Urged by me good buddy and blogging friend; anfield devotee, I'm gonna reminiscent about those by-gone days during my childhood where the only damn colours most I could see was just red, white, blue and yellow on our "Jalur Gemilang."
I am thankful for a fact that i grew up in a small town area and during a time when things were so much more simple and innocent. I studied in the same Methodist school from age 7 to 17, with classmate from all over the place in Sitiawan, Perak; Malays from the kampungs, Indians from the estate plantations and the Chinese from the town areas. They are all the same to me and I didn't even think i understood what the fook racial tension is all about. The only thing i cared about was going to school to hang out with my friends - being mischievous, disturbing the girls and play sports.
I started noticing the real world during my late teenage years when my inquisitive mind started to dwell more into politics. Can't be help by the fact that my entire clan was supporting the "rebels" and me dad even worked as a campaign worker once. Being transplanted to the city from a small town make you grow and wise up pretty quick.
The internet revolution and information age really opened my eyes to a lot of hidden truths about Malaysian society as a whole. I learned the term "yellow journalism" during my American education system days in college. Well, it's not as bad as that but "selective reporting" and "sugar-coating the truth" is not exactly the kind of ethical journalism you come to expect as well.
The truth hurts and to use "scare mongering" to basically swept everything under the carpet and have it explode right in front of our faces in this critical time in our nation is bloody frustrating and disparaging. Sometimes i wonder are we kidding ourself or blinded by hatred and misunderstanding.
I have not have any serious racist remarks hurled at me or had any unfortunate racially link events happen to me. Then again that doesn't mean I've not uttered some racist remarks when i talk to my own race or have some uttered behind my back. Come to think of it, even though the remarks could have been spur of the moment comments or jokes, it still doesn't make it right.
The tragic thing that saddens me is how a young kid with a carefree and innocent mind grow up into one that has racist tendencies. Has the education system failed to integrate us? Has the mentality of all the races changed at all after 50 years of independence? Has the "scare mongering" tactics come back bite us by making certain people feel more superior that the others? How did one race ended up feeling oppressed and inferior while the other superior? These are just some of the questions that need dire answers for all of us Malaysian to progressed as a united nation.
What we see now is just a distorted and sweetened view of the facet of our society perpetuated by those in power to make everything look neat and tidy. The core of the whole society is crumbling from within. It's time to wake up and smell the coffee, take stock of ourselves and work together not against each other.
If only i could return to those days when things were so simple and i could hang out with everyone with the skin colour of the rainbow without a care in the world. Anyone remember the Petronas ads in conjunction with the 50th Independence Day celebration featuring those kids?
Sorry AD, i deviated abit from the "muhibah" theme for the discussion. This is my take and my thoughts on the whole thing as a whole.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Friday, January 25, 2008
Monday, January 21, 2008
Warning: The Perils of Playing Footie!
Guess what, I got myself freaking injured again in a footie game! I'm turning into Harry "the injury prone Wizard of Oz" Kewell. Geeeeeeeeeezzzz! I've seriously lost count of how many times I've got meself crooked while playing footie the past 3 years.
This time, it's me left knee - suspected a ligament strain or a badly bruise knee. Got it after i was sent flying and tumbling; cue a not so fit guy somersaulting through the air, before i landed badly on me poor knee. All this happen when the game have barely restarted for the 2nd half, I lasted only 5 bloody minutes on the field as i was the sub!!!! Thank goodness i could still walk as those who witnessed it was pretty taken back. They kept asking me if I'm alright.
Me being the right back, was trying to guard the opponent's left winger who was charging towards the goal. I tried to block his path and we barged shoulder quite hard at full speed hence both fell. I took the brunt of the fall as he was literally leaning on me all the way. He went down first taking me with him. I was just about 2 meters from the damn goal post!!!! It was either i fly sideways or straight to the post.
Well, its off footie for the next week or two. More time for me to contemplate on me non-existence life on Saturday mornings or Friday nights. Till then, my bruise ego and me injured knee signing off.
This time, it's me left knee - suspected a ligament strain or a badly bruise knee. Got it after i was sent flying and tumbling; cue a not so fit guy somersaulting through the air, before i landed badly on me poor knee. All this happen when the game have barely restarted for the 2nd half, I lasted only 5 bloody minutes on the field as i was the sub!!!! Thank goodness i could still walk as those who witnessed it was pretty taken back. They kept asking me if I'm alright.
