If there is something bad, we tend to politely refrain from talking about it. If it is something really bad, we even hush each other up in case there is an eavesdropper around. For example, this afternoon I just mentioned the word "extremist" and my colleague hushed me up. We are not supposed to talk about Muslim radicals, or cast any aspersion on the Muslim religion. Yet we can freely talk about any other religion on earth without being chastised while the one we mustn't talk about is the one that is by far the most radical. Even as I write this blog, I risk getting spammed by a Muslim for the mere mention of this little episode. I hold nothing against a Muslim. I only question what they stand for: peaceful co-existence or subjugation of every non-Muslim.
Why is it that people are reluctant, or even scared, to discuss problems? Would you not encourage your child to voice out his problem so that you can have an open discussion with him? Or would you rather hush him up and pretend that there is no problem? I have read that a mother actually stopped her daughter from talking about herself (the daughter) being abused. I have heard about schools that do not want an untoward incidence being reported in the news, so as not to bring the school into disrepute. I know of people who do not want their illness known.... and so on, and so forth.
So next time before you want to hush up or to hush somebody up, ask yourself why. Is it fear? Is it embarassment? Is it denial? Whatever it is, I think chances are, it is not a good reason.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Australia does not have a people smuggling problem
The dictionary defines that to smuggle people is to convey people somewhere secretly and illicitly.
Think about it; by definition Australia does not have a people smuggling problem. The people smuggling problem faced by Australia does not fit into this definition. The so-called "people smugglers" operate out of Indonesia with impunity. When they reach Australian shore, they signal to the border patrol and ask to be taken into Australia. On the Australian side, the asylum seekers are routinely "processed": housed, fed, given a health checkup, and free legal service.
I remember a time when things were different. The Vietnamese boat people arrived in Australia after braving an odyssey, literally. Stories abound of life-threatening dangers from pirates, storm, and leaky boats that were not fit for the journey. These people had to bribe corrupt officials with their life savings, just to exit their country. Young women had to disguise themselves to avoid attention and rape. Many were taken by pirates to a life far worse than that they left behind, and permanently devastating those of their family members.
The present day boat arrivals fly to Indonesia in safety and comfort. They exit their countries properly and they hire a boat operator to sail to Christmas Island. All these things things are done under the nose of the authorities. There is nothing secretive about it. The move is not illicit, as perpetrators are treated as house guests. They just need to bide their time for their application to be processed. Meanwhile, just sit back and relax.
As I said, Australia does not have a people smuggling problem. We just have a problem of trying to accommodate too many house guests and we are running out of rooms. The only thing that puzzles me is why do the asylum seekers bother to use a boat? Their asylum claim would have been processed the same way if they had flown into the country. And they would not have to stay on Christmas Island.
Think about it; by definition Australia does not have a people smuggling problem. The people smuggling problem faced by Australia does not fit into this definition. The so-called "people smugglers" operate out of Indonesia with impunity. When they reach Australian shore, they signal to the border patrol and ask to be taken into Australia. On the Australian side, the asylum seekers are routinely "processed": housed, fed, given a health checkup, and free legal service.
I remember a time when things were different. The Vietnamese boat people arrived in Australia after braving an odyssey, literally. Stories abound of life-threatening dangers from pirates, storm, and leaky boats that were not fit for the journey. These people had to bribe corrupt officials with their life savings, just to exit their country. Young women had to disguise themselves to avoid attention and rape. Many were taken by pirates to a life far worse than that they left behind, and permanently devastating those of their family members.
The present day boat arrivals fly to Indonesia in safety and comfort. They exit their countries properly and they hire a boat operator to sail to Christmas Island. All these things things are done under the nose of the authorities. There is nothing secretive about it. The move is not illicit, as perpetrators are treated as house guests. They just need to bide their time for their application to be processed. Meanwhile, just sit back and relax.
