The Singer, Not the Song...

Thanks to the Government and some bungling ministers and deputy ministers, Blogging in Malaysia has come under the Spotlight (become controversial?) for the wrong reasons. Let me state clearly this is one blogger Desiderata's views and why I blog and what I enjoy most about this journey.

First what I don't do -- in a short LIST BELOW -- in puting up my posts which I almost do as a daily ritual xcept for occasional hiatrus (plural for those hwo can afford it: Haiti!) to recharge the human battery which has a finite lifespan, just as your car's.

* I don't write to discredit my country - I love my NegaraKu as much as the neighbours.

** I don't write like it is a contest -- to score points, against any third parties.

*** I don't write for income generation -- no advertisements, no mercenary posting for pecuniary interests.

On why I write:

+ I write on key issues of Malaysian society, focusing on its civic-sociol-political happenings -- I care too much for NegaraKu to refrain from NOT writing.

++ I write with quality in mind, with First World benchmarks like clarityifnight.blogspot.com to guide me because it's precisely what Vision 2020 entails -- Therefore I think, I write, then I am. Did I borrow this?

+++ I write because I must do justice to God's gift to "Desi" for bestowing "him" with a flair of wordsmithry. I used "Desi" as if the Blogger is a "third person", hence "him" which is partially true. My persona in real life and in blogsporld definitely differ. I hope the difference is not "big", but there is always a "gap" (not intentional but nevertheless existant). I really hope to meet as many of my fellow Bloggers and EstemedReaders as possible, hence my G7 Meets (three to date, still counting...) Those I have
met" in person are quite close to their blogosphere personalities, because whether you like it or not, your writing "reveals" more of thee than a studio best-foot-forward shot, or your iompromptu party acts, which are 'two-dimensional'. A person is at least three-dimensional, as represented by the conventional x-, y- and z-axes. But there is the all-defining 4th axis -- I call IT the s-axis, for soul-axis.

I came back from a four-day hiatus -- chiefly for soul-nourishment interacting with Mother nature and my soulmates, comprising past and present teachers and poets -- and decided to write again on this topic because of a Meme I spied at Jason Evans. Those who have followed Desi's writes closely would know I had ventured to ClarityOfNight for some creative advenctures (Remember Twin Lights and Midnight Sanctuary?) and I promised a myGOoDfriend I would visit that field again to plant some seeds.


Just extract two points to learn from a fellow writer who is professionally trained as a lawyer, Jason:

::

from his post of Friday, July 28, 2006
The Interview Meme

:
:
1. When did you first start blogging and why?

I started The Clarity of Night on August 18, 2005, so I'm coming up on my one year anniversary.

I suppose I did it out of desperation. Novel writing is a dangerous business. Mistakes aren't cheap. Let's face it, we only have so many years to live, and each less-than-successful attempt is one less novel we can write later. I had been banging around on my own for a few years, and I started to feel trapped. I wasn't sure I was on the right track. I wasn't sure I was writing the right way. I wanted to explore more things than one storyline revision after revision. This blog started as a wide-open creative outlet for me to pour all of my far-flung interests into. Since each post didn't take too much effort, I could do anything, take chances, and most importantly, get feedback. I soon discovered how much I could learn simply by watching how people reacted.

:
:

3. Are you and your blogging persona the same person?

Yes. What probably doesn't come through is I like to joke around, think on my feet, and have philosophical conversations. I have a dark, dry sense of humor. Also, in whatever group I'm in, I usually become the resident confidant/psychologist. And if you won't tell me, I can usually find a way to coax it out of you.

4. How do you use blogging to build friendships?

I've always felt a bit out of step with most people around me. By creating a little reflection of my perceptions here and opening it to the world, I've been able to meet like-minded people. I'd have to say this ability to break down distance and isolation is one of the greatest gifts of the internet.

::


Coming back from hiatus, these few comments of my regulars elicited my writing above in trying to be honest in my responses. I will also address some specific points following the comments where needed, but LATER, bear with Desi while I bore you a little on
THE SINGER, NOT THE SONG ~~


sabrina said...

hey desi:

yes, take a break and indulge in the world of literary =)
Msia politics.. haiyah.. no need to see or say anymore lah..
it's hopeless, from where i see it :P

only solution: V for Vendetta stuff.. muahahah :)

take carez, my friend


Anak Merdeka said...

