挨来的骄傲

今天在星洲日报看到戴晨志写的'一百分同学'，有几许的高兴，几许的骄傲，然而也有几许的心酸无奈。


转贴文中稍修的几段文字:


"妈，你知道吗，我们班上有个马来西亚来的侨生，他的国语(华语)腔讲得怪怪的，我都听不太懂，他竟然生物考了一百分！"小鼎愤愤不平地说道。


不过，小鼎又说: "妈，我们班那个马来西亚来的侨生好厉害，很多成绩都好棒！当我们的报告被教授打不及格被退回来时，教授却把那侨生的报告拿得高高，对大家说 : "这，就是我所要的报告！"


听起来，小鼎的自尊心真的大受打击，万万没有想到，一个从马来西亚来台湾的男侨生，生物成绩竟然考一百分。 而小鼎，他从小喜欢生物，生物成绩总是全校最高分，现竟得零分。(在台湾，几乎没有说英语的环境，在大学才逐渐改用英文授课; 马来西亚是多元种族的国家，英语是必懂的语言。)


小鼎又跟妈说: "这学期，我参加了魔术社，街舞社，你知道那个侨生参加什么社吗？他竟然参加领袖社.....。 天啊，什么是领袖社，我听都没听过。他说，他回马来西亚要当领袖....."


小鼎原本心中不平，但说着说着，却转而用敬佩的口吻说 : "妈，那个侨生好节省哦，他都很晚才到餐厅吃饭。" "为什么？" "因为自助餐厅七点半去，大家都快吃完了，那时候去，点的菜，阿姨都会算特别便宜。我们一餐吃(台币)四五十元，他只有吃十多元......他都吃白饭，点最便宜的剩菜，再加很多不用钱的肉汤汁...."


小鼎又说: "而且，那侨生都参加校内外很多演讲比赛，他说他没什么钱，他必须靠演讲比赛得名次，拿奖金，才有钱在台湾念书......."


戴晨志说他听了这真实故事，他很感动。我却边读边想着这名留学生，为他到国外留学的坚持毅力感到佩服; 为他的艰苦拼搏精神欢呼，为他在求学时已为未来计划当领袖的意念致敬。不过，同时为他求学时得吃白饭点剩菜难过，参加演讲比赛取奖金当生活费难过，同是国家儿女他却要如此挨，但不就是这样的拼博精神让华裔子弟在许多领域放异彩！？或许这就是挨来的骄傲！！


话说回来，如这位侨生靠标青成绩在国内念大学，选自己要念的科系，他会如此拼博吗？他会参加领袖社，还是娱乐性质社？他会成熟地为自己的未来策划？不知道，可能没有答案; 但知道在马来西亚七点半吃晚饭应该不会便宜。

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A Special Lady -- Angela De Silva

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It was a great day for many Amway distributors -- the official opening of Amway Malaysia Grand New Headquarters in Petaling Jaya. Distributors of various achievement level, from every parts of Malaysia, were anxiously waiting for this great moment. A milestone for Amway Malaysia and a Monument of Success of all distributors' efforts.

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I was there to witness the efforts of all parties, happily meeting up with old friends, chatting on latest developments. There in the crowd, I saw this familiar face -- Angela, my mentor and my up up upline Triple Diamonds. I have not met her for some time, as she spend quite a bit of time in Canada. I will not forget how Angela and late Dr. Gerry's enthusiasm on Amway business. I should have addressed them Dato & Datin as they have received the award from Yang di Pertuan Agong, but by calling their names, bring back the sweet memories we shared through the years of sharing thoughts & building the business under their guidance.
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I can still recall how resisted I was, when my husband's childhood friend trying to invite both of us to listen to the presentation. The mental block was so great that I managed to find various excuses not to be there, but our sponsors never give up on us. To cut the story short, we met Foo Howe Kean and then later, late Dr. Gerry & Angela. We become great friends, the rest are history.

