Yasmin, Jacko and The Legacy
One of my normal routine every morning is driving to work while enjoying radio DJs chit-chatting few of their interesting thoughts. Yasmin Ahmad is the main topic being discussed every where in public media now. My best prayers are with her and may she rest in peace.
I don't know Yasmin well enough. I know she's a director and has produced few good ads and films. I watched few of them and yes, I agree with a fact that she has this special understanding of what art means and its purpose to people. But, neither she nor her work has attracted me to jot down few words. But, lessons that I've learned from these happenings are what calling me to write here now.
When Yasmin became talk of the town, callers from all places send their condolences and cite how good she was. Some even shed tears and sounds too sad to even say a word about her. That shows how loving she could really be as a person and touched the heart of so many people. Now, could we flash back our memory, not too long, just few days back, when the late Michael Jackson also became talk of the town? What are the similarities of these two people besides they passed away on the 25th day of a month, and they became talk of the town after that?
Yes, both of them have fight for race equality, in their own unique way, unique yet effective (hikmah). We all know how hard to unite human in different races, we had encountered so many issues, presenting several different concepts in the name of unity, and so the efforts go on and on to pursue our biggest dream, though the path is steep and the sky’s not promising.
People like Yasmin and Jacko are few of so many who aren’t just “walk the walk” or “talk the talk”. Better still, they “walk the talk”! They grew up with some real life experiences and develop basic principles of living and strive with it. They struggle and sacrifice some of their life elements just to hold on and fight for what they have faith into. Now that they've gone, leaving us with the legacy of their principles. I strongly believe not the tears or the mourn they want from us, but rather to continue their efforts, and what they have been fighting for over the years, to realize our biggest dream of unity, bringing peace to the nation, and to the world!
Al-anbiya':107
"Dan tiadalah Kami mengutus kamu, melainkan untuk (menjadi) rahmat bagi semesta alam"
Jacko and Yasmin has done their part? What about us?
I don't know Yasmin well enough. I know she's a director and has produced few good ads and films. I watched few of them and yes, I agree with a fact that she has this special understanding of what art means and its purpose to people. But, neither she nor her work has attracted me to jot down few words. But, lessons that I've learned from these happenings are what calling me to write here now.
When Yasmin became talk of the town, callers from all places send their condolences and cite how good she was. Some even shed tears and sounds too sad to even say a word about her. That shows how loving she could really be as a person and touched the heart of so many people. Now, could we flash back our memory, not too long, just few days back, when the late Michael Jackson also became talk of the town? What are the similarities of these two people besides they passed away on the 25th day of a month, and they became talk of the town after that?
Yes, both of them have fight for race equality, in their own unique way, unique yet effective (hikmah). We all know how hard to unite human in different races, we had encountered so many issues, presenting several different concepts in the name of unity, and so the efforts go on and on to pursue our biggest dream, though the path is steep and the sky’s not promising.
People like Yasmin and Jacko are few of so many who aren’t just “walk the walk” or “talk the talk”. Better still, they “walk the talk”! They grew up with some real life experiences and develop basic principles of living and strive with it. They struggle and sacrifice some of their life elements just to hold on and fight for what they have faith into. Now that they've gone, leaving us with the legacy of their principles. I strongly believe not the tears or the mourn they want from us, but rather to continue their efforts, and what they have been fighting for over the years, to realize our biggest dream of unity, bringing peace to the nation, and to the world!
Al-anbiya':107
"Dan tiadalah Kami mengutus kamu, melainkan untuk (menjadi) rahmat bagi semesta alam"
Jacko and Yasmin has done their part? What about us?
Rejuvenate
Never reluctant from the first place.
Of a fact that I had voluntarily chosen the fast lane.
It's on me... on us.
The climb is steep. Yes it is.
But TOP, is not that far away from us.
Thou rain of stone falls from no-where sky.
And rain of gold remains our faith... we pledge
But there's one thing we ain't ever forget
A fresh and awakening morning wishes
To the dearest humble red roses
in our own simple garden
Breathe them ...
