Let's not be Stupid.

I'm no religious scholar, I might not even be a smart enough person to be commenting on this, but like I've always believed; everyone is entitled to their own opinions. They might choose not to say it out loud, post it as a facebook status, blog about it or hold debates on the issue. Nonetheless, everyone has their own take on a certain issue, and here are my thoughts on recent events that have taken place in MY country.

They say it started when the Herald used the word "Allah" in one of their publications. Being Catholics, Muslim scholars believe that they can't use the word "Allah" because it is meant for the Muslims and the religion of Islam.

From The Star, Friday, January 4th.

"It was only proper for other religions to use the word "God" and not "Allah" when referring to their God in respective beliefs, Abdullah said, adding that the use of the word “Allah” shall not be made a public debate that may give the impression as if there is no freedom of religion in the country."

and in the same article...

"On Dec 31, the publication’s editor Father Lawrence Andrew said the weekly was allowed to continue printing its Bahasa Malaysia section with no restriction on the use of the word “Allah” for God."

So, I did some research, (I can be a doofus when it comes to religion, so yeah, research is good!)

Apparently, "Allah" means God in Arabic. So, in the Middle East, the issue of who can and cannot use "Allah" to refer to God, well, has never occurred. Because Arab Christians use "Allah" to refer to God in Arabic bibles.

Exhibit A:

In Arabic :

Qu'ran 1:1 - English translation]

"In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful."

[Qur'ân 1:1 - Arabic transliteration]

"Bismi-Allahi ar-Rahmani, ar-Raheem"

[Qur'ân 1:1 - Arabic]

Even I know this, because we learnt it in school.

But I didn't know this, Exhibit B:

[Genesis 1:1 - English Bible - King James Version]

"In the beginning God created the Heaven and the Earth . . . "

[Genesis 1:1 - Arabic transliteration]

"Fee al-badi' khalaqa Allahu as-Samaawaat wa al-Ard . . . "

[Genesis 1:1 - Arabic Bible]

Still not convinced? Exhibit C:

[Luke 1:30 - English Bible - King James Version]

" . . . Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God."

[Luke 1:30 - Arabic transliteration]

" . . . Laa takhaafee, yaa Maryam, li-annaki qad wajadti ni'amat(an) i'nda Allahi."

[Luke 1:30 - Arabic Bible]

Okay, so...even if I am wrong about this. There is no reason for the whole country to go about it tooth and nail. If the ruling is such that they can't use the word "Allah" in their future publications. Then so be it. The ruling has already been done. There shouldn't be anymore debates, speculations or pointing of fingers on the issue anymore. Let it be.

There is absolutely NO REASON for people to go about burning down churches or protesting anymore. What has been done, has already been done. Let it go, already! If you think that attacking mosques is something that no one should do, then you shouldn't attack churches either. Places of worship are sacred, no matter what the religion is and that is what we have been taught ever since we were children. Especially the religion of Islam. We have been taught to respect others and their respective religions, as per agreed upon in the Medina Charter (Piagam Madinah), drafted by our Prophet Muhammad S.A.W.

If we are trying hard to prove to the world that Islam is not a religion of terror, well, we're kinda failing. So come on, get some brains. Think about it. A pebble in the water makes a ripple effect. The actions of some may lead to the destruction of all.

And that's what I think.

Pleasurable, indeed.

One of the best albums I've heard in a while... especially coming from an AI alum.

Kudos Lambert!

and don't worry, I'm really okay with the fact that he might be singing the whole album for some random guy instead of a really hot chick. I really am okay with it. Because this is orgasmic, yo!

I could moan to this...ahhhh

Personal favourites:

Whataya Want From Me

Aftermath

Lull.

I dunno, it's either I'm so goddamn busy that I don't have time to blog...

OR

I just have nothing to blog about. Writer's block, if you may... Haih...lullness.

And another...

R.I.P

Brittany Murphy

(Nov 10, 1977 - Dec 20, 2009)

Gone too soon.
Little known fact: I envied her for months because she had a quickie with Eminem.
Is that wrong?


