my tongue to end my 154 minute suffering.

Worse of all, it was IMMORAL. Which was the first thing I declared to chee hui and mdm sim the moment i stepped into the staff room. It was the MOST IMMORAL film i've ever watched.

So.. Superman screws Lois Lane, runs of without saying his tatas and Lois Lane decides to hook up with some loser freak, and make Superman's child call him daddy. Double U Tee EFF!??!!???

Where the hell are your morals AMERICA!?

The first thing i shouted when we emerged from the cinema: "GOOD CATHOLIC CHILDREN SHOULD NEVER WATCH SUPERMAN."

First of all, theres this whole equation that they're trying to make Superman like Jesus, with crap narratives like... you are my only son... thats why i sent you... you are the light of the world... you are their hope... only you can save them... the father and son are one...

Ok. fine.. lets disregard the blasphemy, and give Bryan Singer (WHo's Jewish by the way) the benefit of doubt.

THen there's the immorality. THe irresponsibilty of Superman getting Lois Lane pregnant. Him running off to krypton or whatever after screwing her and getting her preggy. Then he finds out that the kid's his.. he just flies off.

Then theres Lois Lane. The sex-worker equivalent. First she got pregnant with superman's kid. then decides to hook with some guy so that her kid can call that guy dad. oh gosh.

Tell me it isn't immoral.

So yeah. That ends my diatribe on how i hate Superman now.

He looks like Ken doll anyway. So unnatural.

Anyway.. we went for supper at Geylang after that.. and ate the mee sua.. and talked about erm. stuff. The mee sua was yummy. Reminds me of taiwan..

heh. thats so long ago.

And going to geylang at 0030 in the morning... isn't exactly a very pretty sight.

Reminds me about the placid entry i wrote for the sex-workers the last time. I felt very sorry for them.

Just made new glasses. I'm officially brokededed. :( . i'm always broke. What happened to my observance of poverty. :( .

Going to wala wala's tommrow night with them! Woot! Very long never go already. yay. Live band, good friends, good rock music, and a nice cool pint of Hoegarden. Hurrah.

Oh. Forgot to mention.. Went to Loof the other day.. after Melch's rave reviews about the place.. Ok lah.. not bad.. quite cool.. on the roof top.. the ambient light was beautiful... but the seats are like. erm. not very comfortable. haha. AND the toilet!! SO HOT inside!!! : P. And San ming bought us drinks. 700 bucks worth. Drown in debauchery. I love Moet and Chandon.

New specs cost me 224. : ( . But they were 350 before the sale!!! Thats the only mitigation I have.. Branded lah. And i'm going to go get my visa done next week. Which is going to cost me 280!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : (((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((. So expensive lah. One stupid piece of paper to let me study in the UK. going to be sooo broke this month. How to buy laptop!!???!!??? : (

Fighting tooth and nail for the one thing we cling on to.

With the advent of new communication technology, and at the same time, technology(s) that enable human beings to more efficient execute tasks, it also signaled the death of privacy.

Emails after office hours, loud music blaring in your face on public transportation, ireverent and rude people who anonymously attack your blog, and intrusively scandalize your words. Your personal particulars being at the reach of any unscrupulous commercialized stranger. Your life, being piece by piece ripped apart by the advent of new technology.

Most of the time, we find ourselves fighting tooth and nail for our own personal space, our own privacy and our own quiet time. It is all so tiring.

We were talking today, about how new phone technology intrudes into a any human being's private space, which includes being unwillingly photographed, or filmed without consent or knowledge, having loud horrible music blaring from some young punk's handphone. Your personal space becomes invaded, your peace is hijacked.

And when you are quietly resting at home, a phone call comes in, not from your home line, but from your personal mobile, and its your boss.. There you go.. your rest, hijacked. And you are just reading a news website and suddenly you are hit by a spybot, rendering your computer maimed. There goes your documents.

And the list just goes on and on.

Sometimes we just need a break from all things electrical.

lets say this outright, I am not liable to add you on friendster as much as you know me. Because i don't you know you. or at least, i don't know you well enough. And you obviously don't. So go away.

oooh. so cool.

create your own visited country map
or check our Venice travel guide

Let me grow in you, and you in me.

I remember first singing the hymn, The Summons in Holy Family church several years back, with Gabriel and Raymond.. and when I impromptu came out with the parts for the song, Gabriel commented that I should join the choir. Haha..

And so the hymn goes,

"Would you come and follow me if I but call your name? ... "

Then the last part goes,

"And Let me grow in you, and you in me."

I love that last portion, to be able to grow in the Lord, and let Him grow in me. It feels very good to know that. And it feels good to fall completely into his arms sometimes.

I was asked to choose the songs for Mass on sunday, and prepare the readers, and offertory. I was in disarray. Hadn't a clue what hymns to choose and who to ask to read what. And there was no Sharon nunis to help me!!! So.. I sat quietly in the centering room, and prayed. Then I read the passages in the missal, and thought about what it all meant to me. The message was simple. The Missionary Church.

So.. came up with a list of hymns that could be sung, with the standard offertory as prepatory of altar, and thanksgiving, but I chose nice 'calling' songs for entrance and final hymns.

The Summons was a great choice for the final hymn. Singing it with all the Canossian Sisters at the Convent Chapel was something, that had a very deep substance to it. I was singing a hymn that was like G-d calling me, and I was singing it among the very women, and daughters, who were called to service in G-d's name.

It was so beautiful.

The mass went well.... though I garang gabo because I forgot which year we were in (year B) haha.

After mass, as I was walking out of the chapel after the sisters, I could hear some of them humming the tune to The Summons. So it seems, the choice was right. Praise G-d!

