Berbudi & Berbahasa; Kelemahan Bangsa Melayu

Assalamualaikum dan salam sejahtera!

Dalam kesibukkan dan perasaan yang sungguh stress dengan sistem UIA yang tak membantu pelajar ni, ramai betul yang berbalas kata dekat medsos; antara pihak yang tertindas dan pihak yang rasa tertindas ni manja. LOL

Bila tengok/baca pertingkahan kata antara dua pihak ni, tercetus satu perkara dalam fikiran; Melayu dan budi bahasa. Orang kata Melayu ni terkenal dengan budi dan bahasanya. Sopan santun, baik, lemah lembut. Kekuatan bangsa Melayu paling hebat dari zaman Kesultanan Melaka hingga sekarang (walupun santun sekarang kurang banyaknya).

Walaubagaimanapun, saya rasa budi dan bahasa Melayu inilah yang menjadi kekurangan bangsa Melayu. It's like a double-edge sword.

Kenapa budi dan bahasa milik bangsa Melayu ni satu kelemahan?

Bangsa Melayu ni bahasa yang terlalu menjaga kesantunan. Kalau ikut tradisi bangsa Melayu, bahasa yang digunakan mestilah menyedapkan, tak mengguris hati, berlapik dan menjaga perasaan. Eh tapi tu kan benda bagus?

Betul itu perkara bagus. Yang tak bagus bila ia melibatkan permasalahan, perselisihan, atau masalah penyampaian maklumat. Contohnya; peribahasa Melayu: yang tua dihormati, yang muda disayangi. Tradisinya, yang muda tak punya suara untuk meluahkan, dan yang tua punya kuasa. Dalam kes masalah sistem UIA ni, bila pelajar-pelajar meluahkan perasaan tak puas hati, pelajar-pelajar dihentam kembali sebab berlaku & dianggap biadap, kurang ajar, dan tak menghormati institusi akademik yang mencurahkan ilmu kepada pelajar-pelajar. Apa orang kata, tak berkat? Haa gitulah.

Kalau macam inilah bangsa Melayu, macam mana Melayu nak maju? Kena sentiasa menjaga perasaan dan adab kesopanan? Bukanlah saya kata nak selesaikan masalah ktia kena biadap. Tapi kita kena bezakan antara kebiadapan dan constructive criticism. Kalau betul pun orang tu biadap dalam meluahkan perasaan dia, amalkan peribahasa buang yang keruh, ambil yang jernih.

Orang Melayu ni terlalu ekstrim dalam menjaga tradisi dan budaya. Dalam mereka menjerkah orang muda kerana berlaku 'biadap', mereka juga telah melepaskan 'prinsip' mereka dalam berbudi dan berbahasa. Pertelingkahan yang berlaku antara dua generasi yang berbeza ni secara tak langsung menonjolkan juga sikap tidak professional sebab saling menghentam.

I really hate it when the elder ones think they can dictate the younger just because they are older. It's a form of fallacy, you know?

Percayalah, umur bukan ukuran kematangan dalam berfikir.

Ingat, buang yang keruh, ambil yang jernih.

Little Forest 2018 (Korean Movie)

Salam 'Alayk and hey guys!

So right now I want to share with you guys about Little Forest!

Little Forest is a 2018 korean movie that is relaxing, no-conflict, with nature vibe and aesthetic! I love the cinematography, how they portray the whole movie with that soft green nature vibe. It gave me the feeling of calm and makes me suddenly want to go have a garden for myself.

This is Wiki's synopsis on Little Forest:

The story of a young woman who returns to her childhood home, in a traditional Korean village, after leaving for the big city in pursuit of what turned out to be an elusive dream. When she gets home, her mother isn't there - but her mother's "Little Forest", the many ways in which a single mother successfully made a home for her much loved child, unfurl with a long succession of lovingly sketched details involving mostly food preparation.

The unfurling moments are lightly but lovingly shared with two childhood friends, one of whom also abandoned their elusive dream of success in the big city (Seoul) and the other who is still pursuing the small town equivalent of that elusive dream -- without ever leaving home.

Well the movie doesn't really say about the mother, where she gone to, is she dead or what. But it really focuses on the young woman, Hye Won (by Lee Tae Ri), how she lead her life at her home, while actually running away from her reality.