Our fav movie makeoveree

is it just me? or are there wayyyy to many R.I.P's for 2009?

Cameron, you did it again!

Yes!!! I knew James Cameron wouldn't disappoint me..I knew it!!





Verdict : Loved every minute of it (all 3 hours!!). Might as well have been 5 hours, because I want more!! wowowowo!

And then there was KBM...

SO, for the past two weeks, we've had two debate tournaments back to back..

First, there was the Great Serdang Debate (GSD) in UPM, Serdang.
Didn't perform well there, didn't even break. Was kinda upset about it...but I told myself to stay positive for my team mates and for KBM...

Balloons (our debate coach) and Praba were the champions of GSD. Wooot! Proud of you, Balloons! You're definitely not fired. Hahaha.

And then came VC Cup 2009. We were given the honour of hosting and running the tournament for the very first time in KBM. The deal was, my job was to debate and perform up to the expectations of my coach, my lecturers, the campus director and my friends. However, someone decided to fuck up so the debaters ended up running the whole tournament as well as debating.

I've always said it, and I'll say it again; when push comes to shove, and with hope and a little bit of luck, we can do exceptionally well, and we certainly did.

The tournament ran smoothly, although with minor hiccups here and there, we pulled through and eventually hosted one of the best tournaments in UiTM (or so the feedback suggests).

Best of all, three KBM teams broke into the quarter finals, two teams made it to the semis and one team eventually succeeded in getting into the finals. That actually brought tears to my eyes, seriously.

Credits go to:

Datuk Mizan
Pn. Aida
Mdm. Josephine
Mdm. Nagamany
Balloons
Iqbal Hafiedz
KBM 1- Azim and Sha (Quarters)
KBM 2- Faris and Jehan
KBM 3- Noel and Fina (Quarters, Semis and Finals)- 4th place
KBM 4- Rosal and Omar
KBM 5- Bobo and Alif (Quarters and Semis)
Adjudicators - Mira and Milah

The Runners:
Pamie
Jeffrie
Aiman
Bob
Adi
Hamdi
Nadiah
Farah
Faez
Alief
Aina
Toni
Sophia
Rauf
Suzy

Getting 4th place was a little bit disappointing but I'm seriously happy with it, it was actually an honour to have been given the chance to stand and compete amongst great UiTM debaters on one stage. For myself, getting the "best speaker" award was truly amazing. Thanks to those who believed in me.

Thank you so much to all those who were involved directly/indirectly. Without you, this would have never been possible. And to those who shirked, I feel sorry for you, because you could have been a part of something amazing. Till next year, and many more ass-kicking years to come from KBM. We really are a force to be reckoned with.

hard at work, yo!

Mdm. Jo - bored

Finals

4th place is better than nothing, I say.

The crew, yo!

KBM 1

KBM 2

KBM 3

KBM 4

KBM 5

more pics in Facebook!

It's A Wolf Thing.

Watched New Moon the other day...

1. Hated the storyline
2. Scenes were sketchy.
3. Edward and Bella's love scenes were excessive and boh-ring. I mean, don't kiss passionately a gazillion times and then not have sex later. It's annoying and just sad.
4. The vamps look like they had waaayy too much foundation on. (yes, more than the first movie).

BUT...the upside:

1. I've never been a die-hard fan of Twilight, except for the special effects and certain scenes that make you go goo-goo-ga-ga over the hot, hot men.
2. Edward's mother, a.k.a Esme (Elizabeth Reaser), looked uber gorgeous, I love watching her (even though she appeared in like, 2 scenes.)
3. THE WEREWOLVES. zomg! They were amazingly super super hawt! Hamana Hamana Hamana! Never thought I'd have the hots for 17-year old Taylor Lautner a.k.a Sharkboy, but I do. I really do! I cannot express the words to describe how hawt he was in the movie! His merry band of wolves were no exception. They are a breath of fresh air compared to the frail, pale, cold-skinned and dead vamps.

Yummy.

I just love to look at them and I hope they kick the Cullens' asses back to the 19th century where they belong. Long live the Werewolves!