Me being the right back, was trying to guard the opponent's left winger who was charging towards the goal. I tried to block his path and we barged shoulder quite hard at full speed hence both fell. I took the brunt of the fall as he was literally leaning on me all the way. He went down first taking me with him. I was just about 2 meters from the damn goal post!!!! It was either i fly sideways or straight to the post.
Well, its off footie for the next week or two. More time for me to contemplate on me non-existence life on Saturday mornings or Friday nights. Till then, my bruise ego and me injured knee signing off.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Warning: The perils of supporting LFC!
Been a frustrating couple of weeks for a hardcore supporter of LFC like me. Sometimes I do think its much better to watch the paint dry than to witness the kind of gutless, boring, and inept performance from the team. The turmoil surrounding the club and the new owners on the financial situation, along the uncertainty over the gaffer and his sometimes bizarre tactics is not helping ease the minds of everyone connected to the club at all.
I've not felt so much anxiety and an anxiousness surrounding the club through my 20+ years of supporting The Reds; there's just too much happening at the same time to take it all in. Everything that can go wrong seems to be going wrong.
All this have split the support into basically 2 factions - the pessimist / doubters and the Rafa royalists. I've always considered myself a realist who sits on the fence. But lately, my stances have steadily shifted towards the pessimistic dark side. I've seen enough of mediocre performances from us. The football from the past couple of years has been mainly disappointing and BORING. The much loved Liverpool FC style of playing pass and move football has since long died and buried.
With the current state of play from us, I'd pray something gets done to ensure we'll play the way we're meant and suppose to do - dictating play, attack, pass and move. I'll be happy just to see us play proper football, not the shit I've been forced to witness. If there's a need to change the gaffer or root out the dead-woods, please do it!
As much as I love and respect Rafa for the cups that he has won us in the past 4 years, its the "holy-grail" that all LFC supporters want. It's been 18 years and counting since we won the league title, and it doesn't look like it'll end soon. The promise of challenging for the title has fizzled out and from the looks of things, we'll have a fight in our hand to hold on the the 4th spot and qualify for the Champs League next season. Being 12 points behind even with a game in hand, doesn't look much like mounting a serious challenge to me. It's as if we've hit a plateau in our development as a proper footballing team and maybe to improve further, we might need a change at the helm.
Looks like the yearly process of cutting out dead-wood from the team has to continue again. I cannot understand why we seem to attract a heck lot of sub-standard players. The most puzzling part is how come good players can also turn ordinary at the blink or an eye.
Lastly, the new American owners better get their acts right soon, before they screw everyone up any further. They've chewed on more than what they bargained for. Reports of their asking price of 500 million pounds is mind-boggling and it's disturbing that they're trying to make a huge profit out of the club when they've done jack. Their plans to plunge the club into more debt to finance their purchase is a major cause for concern. This means that if anything happens to us financially, they'll easily wash their hands off as the debt is on the club.
It's gonna be choppy and troubled waters ahead for LFC. Hopefully we'll take the right maneuvers to sail out of all this madness and uncertainty. I've certainly had enough of all the shenanigans from us; on and off the field.
I've not felt so much anxiety and an anxiousness surrounding the club through my 20+ years of supporting The Reds; there's just too much happening at the same time to take it all in. Everything that can go wrong seems to be going wrong.
All this have split the support into basically 2 factions - the pessimist / doubters and the Rafa royalists. I've always considered myself a realist who sits on the fence. But lately, my stances have steadily shifted towards the pessimistic dark side. I've seen enough of mediocre performances from us. The football from the past couple of years has been mainly disappointing and BORING. The much loved Liverpool FC style of playing pass and move football has since long died and buried.
With the current state of play from us, I'd pray something gets done to ensure we'll play the way we're meant and suppose to do - dictating play, attack, pass and move. I'll be happy just to see us play proper football, not the shit I've been forced to witness. If there's a need to change the gaffer or root out the dead-woods, please do it!
As much as I love and respect Rafa for the cups that he has won us in the past 4 years, its the "holy-grail" that all LFC supporters want. It's been 18 years and counting since we won the league title, and it doesn't look like it'll end soon. The promise of challenging for the title has fizzled out and from the looks of things, we'll have a fight in our hand to hold on the the 4th spot and qualify for the Champs League next season. Being 12 points behind even with a game in hand, doesn't look much like mounting a serious challenge to me. It's as if we've hit a plateau in our development as a proper footballing team and maybe to improve further, we might need a change at the helm.