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I love the business, not because it is a great opportunity to have financial gains; it is the complete offer of life styles : Freedom, Family, Hope, Reward. Besides listening to the founders of Amway : Jay Van Andel & Rich De Vos, we have been listening to Dr. Gerry & Angela talking on intergrity, attitudes, responsibility, values, mission, vision etc. These are the things that we do not learn in schools or universities. Values & Believes that I practise and uphold until today, it has become a part of my life. My children inherited the positive mental attitudes, values of intergrity while listening to us when we are talking on these fundamentals to our friends and downlines.

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I am glad that in every different stage of my life, I am given the opportunity to meet some one great. Angela, you have shared with me and taught me many things in life, Thank you.


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老马，你真行

我要感谢前前首相马哈迪先生，如果不是他的假设推论，我不会想去看这部电影'阿凡达'。据报道，马哈迪先生的假设评论，应是阿凡达这套电影从开演至今的'最高品价影评'！我想，再也没有任何人能像前前首相那样的高超推销法; 就是他那不一般的离谱评论，让好友一通电话就把我邀去观赏。

一向对科技电影没有多大的兴趣，对超大音响及虚假科技画面满抗拒。虽在报章及刊物看到好评及惊人票房，仍然提不起劲去看。我现在怀疑，前前首相马哈迪先生会不会是因有投资这套影片，刻意推论911灾难是美国人自导自演; 如此评美国人的高科技，让票房步月登云，老马来个满堂红！


(转贴当今大马)看贬阿拉伯人无法执行周详策划 马哈迪坚持911空袭自导自演论

1月22日傍晚 6点43分

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[马哈迪在1月20日惊人地声称，既然美国人有能力制作一套超高科技的电影，那么自导自演一出911空袭事件，也并非一件难事，“如果他们（美国人）可以制作《阿凡达》，他们也可以制造任何东西”。

“在2001年9月，世界贸易中心被指遭到恐怖分子袭击。我不确定这次的袭击，是否确由回教徒的恐怖分子所策划，但却有强烈的证据，指该袭击是由人所自导自演。”]


真可笑，为了维护自己信奉的宗教，老马可以把阿拉伯人贬为没有脑策划周详计划，只会把炸药绑缚在身上当人弹。更可笑的是，当人人在为那精细描绘美不胜收的景色和生动盎然的人物赞叹不已，老马却认为美国人既然有这样的生花妙笔及电脑科技，有何不能为？怎么想也不想不到，他竟然突然把911事件和这套电影牵在一起。不知是要为他的高度联想能力欢呼，或是为他的赖皮才能鼓掌？或是为他无知维护宗教的举动感天泣地？

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唉哟嗬，如此人物竟统领国家四分一世纪; 难道也得等杰克(Jack)来解救？

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认不得

在FB看到李晓蕙所写的"东西弄丢了可以找回，或者重买也行；原来的自己弄丢了，该怎么办呢？"，有所感触。我也常警惕自己，回头一看时，不要认不得自己！



这几天国内外及周围发生的事件，令人难以克服心中的感觉。海地地震所带来的伤亡损毁，让人心胆俱裂; 然而在这风调雨顺的地方，不珍惜上天所赐(不敢用阿拉)，为人事吵，为用词争，为感觉斗，为面子战 。。。。



真的，这一切的一切，为了什么？当初建国的精神，入党的热诚，信奉的虔诚，心内的真诚，感情的友好。。。。都随风而逝？

是的，回头一看时，不要认不得自己！




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哭泣的土地

2010年，为什么要以这样的方式掀幕开年？

我不是基督教徒，但当我看到三间教堂被纵火，我的心绞痛，我的眼眶迷蒙。

宗教为何物？不是教人唯善向上，相亲相爱，互相尊重！？

今天怎么啦？星期五不是一个圣洁日吗？不是大家前往朝拜神圣无比的阿拉吗？不是祈求阿拉祝福这块大地？不是祷祝全民为兄弟姐妹吗？阿拉，请问神圣的您，看到您的子民如此为，可有伤心孺子不可教？可有为'以争取您为专用词'而胡为的子民，心痛哭泣？
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我不能接受这些明为爱阿拉暗为施暴践踏不同宗教的人，我和许许多多的国民一样不能允许暴徒在这块土地滋长！