AAB & gang are such killjoys, aren't they? But I'm expecting Dr M to take that as a challenge & give us more entertaining stuff now that the gloves are off. We live in such boring times, we shud all be thankful that someone is willing to spice up our lives a bit!


howsy said...

Ooopss...typo. Image=imagine.

Since you're taking a hiatus from socio-poli, why not talk about yourself. C'mon, it's time you do yourself some self-interview, like me. :P


Helen said...

**knock knock** Miss you.

I second howsy's suggestion. Err, photo illustration would be a good start. Influential blogger said face behind a blog gives more credibility.


Twisted Heels said...
Hello Desi!!

You're on a break eh? I had been reading your posts and saw one where you were asking about me :)

How are you? Hope you're enjoying your Sunday con bf! (See, I remember!)

Blog when you feel fresh, up and running okay? Miss your political brainstorming puzzles!


Yan said...
mGf,

Have enough break. I thought it's just a "Kit-Kat" break!

DESIDERATA:

Sabrina, and All:

You always challenge Desi which is good, but I ditto likewise to thee so that we won't give in, or up, so easily without a fight. You agree to be positive; as a writer with passion, I go one plane higher, I urge my Y&A readers to be Optimistic as well so that we can be proactive and noit just be spectators of what's happeing around us -- be it political, social, arts and the eco-environment. An individual can make a difference -- it's the mind that will determine if you are prepared to be a Mahatma Gandhi, Marin Luther King, or Evita or Madonna. Or Shakespeare, or Lin Yutang, or John F Kennedy, or Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

"V" for Vendetta -- care to elaborate?


Anak M:

++AAB & gang are such killjoys, aren't they?++
mGf, I agree with some parties being "killjoys", but it's NOT AAB, imho, it's his underLINGS, who don't know any better. May I hold that for discussion later with The Singer...?

++

Howsy & Helen, ipohLANG acting in concert/consort:

And from one of my fave groups, it's only
WORDS, and words are all I have
To take your heart away.


BTW, if you can call this a 'reveal': if you wanna know, some "greatest" (where almost every single track is a winner in its own right) ALBUMS I listen to to rev up my brain cells while writin':

Carole King's TAPESTRY
Faith Hill's PEARL HARBOR
Bee Gees' FIRST OF MAY

(Unfortunatel the King of Rock&Roll has all his greatest hits spread all over many albums...so go spend a fortune!)

'Zhen Rong':

This one does not 'twist' her words, often only her 'heels', and when I got to know the 'real' name behind the pen, I feel privileged to address her in reality, yet cyber~~ I recall thee just to 'Pep" thee up at a key turning of the tide.

Blog when you feel fresh, up and running okay? Miss your political brainstorming puzzles!

I'm so relieved someone appreciates when I write tongue-in-chic' (of course it has to be a she, NOT howsy or Mave, and please no green-eyed Incredible Hu'ks!:)

And mGf yan ~~ to whom I owe much, and yet it's so little -- like just carry-on boasting! -- when it comes to being Just Friends. Now do you need Sabrina, Kyels and Theels to be your Pom-Pom ...?

And this came in from my Poetic counterpart in sinGalong land, Joe.Psc~~

Desi,

Chew on this for a minute:

"Men seek out retreats for themselves in the
country, by the seaside, on the mountains... But
all this is unphilosophical to the last degree...
when thou canst at a moment's notice retire into
thyself." - Marcus Aelius Aurelius


The Singer Not the Song

aMore after news catch-up and tummy tucker-up~~
I googled and for time-saving, here's the summary:

Starring: Dirk Bogarde, John Mills, Mylène Demongeot, Laurence Naismith, Eric Pohlmann, John Bentley
Directed by: Roy Ward Baker

1961-UK


PLOT DESCRIPTION

This unusual western concerns the conflict between a priest and a Mexican bandito from A Night to Remember (1958) director Roy Baker. Father Keogh (John Mills) is a Catholic priest who arrives in the remote Mexican village of Quantano to build a congregation, unaware that the town is terrorized by the ruthless criminal Anacleto (Dirk Bogarde). An atheist, Anacleto has forbidden worship, so when Keogh holds services, Anacleto retaliates by murdering the locals in alphabetical order. Keogh refuses to back down.

Impressed by his valor, Anacleto calls his men off and makes the priest an offer -- he'll spare him if he determines which inspires greater good, "the singer" (the priest) or "the song" (religion). Keogh doesn't answer. Meanwhile, one of the clergyman's followers, the young girl Locha (Mylene Demongeot), flees when her family, realizing that she's in love with Keogh, arranges a marriage with someone more suitable. Anacleto finds the girl and offers Keogh another deal. He'll let the girl live if the priest will admit his failure before his congregation. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide

As I said often, one field I reluctantly enter into is RELIGION, but today's being fictional, it's easier on my mind.