And we are now rejuvenate...!
p.s. Thank you dearest sisters who reminded me of FITRAH written on June 5, 2006 / 5.13pm
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Black Like Me, Novel Review
Fuuh... Completed reading this book two weeks ago but just manage to write some reviews on it now. First, how did I get this book? I did not, actually. I have only the duplicate copy; accidentally found it when I hang out at my friend’s photocopy shop. The title "Black like Me" has attracted my cynical sense of curiosity to know what's inside it. So, I asked my friend to make one copy for me. And now that I completed my reading, I would definitely look out for the original version of it.
I found out there are thousands of reviews and comments through internet. Since the book was written way back there in 1959, it has become part of history-telling book; North American history to be precise. A movie has been produced based on the story of this book in 1964. In 1959, at the time of the book's writing, race relations were particularly strained in North America. John Howard Griffin, the author and main character of this book, is a middle-aged white man living in Mansfield, Texas in 1959, which are deeply committed to the cause of racial justice. Frustrated by his inability as a white man to understand the black experience, Griffin decides to take a radical step: he decides to undergo medical treatment to change the color of his skin and temporarily become a black man. After securing the support of his wife and of George Levitan, the editor of a black-oriented magazine called Sepia which will fund Griffin's experience in return for an article about it, Griffin sets out for New Orleans to begin his life as a black man.
Griffin expects to find prejudice, oppression, and hardship, but he is shocked at the extent of it: everywhere he goes, he experiences difficulties and insults. The word "nigger" seems to echo from every street corner. It is impossible to find a job, or even a restroom that blacks are allowed to use. Clerks refuse to cash his checks, and a white bully nearly attacks him before he chases the man away. These are all real experiences and to understand the fact that one man purposely fake his skin color to experience such horrible moments in his life, this what greatly amazed me as a reader. Hence, should I say Howard Griffin is an “antonym” of Michael Jackson? No, because Griffin’s black skin color only last for two months whereas Jacko’s one are permanent.
Griffin then travel into the Deep South of Mississippi and Alabama, which are reputed to be even worse for blacks. He is disheartened and exhausted, but manages to rejuvenate his spirit with a help of his friend P.D. East, a newspaperman who is ferociously opposed to racism. After a long hitchhiking trip throughout Alabama and Mississippi, Griffin finds that conditions for blacks are appalling, and that black communities seem run-down and defeated. But in Montgomery, however, the black community is charged with determination and energy by the example of one of its leaders, a preacher named Martin Luther King, Jr. Blacks in Montgomery have begun practicing passive resistance, a nonviolent form of refusing to comply with racist laws and rules.
Griffin depressed and weary of life as a black man, briefly stops taking his medication and lightens his skin back to his normal color. He begins alternating back and forth between races, visiting a place first as a black man and then as a white man. He notices immediately that when he is a white man, whites treat him with respect and blacks treat him with suspicious fear; when he is a black man, blacks treat him with generosity and warmth, while whites treat him with hostility and contempt.
After series of interviews and photographic record of his time, he permanently returns his skin color to white, returns to his family and writes his article, which is published in March 1960. The story of his amazing experience quickly spreads around the world, and he receives a flood of congratulatory mail, as well as interviews invitations from television shows and newsmagazines. In Mansfield, however, the prevalent attitude is that of racism, and Griffin and his family becomes the subject of hateful reprisals. An effigy of Griffin, painted half white and half black, is burned on Main Street; a cross is burned in a Negro schoolyard; threats are made against Griffin, including one to castrate him. By August, things are so bad that he has decided to move his family to Mexico.
However, the book made him receive international respect as a human rights activist. After its publication, he became a leading advocate in the Civil Rights Movement and did much to promote awareness of racial situations.
It has been erroneously claimed that the large doses of Oxsoralen John Howard Griffin used in 1959 eventually led to his death in 1980 at age 60 from (the claim asserts) skin cancer. However, Griffin never had skin cancer; the only negative symptoms he suffered because of the drug were temporary and minor. The worst, arguably, were fatigue and nausea.