天啊！神啊！主啊！阿拉！请救救这块土地，请让为非暴徒悔疚冷静！绝不能让有心人在此为非作歹！请谴责处罚违背天理的暴徒！请让其他宗教信徒能平心，不要以暴治暴，以牙还牙，不要血染大地！！

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关帝庙

2010年1月1日早上，在区会一群同志相陪之下，到双威镇的关帝庙上香祈福。这间关帝庙，是首邦市和双威镇唯一的庙宇，香火旺盛。早上十点正，大家先坐下来和庙管理委员会主席李坤祥先生及数位委员交流; 针对庙宇面对申请注册的课题及与区会未来的配合，加以探讨。

十一点十一分全体向关帝爷及老天爷上香致敬，祈望2010年国泰民安，区会活动顺利进行; 大家身体健康，事事顺心。在10年1月1日11点11杪上香，十全平稳＋6个1，感觉好。


选择在元旦日拜会庙管理委员交流沟通，同时向关帝爷致意，因关羽是'忠义勇武'的象征。在这充满挑战的年份，要以大局为重，国事党务非忠义勇武不可。区委同心协力，向关羽看齐，则金城汤池。

(关帝爷简介转载自51766. com:[关羽生于东汉末,与张飞、刘备桃园结义,成刘手下大将。官渡之战被俘,曹操善待之,封其为汉寿亭侯,但他封金挂印,过五关斩六将,仍投刘备 。后刘备取汉中,关羽守荆州。先是水淹七军,大胜曹军;继则骄傲轻敌,败走麦城,死于东吴之手 。并因而引发西蜀与东吴大战,火烧连营,致西蜀元气大伤,刘备、张飞先后亡故。


其死后在民间的影响本不大，然而，因宋大祖篡权黄袍加身,惧别人心怀不忠,选中讲义气的关羽,大加鼓吹。宋哲宗封其为"显烈王",宋徽宗封其为"义勇武安王",元代再加封为"显灵义勇武安英济王"。这时民间已有许多有关关公的戏曲和说书,影响很大 。特别是元来长篇历史小说《三国演义》问世,使关羽名声大震,成为古今第一将,忠义和勇武的化身。


到明代,关羽又被升格为"协天护国忠义帝"、"三世伏魔大帝"、"神威远镇关圣帝君"。清代顺治皇帝更为慷慨,对关羽封号长达二十六字:忠义神武灵佑仁勇威显护国保民精诚绥靖诩赞宣德关圣大帝。 由于帝王们的推崇,关羽的地位由将而王,由王而帝,乃至大帝,不但成为民间普遍供奉的神明,而已成为国家祭祀的高级神祗。])

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2010

一切言不尽意，2009无言，展望2010。

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Christmas is for everyone

Yesterday, I read an article "Christmas is for everyone" by Rusdi Mustapha in Malay Mail. It helps me to recall how I spent Chrismas with my children when they were young little kids.


First of all, my children and I are not Christians, but my Filipino maid is a Catholic. Initially, my maid and I will decorate the tree while my children happily helping with the decorative items. As my kids grow older, they help their "sister" decorate the tree; the "sister" has been with us for 12 years.


I have Christmas tree in my house for 3 reasons: 1st To let my maid feel at home and teach my kids to respect other's religion, 2nd The twinkle lights on Christmas tree help to create festival mood in the family, 3rd Decorating Christmas tree is a project lead by the maid and assist by the kids. The maid is a part of the family.


A comment posted to the article "Christmas is for everyone" : ....It reminds me of a story I heard 2weeks ago in Manado. My guide told me a story that the Indonesian PM visited a mosque there and an official made a request for a full grown pine tree, within the mosque to be chopped down, on the account that it is a christian tree! The PM asked when did the old pine tree convert to christianity?