I know it said about cooking preparation. Yes the movie does show how Hye Won uniquely prepares her food, her sentimental elements on the food she made with memories of her mother, and mostly of Korean traditional food (at least I think it is). But the movie also show how she went to her friend's apple orchard, her own garden, how she made food with vegetables and fruits fresh from her yard. It is just awesome.

And from that part itself, it just shows that nature, trees, there are so much things we can do with them when give to them. You know like the phrase that says if you give to nature, the nature will gives you back (not exactly the words, but that's basically what it means). The nature vibe from this movie, it... it really fits its title, Little Forest.

It's like you have your own little forest. The place you seek tranquility, peace whenever you feel troubled. Or when you're having writer's block, or when you need some inspiration, this little forest is where you'll go to clean up you head and take a deep breath and have a new perspective. It's just supercalifragilisticexpialidocious (which just means amazing, but IT IS AMAZING!)!

After watching this movie, what I had in my head for a whole week was to own an orchard, grow my own food, and open to neighbours and friends and family for self-pick their desired food (and pay by weight). Sounds great. Sound like I could really make it real. #butrealitycheck

Either way, this movie is a must for those who are searching for #goodvibe movie, trying to relax and chill with the loved ones. PLUS, Little Forest won top 11 films from 38th Korean Association of Film Critics Award! Very impressive!

So now go head up to Youtube and search for this movie (yes it's there)! I know I don't tell much what this movie is all about, but I can't spoil the storyline! You have to watch it yourself.

Little Forest, definitely my new favourite movie of a whole new genre.

Pride & Prejudice (2005 movie)

Salam 'alayk and heyya guys!

Today, I am gonna rant on my favourite classic movie; Pride & Prejudice (2005)!

I haven't read the novel, but I just got my hand on the its sister novel, Emma. Either way, I keep falling and falling in love with this movie!

First, it is undeniable that I have a thing with British movies/shows. It's just that there's this aura, the British air that intrigue me so much, like they have so much elegance and their manners in conversing.. is just my type.

ESPECIALLY if it's set in the 15th or 16th century, or anywhere near their enlightenment era. It is just so cool! Plus, one thing I really like about British shows is that they often use sarcasm or joke in a serious way, in which that not all people can detect it. You get what I mean? It's like they have their own way in using sarcasm, that in first sight it doesn't look rude and just their usual elegance way of talking. LOL at me.

Anyway, back to Pride & Prejudice. This is my biggest romance movie ever! The romance is just subtle, it doesn't have that over the top cringy scenes, non of that PDA or excessive skinship, I can say that it is even appropriate for the underage kids.

Both Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett literally depict the title; pride and prejudice. Mr. Darcy is the person with pride, and Lizzy (Elizabeth) is the one with prejudice towards Mr. Darcy. And both of these pride and prejudice are what stopping them finding their romance in each other at the first place.

My favourite character for this movie is obviously Elizabeth Bennett. She is just so sensible? Like in that era, all girls were all about guys, getting married and such (at least that's what I see from the movie). It was a big deal for them on what age they got married. For example, Lizzy's bestfriend, Charlotte got married at the age of 27, and that was already considered as the late age, everyone else was looking down on her (well except Lizzy. She doted on her). But Lizzy, Lizzy is an avid reader.

Charlotte and Lizzy

Lizzy read a lot of books. Even the intro was on Lizzy walking back home while reading a book. Therefore, that makes her a lot more sensible, more knowledgeable than her sisters. In fact, she was the one who cared the most for her sisters, even more than her parents.

When her older sister Jane became sick at the Bingley's, Lizzy was the most concerned about her, and her parents couldn't care less. Lizzy walked from her house to the Bingley's (I forgot the name of the mansion), that her dress hem was soaked in mud. On other part, Lizzy tried to persuade her father to stop her youngest sister Lydia from marrying Mr. Wickham, because she knows Mr. Wickham was not an honest person.

The Bennet Sisters

Other than that, Lizzy is also her father's favourite, due to her quickness and intelligence in comparison to her sisters. Mrs Bennet was not really favoring her because she's not as pretty as Jane or as 'humorous' as Lydia, but I can say Elizabeth is the most interesting and pretty out of all her sisters.