Griffin had suffered from myriad health problems for much of his adult life: in addition to a severe head injury he suffered in World War II, Griffin contracted malaria, which attacked his spine and temporarily paralyzed him. He later developed both diabetes and osteomyelitis. In 1976, Griffin suffered a heart attack during a lecture tour; he would suffer several more in the final four years of his life.
Dream Variations by Langston Hughes
To fling my arms wide
In some place of the sun,
To whirl and to dance
Till the white day is done.
Then rest at cool evening
Beneath a tall tree
While night comes on gently,
Dark like me-
That is my dream!
To fling my arms wide
In the face of the sun,
Dance! Whirl! Whirl!
Till the quick day is done.
Rest at pale evening...
A tall, slim tree...
Night coming tenderly
Black like me.
(This poem is where the novel gets its name)
This review I referred to few different sources:
1- The Novel “Black Like Me”
2- Info from Wiki
3- Review from other internet sources
I found out there are thousands of reviews and comments through internet. Since the book was written way back there in 1959, it has become part of history-telling book; North American history to be precise. A movie has been produced based on the story of this book in 1964. In 1959, at the time of the book's writing, race relations were particularly strained in North America. John Howard Griffin, the author and main character of this book, is a middle-aged white man living in Mansfield, Texas in 1959, which are deeply committed to the cause of racial justice. Frustrated by his inability as a white man to understand the black experience, Griffin decides to take a radical step: he decides to undergo medical treatment to change the color of his skin and temporarily become a black man. After securing the support of his wife and of George Levitan, the editor of a black-oriented magazine called Sepia which will fund Griffin's experience in return for an article about it, Griffin sets out for New Orleans to begin his life as a black man.
Griffin expects to find prejudice, oppression, and hardship, but he is shocked at the extent of it: everywhere he goes, he experiences difficulties and insults. The word "nigger" seems to echo from every street corner. It is impossible to find a job, or even a restroom that blacks are allowed to use. Clerks refuse to cash his checks, and a white bully nearly attacks him before he chases the man away. These are all real experiences and to understand the fact that one man purposely fake his skin color to experience such horrible moments in his life, this what greatly amazed me as a reader. Hence, should I say Howard Griffin is an “antonym” of Michael Jackson? No, because Griffin’s black skin color only last for two months whereas Jacko’s one are permanent.
Griffin then travel into the Deep South of Mississippi and Alabama, which are reputed to be even worse for blacks. He is disheartened and exhausted, but manages to rejuvenate his spirit with a help of his friend P.D. East, a newspaperman who is ferociously opposed to racism. After a long hitchhiking trip throughout Alabama and Mississippi, Griffin finds that conditions for blacks are appalling, and that black communities seem run-down and defeated. But in Montgomery, however, the black community is charged with determination and energy by the example of one of its leaders, a preacher named Martin Luther King, Jr. Blacks in Montgomery have begun practicing passive resistance, a nonviolent form of refusing to comply with racist laws and rules.
Griffin depressed and weary of life as a black man, briefly stops taking his medication and lightens his skin back to his normal color. He begins alternating back and forth between races, visiting a place first as a black man and then as a white man. He notices immediately that when he is a white man, whites treat him with respect and blacks treat him with suspicious fear; when he is a black man, blacks treat him with generosity and warmth, while whites treat him with hostility and contempt.
After series of interviews and photographic record of his time, he permanently returns his skin color to white, returns to his family and writes his article, which is published in March 1960. The story of his amazing experience quickly spreads around the world, and he receives a flood of congratulatory mail, as well as interviews invitations from television shows and newsmagazines. In Mansfield, however, the prevalent attitude is that of racism, and Griffin and his family becomes the subject of hateful reprisals. An effigy of Griffin, painted half white and half black, is burned on Main Street; a cross is burned in a Negro schoolyard; threats are made against Griffin, including one to castrate him. By August, things are so bad that he has decided to move his family to Mexico.
