Peace and The Freedom of Choice

From a small column news, to the front page. I am not sure how fast the conflict in Egypt developed or for how long it has been brewing. However, I'm sure you all can find further updated news of this conflict on many websites.

To me, it is an act to aggressively signal to the leader(s) that they are doing something which the people does not like. When the people's voice gets ignored, they rise up against the government. An act of severe aggression, started with the mere intention to voice out displeasures over certain issues.

On a same note, peace is hard to come by these days. Since the September 11 event, a great war is being fought by many people across the world. Unfortunately, everyone seemed to be involved in this war, whether voluntarily or not, in silence or in the open. We are all trapped on the thin line that separates peace and chaos. Thus, all acts must be considered carefully before doing it.

People are given the freedom of choice. To me that is one of the key factors that lead to many disagreement. Don't get me wrong, freedom of choice can be used in a totally great way. It allows people to choose the right path for themselves. Unfortunately, like with all other tools we have, it is always the person that makes the tool evil.

In this author's point of view, the people has a right to stand up and voice out their dissatisfaction. It is the function of the government to listen and observe the people they serve, to explain the rationality of their actions and if necessary, to concur with the people. Likewise, it is the responsibility of the people to choose their leaders carefully, to voice out their opinion in a civilised manner and to exert the power of the people only when completely necessary.

I don't want to say here under what circumstances are the use of people power necessary, because all of us are gifted with the ability to reason. I believe that, everything being said, tolerance is the key to peace. The only problem with tolerance is that we do not really see (for those who choose to do so) how others tolerate us.

We might have an issue with our neighbour parking his car up to our gate, so we tolerate and parked our car outside to ease maneuver. But did we see that our neighbour had put up with our habit of turning up the stereo every so often at night.

It is totally up to us to choose what path we want to follow, just as it is up to us to choose whether to see and do good or not. It is totally up to us to make peace or chaos. We are the ones living in this world. We have been given the power of choice.

I... I pray for my friends, and all the innocent ones trapped in the conflict in Egypt, in Palestine, and everywhere else in the world.

The world is never ours.

Because They Are People Too...

I was washing my clothes late this morning when I took around my surroundings. The toilet on the first floor of the Etana block in Village 6. It has always been that way, clean and sparkling every morning, no matter how dirty it gets the night before.


It dawns on me how hardworking the janitors are, cleaning the toilets, corridors, lecture halls and every other place in this university. And they do all that for people they mostly don't even know. Sure they get paid to do the job, but that isn't really the point of this topic.


They can easily slack on the job and nobody will know. But every morning, the trash is gone, the grime is wiped out, the dustbin is empty, all proof of how they sincere their work are. And I never even say a word of thanks to these people, who provided service so that the future generation can study in comfort.


Then, as I went out to hang my clothes on the line, I remembered some other people who perform vital functions yet are hidden in plain sight. The security officers, office people, librarians, lab technicians, are but some of the people that ensures everything is in order for another day of operation.


Unfortunately, some of us take these people for granted and even worse, discriminate them because of their job. I don't really have to say that even in this modern age, a shade of the feudal system is still in people's minds. Classifying people according to their social status. The phenomenon that plagued some of us in society.


Every one of us plays a role in maintaining world order. That's why we are here. So let's reflect back on all the people around us and begin or continue to appreciate them, because they are people too...

Housewarming

Welcome one and all to the spot where I bare my soul. Being a university student, the development of my views towards the world are constantly changing, and sometimes it became pessimistic. But I must not give up hope, for the world is dynamic. Tomorrow will be another day, with other chances and changes to the world, and to myself.


So I welcome you reader, whoever you are, supporter or critic, friend, neutral or hostile, to my virtual diary.