Aaannd, Elizabeth Bennet was portrayed by Keira Knightley and she was sooooo prettyy in that movie! I. Am. So. In. Love!

Knightley looked so natural, she was not like the top shining bright beauty, but she is beautiful in her own way. I really love her smiles in the movie. How can Mr. Darcy not fall in love with her!

So... yeah. I'm done rambling on Pride and Prejudice, and Lizzy. But only on this blog. I could ramble on this movie on and on for hours, days!

So if any of you guys haven't watch the movie, or read the book, go do it now! I'm sure aside from the slow romance plot line, we can learn a lot on English language and British society in the 19th century (the time setting for Pride & Prejudice).

Women and their hormonal ride

Salam 'alayk and heyya guys!

We all know that generally women would have to go that period of time once a month right? And not everyone (even females) have the idea how torturing and frustrating it is, going through that time.

I, originally was never the type that had to go through painful cramps and terrible mood swings. Mine was always the cool and relax one, I could still have fun and all, to the one point I started questioned why would girls in schools skip school days whenever they entered that phase?

My, my, I regret questioning that.

IT IS PAINFUL! Once while I was walking back from class to my room, I had to stop at the sports center just to sit and crouch. I was sweating. It was like only 2 minutes walking distance to my room, yet I had to stop, because it was excruciating.

On emotional part, so far alhamdulillah I never had that emotional outburst or that sudden temper. But usually I do get easily irritated and annoyed days before. Feels like there's fire in me (I can be superwoman yeah).

But yesterday. Yesterday, I felt like crying out of nowhere. Someone asked my opinion and I felt a tug at my heart. I wanted to study but I couldn't, I was feeling melancholic. But I couldn't cry! That's the thing, and it's double frustrating.

There's this thread on twitter, on women sharing their emotional rides during that time of the month. What they had to go through was much more terrible! Like, she get to eat a good cookie then she outburst in tears? Thank God I am not like that.

Yet, not everyone knows how we feel, what we're going through. They don't know what our biological system in our bodies do to us. They don't understand the feelings we have to go through. They don't get our emotional rides.


May Allah gives people surrounding women a deep understanding on us. May Allah gives us women a huge strength going through our days. Ameen.

My verdict on Bible for muslim schoolkids

Salam 'alayk and good evening.

So around last two weeks, there was a news on Bible being distributed to secondary schoolkids right in front of the school gates. I don't know what's the current update of the case, but there's been quite a lot of 'discussions' and arguments on twitter on whether should Bible be given to schoolkids (Muslim) or not.

*Please note that "schoolkids" onward means muslim schoolkids.
*This article/post is meant for Muslims, therefore 'we', 'our', are referred to the Muslims. However people of other beliefs are welcome to read.

IN MY OPINION

I believe that schoolkids shouldn't be given Bible, or any other religious scriptures. For reasons:

1. Current school's religious curriculum doesn't include on how to 'understand' and 'read' other religions. 

Last time I check, kids were only taught at school on respecting other religions and their religious rights as per Islam teaches. But there is not subject, or topics discussed with the kids, or at least guide the kids on how to learn other religions, what are the basic knowledge needed to do that, the skills, and so on. 

If the kids were allowed to 'study' other religious scriptures, high chances are they might get confused with that religions' doctrines/principles/stories with Islam's.

       2. Schoolkids are still learning and in the process of building their basic belief in Islam (aqidah)

The 3 sifat of Allah (uluhiyyah, rububiyyah, asma' wa sifat), the 99 names of Allah, the creation of Adam and the world, stories of the prophets (pbut) and moral values from Quran. The affirmation on the Oneness of God, that God was not begetteth (created) and God does not begotten (beget a son).

Meanwhile in Christianity there's this Oneness of God, but in Trinity. How are the schoolkids supposed to understand this? Particularly when the Bible propagates this belief in so many different sentences and forms? They might interchanged the meaning of Oneness in Islam with oneness in Christianity.

       3. Lack of guidance in understanding the other religions and in comparing that religion with Islam

Just like how we were taught to learn different cultures, the meanings behind the cultural activities, what makes our culture different with the other cultures, we (especially the kids) also need teachers to learn about other religions. 