However, the book made him receive international respect as a human rights activist. After its publication, he became a leading advocate in the Civil Rights Movement and did much to promote awareness of racial situations.
It has been erroneously claimed that the large doses of Oxsoralen John Howard Griffin used in 1959 eventually led to his death in 1980 at age 60 from (the claim asserts) skin cancer. However, Griffin never had skin cancer; the only negative symptoms he suffered because of the drug were temporary and minor. The worst, arguably, were fatigue and nausea.
Griffin had suffered from myriad health problems for much of his adult life: in addition to a severe head injury he suffered in World War II, Griffin contracted malaria, which attacked his spine and temporarily paralyzed him. He later developed both diabetes and osteomyelitis. In 1976, Griffin suffered a heart attack during a lecture tour; he would suffer several more in the final four years of his life.
Dream Variations by Langston Hughes
To fling my arms wide
In some place of the sun,
To whirl and to dance
Till the white day is done.
Then rest at cool evening
Beneath a tall tree
While night comes on gently,
Dark like me-
That is my dream!
To fling my arms wide
In the face of the sun,
Dance! Whirl! Whirl!
Till the quick day is done.
Rest at pale evening...
A tall, slim tree...
Night coming tenderly
Black like me.
(This poem is where the novel gets its name)
This review I referred to few different sources:
1- The Novel “Black Like Me”
2- Info from Wiki
3- Review from other internet sources
Matsuyuki, Will you be My New Dream?
Matsuyuki? Japanese? WHY?? O'cmon Fiya.. don't tell me you got fed-up with locals and now trying out new chance with a Japanese guy?
Hahaha.... Hellooo... new dream doesn't have to be a new boyfriend okay.
Matsuyuki is brand name of a sewing machine under janome (japan's origin, world's leader on sewing machines). In Malaysia, Syarikat Epal is currently the distributor of these machines. Besides selling machines, Epal is famous with its training courses on sewing business.
So, Matsuyuki has become my new shift to paradigm about life. BUT, i have one major problem to tackle on. The TRANSITION. How could a loyal PC user transfer herself into an expert in sewing??? Too CONTRAST, isn't it?
Hahaha.... Hellooo... new dream doesn't have to be a new boyfriend okay.
Matsuyuki is brand name of a sewing machine under janome (japan's origin, world's leader on sewing machines). In Malaysia, Syarikat Epal is currently the distributor of these machines. Besides selling machines, Epal is famous with its training courses on sewing business.
So, Matsuyuki has become my new shift to paradigm about life. BUT, i have one major problem to tackle on. The TRANSITION. How could a loyal PC user transfer herself into an expert in sewing??? Too CONTRAST, isn't it?
The 'ancient' IBM R40E, my loyal company all this while
The Matsuyuki - Gosh .. could I reaaly do it?!
MIRACLES OF GOOD, PLEASE HELP ME!
p.s. heheheh..it's okay to be exaggerating sometimes rite? :-p
MIRACLES OF GOOD, PLEASE HELP ME!
p.s. heheheh..it's okay to be exaggerating sometimes rite? :-p
Sick? Swallow some "paracethamol" to cure...
Paracetamol? It is a major ingredient in numerous cold and flu remedies. Panadol is one of so many. In simple word, if you are sick, eat Panadol lah! Hehe
But, this post is not going to elaborate more about Panadol or paracetamol. I just want to post something about my music of choice. Why music? Because music often be my "Panadol" of life...hhehe
Three songs had pull the attraction towards me these days. They did cure some wounds, create little sparks of light in boring mood, as well as 'slap' me in the face to wake my 'sleepy' soul into active mode again.
1. "Sampai Nanti, Sampai Mati" by Letto.
2. "You'll Think of Me" by Keith Urban.
3. A catchy sound of Enrique Iglesias's "I'm Takin' Back My love" featuring Ciara.
What is your "Panadol" of life?
p.s. Don't forget, panadol are only for temporary cure ;-)
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