The comment tickle me but also make me ponder : Why must oneself be so narrow minded? Why can't we respect each other? I have a WISH: Let's 2010 be a GOOD year for everyone.


(Article from Malay Mail)
SERI MENANTI: Christmas is for everyone!

Rusdi Mustapha
Monday, December 28th, 2009 11:05:00


ONCE upon a time, almost in the age of enlightenment in this country in the early 90s, I wrote in a newspaper column about roasting turkey for Christmas for friends.


The following week, I received a letter from a Pas Youth leader asking me to repent for I had deviated from the true path of Islam or so he had surmised just from what appeared to be my derring-do attitude for making a roast turkey dinner!


He said as roasting turkey has always been associated with the Christian religion, I, as a Muslim, should stick to “our own” traditional culinary delights (lemang, rendang?).


And that I had succumbed to Christian ideology which he claimed was so, so subtle, like roasting turkeys, and that Muslims would be easily influenced.


I sighed and laughed it off as being one of those quirks in life! This guy from Kelantan had probably never tasted roast turkey with cranberry sauce in his life, and yet he condemned the turkey as being heretic!


Like any other year, this year is no different when it comes to Dec 25; the world, and Malaysians included, celebrate Christmas. Like any other festival, it is celebrated in the true spirit of friendship, brotherhood, love and giving and most of all forgiving! And lots of turkey dinners, yum! And egg-nog, Christmas pudding and sweet potatoes!


Personally for me and my family, Christmas has always been a festival of happiness and a celebration of light.


From those days when we were in Canada and until now in Malaysia, except for this year, we have always had a small pine tree, namely a Douglas fir, in our living room that my wife and I, and our daughter when she was around, decorated.


Christmas in Canada was also fun. I had a lot of good memories, plus the snow AND the brutal wind-chill factor outside, and there will be a lot of presents under the tree for all of us.


Forget the religious connotations being associated with Christmas, this joyous celebration must be celebrated not only by Christians, but by Malaysians of all creed, colour and religion.


During my wandering days around the world, I had spent many Christmases with many groups, such as the most memorable one with a group of gypsies of Thessaloniki in Greece.


Here is the thing, gypsies are not even Christians and yet they find a reason to have fun. In their campsite they will make stew and they will be drinking a peculiar Greek drink called retsina, a type of wine that tastes like pine resin.


It tastes awful but after a while they forget the taste and start to spin and dance.


Come to think of it, I have celebrated Christmas with Ukrainians, Kurdish, Turkish, Indians, Albanians, Croatians, Chinese, Bosnians, Germans, Indonesians, Dutch, Slovaks and many, many more unique tribes of the world, and they all have one thing in common — they all celebrate Christmas with such joy, gusto and happiness!


It is a universal thing.


Did you know that the late PLO leader Yasser Arafat attended Christmas mass with his wife Seha who is a Catholic? In the Middle East, not all Arabs are Muslims and not all Muslims are also Arabs. They celebrate one another's religious celebration as Arabs. Even the sermon is in the Arabic language.


I have a good friend from Sarawak whose multi-religious family lives under one roof. As I know it, Evelyn and her sister Joyce are Christians, and the other three siblings are Muslims; they love one another and no religion can separate them. They live under the true concept of 1Family, no matter what their religion is.


I know I am rambling, but it takes a lot of energy writing this column, knowing three of my most important persons — my wife, my daughter and my grand-daughter — are celebrating Christmas with friends and relatives over in Canada.


For the record, my only granddaughter, she is 10 months old, celebrated her first Christmas on this Planet Water, in Canada with her grandma-uwan, her mummy and her daddy, and her daddy’s relatives and I can only imagine how joyous it must be, and sadly I am not there.

So here goes, Merry Christmas and may God or Allah, bless us all! Especially to my “keepers” and those I dearly love!

Enjoy reading !!



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