SOUL'd OUT!

So appropriate, this talk about Soulmates, Selling Out during this season of Cheng Beng (All Souls' Day) being observed by a large section of the community who still believe there is more than the physical body turning into ashes at the point of a human's existence on earth called death.

The other day, when I wrote about mGf -- defined as my GOoD friend in the singular and the plural, I hope some of my ER (EsteemedReaders) are not offended when I categorically rule out non-God believers among mGf. It's just that I have come across people who think they are the centre of the world -- I, me and myself -- and nobody else matters. These people I avoid, hence my elaboration on why I spell GOoD or goOd to stress the embedding of GOD within us.

I believe there is a Supreme Being governing the turnings of the universe with all its stars and the various life forms on the planets including humble Earth which we know of, but even then, the more we know, the greater awareness of out limited knowledge. Based on this concept of God's presence, Homo sapiens then must possess that undefinable CONSCIENCE that drives ethical behaviour. Without conscience, humans are no different from animals -- but some sections of Society, be it western, eastern, contionental or NON CON -- are veering dangerously towards the abyss when basic animal instick take over. To wits of some cases that follow later after some aggression on this sriobe's part.

May I term this predilection to focus on Self -- self-centredness as a human trait Egocentrism? Compare with what a recently acquainted, gutsy and grriotty yvonnefoong, referred Desi to an article by her friend on Ethnocentrism. The concentration of one community's activities around his/her ethnic (racial?) origins.

But on Tuesday's morn Desi shall not delve deeply into those two concepts -- it might require a thesis demandings at least a sociological masters' student focus, mightn't it? Such subjects are best left for weekend rumination -- as weekdays are catching up with B&B for adults, and studies for others luckier, including adults who never wish to leave the hallowed halls of Cambride, Oxford and MIT -- some locals think I refer to ITM, it's okay because some katak(no ass, please note the plural form in Malay!) never want to leave the tempurung. Sorry if I ventured into Bee Err-emm, as Desi's pales in comparision with lunduner Howsy, Betul Tak; Semuanya KO? Hows'sdat?

Okay, enough of digression, but actually it's Desi's beating around the bush like some poor souls out there, who don't know what to do.

Case 1

Man offers to sell his soul

HONGKONG: A 24-year-old Chinese man
offered to sell his soul on the Internet
and attracted 59 bids, a news report
said yesterday. The man from Shanghai
put his soul up for sale on an auction
website and attracted a top bid of
681 yuan (RM312) before the website halted
the sale, the South China Morning Post said.
"I don't need it, and I want to give it
to someone who needs it," the man told
the paper. - dpa


Case 2

Girl, boyfriend
probed
over 'kidnap'

In brief, a F5 student allegedly conspired
with her bf to "stage" her own kidnapping
in order to extort from her family RM20,000.
Eight people -- what a lucky number! -- have
been netted for the alleged sell-out act.


Desiderata: for the rest of the story, please
go to the nearest 7ELEVEN to grab a free copy
of the morning sun; but if you are lazy to walk
that 100 meters which Dr Chua Soi Lek said is
good for thee if you're as optimistic as Desi
wanting to see Visi 3030 because 2020 arrived
too soon and NegaraKu was not ready to take on
the Developed Nation status. No, don't get me
wrong!
Our GDP, NEP, IFS (Infrastructure-lah,Highest Twin Towers
in the 'hole, widee worlde, remember?
-- we are right up there.
But many have LOST their souls.
Yes, SOUL'd OUT
also want to know!).

Is there any connection with wthe first two cases cited?
I don't know, my ER tell me!
Is there a connection with my next anecdote?
I also dunno, but I'll proceed to tell.


Case 3

DESIDERATA was involved with a so-called "buddy" in a JV (joint venture-lah, why you people don't read the business ppages, OR visit at least klsetracker.com frontpage, ah?) for one whole year.
On the trail of what clearly was a potentially "win-win" project with a Third Party
who gave up a lucrative medical practice to pursue his DreAm.

First half of the journey -- it was "we, we, WE!"

When there is the first glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel,
in the third quarter of the journey,
it mutated to "we, we and HE!"

Then as we entered the last quarter, LUST really took over.
The "we, we, WE!" had mutated into "I, me, myself."
It was ironic that often our buddy-buddy business meetings were conducted at Sri Hartamas' famed restaurant, SOUL'd OUT.

Sri H, how I envy thee , abode to all the lucky people in the world, where the most AP-acquired luxury cars assemble, and all the Yuppies have a gala time. The parties never stop in the wee hours of the morn -- no wonder some poor rich kids could meet their premature appointments with their almighty as they fell victim to some soul-less spirits who would kill jest for fun and fun-Ds.

Remember the abode to pretty Norietta Shamsuddin who was murdered after the bast... had had their fun screwing her, and even with DNA proof that the acuused was with her exchanging boduily fluids close to her moments of lus/last breath, the jude -- no, not in Portia's court -- deemed there was no prima facie case. Which translates into a case which justified caliing for the accused to put up a defence. Another SOUL'd OUT.

Remember the young man back from legal studies in the UK who was assaulted right in front of his gf by a group of soulless thugs until he bled to death. Yet another SOUL'd OUT...


Case 4

Turn to page 5, subheaded news without borders

Sexy media a siren call to promiscuity: Study

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Sexually charged music,
magazines, TV and movies push youngsters into intercourse
at an earlier age, perhaps by acting as kind of virtual peer
that tells them everyone else is doing it, a study said Monday.

"This is the first time we've shown that the more kids are exposed
to sex in media the earlier they have sex," said Jane Brown of the University of North Carolina, chief author of the report.

Previous research had been limited to television, said the study
which looked at 1,017 adolescents when they were aged 12 to 14
and again two years later. They were checked on their exposure
during their two years to 264 items - movies, TV shows, music
and magazines - which were analysed for their sexual content.

In general, it found that the highest exposure levels led to more
sexual activity, with white teens in the group 2.2 times more likely
to have had intercourse at ages 14 to 16 than similar youngsters who
had the least exoposure.
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DESIDERATA is not advocating that the soullessness of the state of society in some communities is traceable to the scenarios cited -- I wish to jog fellow Readers'
discerning minds to wonder if there are some threads weavable amoing the happenings
cited, whether locally or abroad. In the process if Desi gets just one Reader to come back with some feedback -- brokeback, wits, warts and all - it' already hi-heaven for a scribe trying to make sure his own soul is not SOUL'd OUT.


I'm sorry I have to remind some Readers that we need to believe in a GOD, however and whoever you deem Him to be. Some sceptics out there may beg to differ. I'll defer. It really does not matter. There is no victory in sight for either school.
The only awakening is an individual searching into himself/herself right into the deepest wells of his Innermost Being. But quoting from my sifu Max Ehrmann's Desiderata I find some guidepost, seeking my ER indulgence to note the highlights as being highly relevant to today's rumination:


Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.


Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.


Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.


Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.


You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.


Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.


With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.


Max Ehrmann, Desiderata, Copyright 1952.