Say the schoolkids found out about the Gods in Hinduism and stories of the gods, and they found it so alien upon hearing the stories, how would they understand the essence of the stories and the importance of it in Hinduism? They might just disregard the stories as mythical and not-important.

Plus, learning about religions other than Islam for schoolkids can cause confusion for them. For example, even though Prophet Adam and Eve in Islam is the same as Adam and Eve in Christianity, the storyline and the points shown in Islam are contradictory with that of Christianity.

Who would be responsible for the kids confusion on beliefs in Islam and knowledge on other religions?

These 3 main points meant to show my argument on why Bible shouldn't be given to schoolkids. Unless there are knowledgable adults to guide them, I don't find it necessary for the underage kids to actually READ the other religious scriptures.

However, this doesn't mean that I'm against the culture of learning and respecting other religions. We live in a multicultural and multi religious society, so we're encouraged to learn religious practices like Christmas, Chinese New Year, and Deepavali. 

Religious harmony is important, but put protecting the right beliefs as our top priority.

This is purely my opinions, I am open to civilized discussion, with agree-to-disagree policy (as it involves opinions).

References

1. Cops to interview students, principal over Bible distribution case: Mujahid 

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2018/11/429180/cops-interview-students-principal-over-bible-distribution-case-mujahid

2. My brains.

Efforts that count

Salam 'alayk and heyya guys!

It's currently midnight, and been cool and rainy today.

I always thought it'd be most opportune that I'm having this break (mid-break), that I can finish reading a book or two.

but... it ends just as it is. A thought.

I didn't bring my currently-reading books with me back to hometown, but I do have other books in waiting here. The currently-reading books are 300 pages the least, and all of them are non-fictions. I should've bring one home, so I can continue and finish it. But I didn't. Which means I'd have to pick another new fresh book to read this break (because I want to improve my habit of reading non-fiction books).

However, knowing how I'm in such a slump this week, not in a spirit or so, reading a new book would only increase my currently-reading books list which is not a good thing to me. I can't multi-read. I'd feel miserable and stuffy with it.

Looking through the book stacks (mini bookshelf), I found a 46-pages book I got during a convention I attended at UIA, which is oh-so-perfect for a 5-minutes reading before sleep.

It's a really simple book, about the loving aspect of the Prophet pbuh throughout his life. Finished reading this on the 4th night.

At least there's something I've gained through this read. At least there's something I've accomplished this break, however simple it is.


Anyway, I don't want to break this streak of reading a non-fiction book, so after this I'll just continue by reading a book pdf in my phone (even though it's no fun).

I've downloaded an app for habit tracking called Habits. I'm using this on andoid, I'm not sure if it's available for ios. I got inspired to use an app to evolve my habit through ThomasFrank Youtube video: 21 Apps that FORCE You To Be More Productive. I always watched his videos, whichever I feel related, and the latest was this one. But the app recommended was Stride, but it's not available for android, so I opt for Habits, which is pretty good too.

So one of the habits that I listed in Habits is to read 3 pages of non-fiction book daily. I put 3 pages because I also want to read 3 pages of Arabic book daily, solely to improve my language skill.

So hopefully I'll continue to istiqamah, and managed to get a treak of 30 days!

Chayyok Kemy!

Stronger Spirit

Salam 'alayk and heyya guys!

I have always looked upon to people who always stand up, fight through their struggles, and go for what they want. People who seems like nothing is holding them down. People who can do anything just with themselves.

Pregnant mothers, mothers with kids, people with terminal illnesses, or just people who lack support for what they do.

What I'm feeling right now, is barely half, not even a quarter of what these people experienced. But I'm already feeling tired, devastated, hopelss, there's nothing else I can do. I wish I can be like them.

I am so weak.

There is so many things to do while at home. But I can't seem to get myself to do it. I don't want this a-week-short holiday gone to waste like that. This is the time where I can bond with my parents, this is the time where I can give them some rest. But then, the thing I'm experiencing is halting my spirit, and it goes plummet downward.

Can I borrow the people I looked upon to spirits? Can't they lend me whatever it is thats pushing them? My tribulation is nothing compared to them.

How am I this weak?

The last time I felt like this was when I was sitting for SPM. This is so tiring.


You can do this Kemy. You can.