It was a good mass. I don't know why, but everything was beautiful, the homily, the readings, the songs, the praises.. It was like a moment of fushchia with silky curtains. Everything was slowed down.

Later that day, Sr Anne was sharing with us about how we, christians, are all tabernacles of christ ourselves, and how we fail to identify the holiness within each and everyone of us. And how beautiful that holiness could be.. I didn't really get it, but the songs and pictures were really pretty.

Then jsut a few hours ago, at mass, as I took communion, it suddenly came that hey! We ARE living tablernacles! We are like walking Monstrances! We house the Body of Christ! Which is the piece of Blessed Sacrament, the host! We participate in eating the host right? So we have christ in us!

Wow. We, are walking monstrances. That sounded quite. erm. funny.

So like wherever we go we have to incense the place, and everyone has to kneel at our feet and sing O Blessed Sacrament or Down in Adoration Falling??????? Haha.. No!

Its about us, housing and being the epitome of Chrisitianity, that we are the body of the christian church, and everything that we do we represent Christ.

As Christ is in Us, we are all in Christ.

And it all links back, to

"Let me grow in you, and you in me. "

But we also have to understand that we are also imperfect, and having Christ in us only means that we have to work hard to become more christ-like.

Like the Monstrance, we are only a physical object that is imperfect, we choose to dwell in sin, we are susceptible to the temptations of the evil one. But having Christ in us meant that we have to work hard to counter all these temptations and become Godly in mind and spirit.

The beatitudes is one way that we can draw strength, kn0wledge, and meditation foder from, for us to grow and walk in the paths of Christ. Let me try to regurgitate them.

1. Blessed are the Poor in Spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of God.
2. Blessed are they who Mourn, for they shall be comforted.
3. Blessed are the Meek, for they shall inherit the land.
4. Blessed are they who thirst and hunger for Righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
5. Blessed are the Merciful, for they shall be shown mercy.
6. Blessed are the Pure of Heart, for they shall see God.
7. Blessed are the Peacemakers, for they shall be called Children of God.
8. Blessed are those who are Persecuted for Righteousness for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

Praise G-d! haha. weeks of effort. has paid off. I guess. : P

So yah. Many scholars and theologians think that the Beatitudes are like the second set of commandments given to us by Jesus as part of the new covenant, along with the "Love another that I have loved you." one.

So yeah. Jude (or Br. Jude) said today, that the Laws were written because the people were unteachable then.

And thus, people 2000 years ago must have advanced to the point that when the Messiah actually gives such a teaching to them jews, they should have understood. Or is it one of the greater pantheons of mysteries that the Gospel envelopes itself in?

I don't know. I'm not a theologian myself. Maybe can ask Sr Dot tommorow.

But one thing for sure, and I know very well, is that Jesus Loves You and Me, and God. So much so, that he Died for us. like Died, you know. Like sacrifice. It wasn't even a case of Bl. Maximillian Kobe where Bl. Kobe gave his life for another holocaust prisoner, but it was a case of.. I dunno who the hell you are, but I'm going to give up my life so that you can live.

Why did he do that? Why did he have to give up his life? I also dunno. Was it what G-d wants?

I know that G-d basically, Loves us Very the Much.

Lets say, you paint a picture of yourself.. you'll like it very much right? What more you make a walking talking clay figurine of yourself!

Jesus had to give up his life because a new covenant had to be forged between God and Men, and somehow.. that new covenant was Jesus.. thats all i know. The details i can't really recally.. but all in all.. tommorow go and ask Sr Dot.

So yah. Like that lor.

Thats my faith 101.

: D praise God.

Jang Geum in Bronx!?

I got this off Mr Heng's blog..



Wassup, Lian Sheng!
How's it hangin' in the Imperial Kitchen, dawg? I was thinkin' of ya sistas all ta way, man. All ta way. Drop it on Lady Min that I miss 'em pancakes she makes and to be watchin' out for that beeyotch, Ling Lu. I sawed she runnin for Lofty Madam Chui and Jin Ying. Real nickel 'em is! Anyways, back to me (it's all about me anyway). I know I dip on y'all gals real deep but chu know I had no choice, a'ite? Tha' Chui snatches, they got served real good by me and Lady Han but felt it was wack. You know the story. I'm tellin' ya, I hadda most unglamorous moments of my life as I was geddin' on the steam mary. Lady Han and I was in shackles, man! Fo' shizzle my nizzle! Yeah, we was booked and banished to life out of the palace. Anyways, I kno' you gals was wonderin' where we ended up. Well, damn ship ain't got no compass and we ain't got much Vitamin A (carrots, mandarin oranges, plums, watermelons, pumpkins, spinach...) so no nigga could steer the damn ship at night (Vitamin A helps us to see in dim light and is necessary for proper bone growth, tooth development, and reproduction). After some weeks, we was cruisin' by this big ass statue of a woman with a crown as a head dress and wearing her hanbok all wrong. (By tha way, Lady Han kicked a week before this happened.)

Goodness, I gotta hush now. My new officer (who is dressed all wack) is be hollerin' at me to get to work. I'ma get writin' to you again A-S-A-P! Stay cool, sister!

One Love and Peace Out
,J.Geum

I laughed my teeth out when I read this post. Insane. totally.

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Its amazing how we spent 3 days in near silence, other then the occasional passing of messages or announcements, and yet not feel a moment's boredom.

Its amazing how we survived 3 days, with the bare amenities, a bed, a table, a cupboard and G-d, and yet live through enriched and stronger.

Its amazing how we go there afraid, without anything to wonder, and yet return hopeful, and wiser.

the past 3 days were so refreshing I can't find words to describe them.

Praise G-d, for He loves us all to bits.