"Life is not in the number of breaths you take. It's in the moments that take your breath away..." Desiderata found this quote at a new Blog he visited recently.
Then I checked the owner's Profile, "WoW!" was my first reaction -- from a 19-year-old. I next commented that "for a relatively young one, your writing is mature beyond your age" or somethin' to this effect. So true the adage: Never judge a book by its cover; my converse,-- or is it the corollary? -- would be "Don't underest'Mate any new kid on the block", some do surprise by the maturity beyond their Age!
Kyels definitely defines the last observation. Similar to kyels, I'm waiting to be "surprised" to discover many more Malaysian writers speaking their mind on Malaysian issues.
Following up on a Conversation with kyels, just past midnite Sunday marking the end of Politics-Free Party and beginning of an August month, I hereby post a CHALLENGE TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES to join me in a sort of "National Project" in conjucntion with our nation's forthcoming Birthday.
Titled "THE MALAYSIAN DILEMMA", this project will consist of a Series of Essays to discuss or ruminate, and to highlight, on the various challenges and issues of importance and of potential flashpoints facing Our Country. Malaysia will soon reach the age of 48, not very old to be dismissed as incapable of reform, neither too young to continue to be coddled on crutches.
Malaysia reallly need to stand tall and be Independent. Malaysians reallly need to aspire towards Towering status. We all need to stand up and be counted.
What Desiderata has in mind is for Readers to write on various sub-topics that fall within the main subject of THE MALAYSIAN DILEMMA. e.g. a constant Guest Blogger like Sabrina Tan who is a final-year undergard in dentistry in New Zealand, may wish to write on a Young Malaysian facing the Dilemma of whether to return home after graduation, relating her own concerns about brain drain, migration and Malaysia's graduate unemployment.And her family's sacrifices for their daughter to pursue an overseas eduaction.
Desiderata himself, being quite updated on Politics/CivilSociety issues, might essay on the Political Landscape in a Globalised World; looking at Vision 2020 from 1990 Horizons (end-NEP);there are a host of topics to work on. Dear esteemed readers, WILL YOU ACCEPT THIS CHALLENGE?
Hopefully, a wide enough range of ages would sally forth from Guest Contributors. Desi can only record your contribution as a form of National Service -- for we are all Malaysians, equally committed to the nation's destiny and progress towards Developed Nation status; Let No Quarter Question Any of Our Loyalty come 31 August 2005 as did happen in the few years past on this auspicious occasion. Let not some silly Minister cast any aspersions on any Malaysian, young or old, regardless of colour, creed and gender. Don't let any stupid minSTER, using his myopic definition of "patriotism", cast any stones in the wrong direction...
You can help by sending to Desiderata your Essay to chongyl2000@yahoo.com by
25 August 2005.
Meanhile, share with thee a little ditty:
HORSE WIND
Will thee join the Malaysian journey
Driven by an energetic HORSE WIND
So that on attaining Malaysia's Vision 20twenty
We'll witness Happy Rakyat's faces prevail
Or should we look on by the sideline
Caught in a tsunami bind
Helpless, resigned and we can only whine
Victims of foul winds leaving a disastrous trail
Come 31 August 2005
Let's be kicking&alive
But beware sweet, rambling words
Coated with honey and wine outside
Loaded with arsenic and bile inside.
Barking "Fly the Jalur Gemilang"
While they at 6-star hotels
Celebrate, overseas and overboard
Cemerlang, Terbilang indeed with Our Wang.
But let's skip all doubting words
And head for HapPyNess and thanks
Thanks for the wonderful accords
Between new won Malaysian fRiends
Better than money&jewels in the banks
Happy is when as citizens PublicJoe
We get to share in the nations' success
WE can walk with dignity, we get a Fair Go
Our sonsanddaughters have a fair chance to progress.
Especially Dedicated to All mGf
Acquired via Blogosphere
On Every GOod Day
Especially Today, Tomorrow
And Monday to Sundae
And especially on MERDEKA DAY
So let our cooperative winds blow
Let our people aspire towards towering status
Finally collectively we reap what we sow
As Malaysian citizens, let's Ride the Horse Wind
The Horse Wind to progress
Our Success.
So that my fRiends
In another 15 years,
Mayhaps, we have a nation to call Our Own
The Horse Wind guides us safely, finally, Back Home
PS: As a guide and give Readers some prompting, please at lesisure read two earlier series of essays Desiderata ran:
SEVEN7
in 5 parts from July 12 - 16, 2005;
Losing Our Country ... ?
in 4 parts from June 29 - July 2, 2005.
Salaam,G'Day,
GOoD Mornin'!
Wishing Thee Everythin'Beaut&Nice!
6 comments:
An essay only? Extend the deadline, compile it and publish it as a book.
Who would buy it one may ask?
WoW, Anon. You Are Fast!
(!) Responding to this Post within 30 minutes!
(2) Thinking so FAR ahead to put it into a book. I hazard a GUESS you're from the Marketing field?
Anon, serriosly speaking, that's somethin' for the longer term -- if the response is GOoD -- in terms of wide range of conributors, regardless of age, gender, race or creed -- and with sufficient braedth and depth, that will be Desi's aim: BOOK IT! Will thee respond?
The 25 August, maybe stretch it to August 27 deadline is to enable me to EDIT the copies in a series around Merdeka Day, just 30 short days away, maybe starting with my own piece on August 25.
DearReaders, Desi welcomes any and all suggestions.
Hi Mito-C,
Good to hear thy Voice again ..yes, I've dropped by pccasionally to read thy innermost thoughts.
I am ENCOURAGED and GLADDENED by your prompt response to Desis initiaive ... motivated by my earlier (linited ut heartening endeavour with Sabrina) penning "Losing Our Country...?". Your views will be highly appreciated.
Take your time, you have three LONG weeks -- as a journalist, I can tell you I work best under very TIGHT deadlines ... maybe 48 hours looming, testing my adrenaline flow! A little like "hara-kiri" sensation mayhaps, though I have seldom miss'd the "eadline"(digressing, many ppl someyimes confuse with "ateline"... as in news media, refers to PLAC (e.g. Kuala Lumpur) and TIME (e.g. Sunday or July 31...).
So Mito-C, tell your story as IT IS, no holds barred -- we are here telling the MALAYSIAN STORY, learning from each other -- young or old, regardless of race, gender or colour and creed.
I thank thee in advance.
Welcome Nilesh:
Thanks a lot for recording the attribution of that quote;).
More importantly, can I persuade you to come on board this joint CHALLENGE -- guest me with an Essay before August 25, warming my heart, as the Eagle Wings would take me?
Thanks2 to thee, 2 in Advance!
Hi Desi,
Indeed this is a great challenge. I guess it's one of the biggest challenges that I've seen on blogosphere. I am a new kid so do correct me if I am wrong. :)
Well, I hope my write up on the Malaysian Dilemma was cool though. And great to see you dropping by my blog once again.
And looking forward towards replying your mail.
Cheers to you. And have a nice day.
Kyels:
My pleasure.
And feel free to amplify on your Post on The Malaysian Dilemma. Even on another sub-topic within thy area of activity and knowledge specialisation.
("za you, za you") or Add oil, add oil, the "cheering" slogan in Mandarin translated.
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