As with all great religions -- Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, Judaism and Taoism -- most of us would accept they preach universal values of showing compassion, love, humanity to fellow human beings, to creatures big and small, and to do good and avoid doing harm to others. The Song is universal and hardly anyone quarrels about the message.

Only when it comes to the followers. The PREACHERS. That's when the problem starts for then the "human" factor comes in. When it's the Singer who brings along his own personal frailties and prejudices -- like unwitting ignorance, and wrong interpretations -- that taint, even corrupt, the Song.

But in the Cowboy movie, it was the reverse, quite an exception really in life. The bandit Anacleto was impressed by Father Keogh; he was NOT enamoured by the preacher's Word.

In modern life, it's not often we are happy with the Messenger. Based ion personal experience, I often keep at arm's length most Preachers (Singers), for they often don't sing the Song in Essense of the word, rhythm or rhyme. So it's better for opne to refer to the Scriptures directly for inspiration, bypassing the messenger or reader.

WHY IS DESI SERMONISING THIS THIS AFTERNOON?

Mainly giving my 3sen's worth about all the noise -- cacaphony of sounds -- going on in Malaysian politics. For almost two monmths now, former PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his lieutenants/henchmen/hatchetmen have been firing round after round of salvoes (SHOOTING AT PAK LAH, is that a crime? Some parties would deem it so if the latest, IMHO-lah!, Much Ado About Nothing created at JeffOoi's screenshots involving P Gunasegaram and a conversationist Ilmran's "shoot him..." comment.)

The Prime Minister has indeed maintained "elegant silence" before opening up his ammunition box -- and don't you underestimate what Mr Nice Guy's stings would amount to when the venom sinks in. And whether you realise it or not, much "venom" has been released into the Malaysian atmosphere, and some will fall victim. And usually THE LOUD MOUTHS HAVE THE MOST TO FEAR, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEIR OWN VOMIT LANDS BACK ON THEIR FACES!

Hence to Anak Merdeka, I agree with you there have lately been many "killjoys". Thye come from NOT THE SINGER -- PAK LAH.
The distortion comes from the CHORUS LINE, and remember, many of them were INHERITANCE FROM THE OLDE REGIME.

So the conclusion is: THE SONG IS NOT WORKING. The song of race-based poltics played by Barisan Nasional -- dominated by UMNO Big Brother -- is not in harmony. Hence the cacophony of sounds.

It's from the chorus line -- a few names? How about Fu Ah Kiow? Claiming he was "mis-reported" when talking about press censorship, including of the Net (by all the press?); subsequent clarification which another colleague ZAM punced own to add to it his own interpretation on the use of Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA) 1984.
How about Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman. Another "Semuanya okay" referrrring to Sipadan Island after a strong rebuke from the silent CEO; just like months ago the CEO of Malaysia's Most Decevloped State Khir Toto's chorus with reference to the denudation of environs near Seri Alam Cahaya Agriculture Park...

So my dear ER< blame not Pak Lah the Singer.
The PM has unreservedly said he's not Mr 10%; not even one-quarter per cent! He's happy getting up on ministerial pay. A vow I think consonant with one who in his poltical wilderness days had to sell off the only house he owned. But we can't say about the lifestyles of other ministers in his cabinet -- golden, silver or wooden.
Desi believes the PM 100%. But I'm not too sure about his underlings. I believe the ongoing Sandiwara is slowly building up to a Mutiny. Recalls for Desi the famous/infamous
MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY.
And this could be a case of WHO GETS A BIGGER CUT OF THE SHRINKING BOUNTY?

No, I don't fault the Singer at all. He's a God-fearing man, and I have supported him all the way from Day One.
He asked of us Rakyat to tell it as it is.
Desiderata has taken Pak Lah on his Word -- I'd continue to tell IT as it is. Unless and until I am shown otherwise is the real message.

Raja Petra Kamarudin is among my faviourite singers, right up there with the Bee Gees, Elvis, and Faith Hill. Go listen to his Humouring about Rumours.But make sure your English is right up there before you challenge him. You challenge Desi and I'll still offer thee a tehtarik plus Miss Sunthi, or I'll press DELETE key. But with RPK, thou may get more than an earfool.:)