Looks like the yearly process of cutting out dead-wood from the team has to continue again. I cannot understand why we seem to attract a heck lot of sub-standard players. The most puzzling part is how come good players can also turn ordinary at the blink or an eye.
Lastly, the new American owners better get their acts right soon, before they screw everyone up any further. They've chewed on more than what they bargained for. Reports of their asking price of 500 million pounds is mind-boggling and it's disturbing that they're trying to make a huge profit out of the club when they've done jack. Their plans to plunge the club into more debt to finance their purchase is a major cause for concern. This means that if anything happens to us financially, they'll easily wash their hands off as the debt is on the club.
It's gonna be choppy and troubled waters ahead for LFC. Hopefully we'll take the right maneuvers to sail out of all this madness and uncertainty. I've certainly had enough of all the shenanigans from us; on and off the field.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
First ever rant on me own blog.
The is a bloody monumental milestone for one who likes ranting and cursing about anything and everything. Been posting a shit load of comments and thoughts on the blogs of others, so it was high time for me to start doing it in me very own blog.
Since its the new year - 2008, what better way than to celebrate and look back to my 2007 by summing it all up in one word - SUCKED. My car is still slightly wreck at the front, no thanks to some idiot who jammed his brakes right in the middle of a corner while coming out of a junction when there is no oncoming traffic. Fooking had to foot his bloody repair bills as I DID bang his arse....... I mean his car.
Work was screwed up, the first 6 months was enjoyable then the shit hit the roof and now I feel like I've been taken for granted - worked my arse off and not getting recognised or appreciated by you know who. Enslaved is an understatement to my current situation!
It has been pretty good in my private life wise as I met a bunch of great people who i have the utmost respect for. You lots at MyRAWK made my boring non-existence life that little bit much more bearable. ;0) Those of you who is helping me get me life back on track, I salute and thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Facebook is God sent, me thinks. Managed to tracked down a few of my school mates that I have lost touch for so many freaking years, I'll need all my 10 finger and more to count how long I've not get in touch and meet them.
Last but not least, I'd say it has NOT been easy being a supporter of Liverpool FC. It was building up to be a great year and then all the drama started and wreck most of the great work done. The Champs League Finals in Athens was a both great and an anti-climax. Now the uncertainty in the background with the new owners, the new stadium and the gaffer is making everyone associated with LFC nervous and extremely jumpy. The performance of the team is not that inspiring either and leaves a lot to be desired, especially with the array of talents and depth we "supposedly" have.
Just hope both myself and LFC will do a heck lot better in 2008. All the best to everyone in 2008.
Since its the new year - 2008, what better way than to celebrate and look back to my 2007 by summing it all up in one word - SUCKED. My car is still slightly wreck at the front, no thanks to some idiot who jammed his brakes right in the middle of a corner while coming out of a junction when there is no oncoming traffic. Fooking had to foot his bloody repair bills as I DID bang his arse....... I mean his car.
Work was screwed up, the first 6 months was enjoyable then the shit hit the roof and now I feel like I've been taken for granted - worked my arse off and not getting recognised or appreciated by you know who. Enslaved is an understatement to my current situation!
It has been pretty good in my private life wise as I met a bunch of great people who i have the utmost respect for. You lots at MyRAWK made my boring non-existence life that little bit much more bearable. ;0) Those of you who is helping me get me life back on track, I salute and thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Facebook is God sent, me thinks. Managed to tracked down a few of my school mates that I have lost touch for so many freaking years, I'll need all my 10 finger and more to count how long I've not get in touch and meet them.
Last but not least, I'd say it has NOT been easy being a supporter of Liverpool FC. It was building up to be a great year and then all the drama started and wreck most of the great work done. The Champs League Finals in Athens was a both great and an anti-climax. Now the uncertainty in the background with the new owners, the new stadium and the gaffer is making everyone associated with LFC nervous and extremely jumpy. The performance of the team is not that inspiring either and leaves a lot to be desired, especially with the array of talents and depth we "supposedly" have.
Just hope both myself and LFC will do a heck lot better in 2008. All the best to everyone in 2008.
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