As I said, Australia does not have a people smuggling problem. We just have a problem of trying to accommodate too many house guests and we are running out of rooms. The only thing that puzzles me is why do the asylum seekers bother to use a boat? Their asylum claim would have been processed the same way if they had flown into the country. And they would not have to stay on Christmas Island.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Beauty in simplicity
Sometimes I run out of inspiration when looking for things to shoot. At such times, I would be firing away at everything and shooting at nothing. I've really got to remind myself of a good tip I picked up at the VAPS Muster in Phillip Island last month. This guy who gave a talk on area photography is an editor of a local magazine. He showed some beautiful images that were very simple but effective compositions. For example, a closeup image of the water around a pier, with no beautiful sunset, but just swirling water.
This also reminds me of an article I read this morning on The Online Photographer. The writer says that nowadays with the zero cost of shooting additional images, we often lost sight of trying to capture something meaningful. We think nothing of firing away on the camera.
Here is one of the very few images I actually took on Phillip Island that is intended to capture something simple, rather than capturing a composition full of details.
This also reminds me of an article I read this morning on The Online Photographer. The writer says that nowadays with the zero cost of shooting additional images, we often lost sight of trying to capture something meaningful. We think nothing of firing away on the camera.Here is one of the very few images I actually took on Phillip Island that is intended to capture something simple, rather than capturing a composition full of details.
Malay music broadcast in Australia
Years ago when I was a student in the US, it was a special treat to visit the Chinese grocery shop on rare occasions. The smell of familiar Chinese foodstuff and the sound of Chinese music was enough to trigger a bout of nostalgia. Nowadays in Melbourne I feel like I am in a Chinese community all the time, so the visit to the Chinese grocery shop has become not a treat but a daily routine.
Last night, however, it was a rare trip down memory lane to hear a long forgotten Malay/Indonesian song over the Melbourne airwaves. I happened to be tuned in to 3ZZZ on FM 92.30, at around 11pm (Sunday). It was actually a broadcast in Malay (not Indonesian). I was pleasantly surprised to hear the song "Mimpi Yang Sedih" being played, among other Malay songs.
If you want to listen to this delightful song once more, go to Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TXuqWLSomc&feature=related . You'll love this!
And if you want to hear Bengawan Solo, click: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVDgt45ExA4&feature=related
Last night, however, it was a rare trip down memory lane to hear a long forgotten Malay/Indonesian song over the Melbourne airwaves. I happened to be tuned in to 3ZZZ on FM 92.30, at around 11pm (Sunday). It was actually a broadcast in Malay (not Indonesian). I was pleasantly surprised to hear the song "Mimpi Yang Sedih" being played, among other Malay songs.
If you want to listen to this delightful song once more, go to Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TXuqWLSomc&feature=related . You'll love this!
And if you want to hear Bengawan Solo, click: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVDgt45ExA4&feature=related
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Scarcity of jobs in the US
It was reported this week that the unemployment rate in the US has reached 9.1% now. Only 54,000 jobs were created in May, one-quarter of what was reported in April, causing the stock market to take a dive.
What bothers me is that in the midst of its economic turmoil, local governments (in the U.S., that is) cut 28,000 jobs in May. In my opinion, this is not a good thing to do. The government is behaving like a profit-and-loss business corporation. It has forgotten its role as an overseer of the people's welfare. It was in a hurry before to rescue the banks and the stock market, which makes me wonder whether that is because the people in power are simply protecting their own interests in the banks and in the stock market. Why are they treating the country like they are running a private business, rather than taking care of the people's welfare? Or perhaps they are running their own private business out of the White House.
I believe that in bad times the government should be increasing the number of jobs in the civil service, while in good times it should do the opposite so as to free up skilled workers to go into the private sector. This it should do, even if it means cutting the salary of existing staff. Every abled-bodied young man and woman is entitled to a proper job. Anything short of that, the government has failed in its duty of care.
What bothers me is that in the midst of its economic turmoil, local governments (in the U.S., that is) cut 28,000 jobs in May. In my opinion, this is not a good thing to do. The government is behaving like a profit-and-loss business corporation. It has forgotten its role as an overseer of the people's welfare. It was in a hurry before to rescue the banks and the stock market, which makes me wonder whether that is because the people in power are simply protecting their own interests in the banks and in the stock market. Why are they treating the country like they are running a private business, rather than taking care of the people's welfare? Or perhaps they are running their own private business out of the White House.
I believe that in bad times the government should be increasing the number of jobs in the civil service, while in good times it should do the opposite so as to free up skilled workers to go into the private sector. This it should do, even if it means cutting the salary of existing staff. Every abled-bodied young man and woman is entitled to a proper job. Anything short of that, the government has failed in its duty of care.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Portraits, anyone?
My daughter wanted me to take a portrait picture of her. I said OK; and then I thought why not invite others to come for a portrait session too? I could print some business cards for her to pass around. I thought I would give my studio a name. So I suggested a few. She told me she doesn't think my venture would go very far. Young people; what do they know?
(I thought these names sound cute. What do you think of "WYSIWYG", what-you-see-is-what-you-get? Or "The Plain Truth", to promote the completely honest approach of my style? Or "Let's Face It", to motivate those who are simply terrified of having their pictures taken? or "Face to Face", to appeal to the shy ones?)
(I thought these names sound cute. What do you think of "WYSIWYG", what-you-see-is-what-you-get? Or "The Plain Truth", to promote the completely honest approach of my style? Or "Let's Face It", to motivate those who are simply terrified of having their pictures taken? or "Face to Face", to appeal to the shy ones?)
Thursday, June 2, 2011
About politicians
Generally people seem to like having their picture taken with a politician. The higher up the politician is, the more treasured is the picture. I used to think that way too, but as I grow older, my disdain for politicians also grow. At least, for many of the present generation of pollies. Considering that many of them are outright liars who care more about winning and keeping their seats than about true public service, why should anyone be proud to be seen with them?
Take Wayne Swan for example. He claims that the economy is bouncing right back, immediately after reporting that Australia is having its sharpest quarterly decline in 20 years. He says household saving, at 11.5%, is at the highest level since the mid 1980's. From what I have heard, people ARE afraid to spend, in anticipation of bad times to come. He says our economy is set to grow by 4% in 2011-2012. I think he is intentionally misleading the public.
Julia Gillard is just as bad. She pledged not to introduce the carbon tax during the election, but look what she is doing now? She is also going to be remembered as the PM who created the hugely expensive NBN, which dwarfs even what the US has ever attempted to do for high speed internet connection.
Whatever happened to Premier John Brumby who always wanted to be a great statesman? He will be remembered for irrevocably committing Victorians to the possibly unnecessary desalination plant at Wonthaggi, at a whopping cost of $400 per year to every household (which of course will be squeezed out of your pocket one way or another). Brumby has completely disappeared from public scene now. I hardly think a great statesman can ever disappear from public life. Brumby proved me wrong; he did that in record time.
So would I care to have my picture taken with a politician? Perhaps only if he asks me nicely.
Take Wayne Swan for example. He claims that the economy is bouncing right back, immediately after reporting that Australia is having its sharpest quarterly decline in 20 years. He says household saving, at 11.5%, is at the highest level since the mid 1980's. From what I have heard, people ARE afraid to spend, in anticipation of bad times to come. He says our economy is set to grow by 4% in 2011-2012. I think he is intentionally misleading the public.
Julia Gillard is just as bad. She pledged not to introduce the carbon tax during the election, but look what she is doing now? She is also going to be remembered as the PM who created the hugely expensive NBN, which dwarfs even what the US has ever attempted to do for high speed internet connection.
Whatever happened to Premier John Brumby who always wanted to be a great statesman? He will be remembered for irrevocably committing Victorians to the possibly unnecessary desalination plant at Wonthaggi, at a whopping cost of $400 per year to every household (which of course will be squeezed out of your pocket one way or another). Brumby has completely disappeared from public scene now. I hardly think a great statesman can ever disappear from public life. Brumby proved me wrong; he did that in record time.
So would I care to have my picture taken with a politician? Perhaps only if he asks me nicely.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)