Friday, February 20, 2004
Jews gibbed by Mel's movie
All this controversy surrounding Mel Gibson's latest silver screen effort has turned into a dog-and-pony show. I seriously wonder if anyone did their research on the historical events that led to Jesus' crucifixion before coming up with their 2 shekel's worth of comments.
Why are so many people, especially the Jews, so hard up against this movie? They claim that the movie might incite anti-Semitism after watching The Passion of Christ. The current batch of Jews are afraid that they might be targets of hate crimes due the film's portrayal of Jews being the direct cause of Jesus' death. In fact, most of them have already gone so far as to wash their ancestor's hands off the crime of deicide.
It's a shame, really. Why wait 2,000 years before making a turnaround? For 2 millenia, nobody complained that the Jews were the murderers of Christ. Not until now, anyway. What is there to be ashamed about to admit, "Yes, our ancestors were the perpetrators, but the descendants are not to be blamed for it. We're sorry.", and move on with their lives.
It kinda reminds me of Japan refraining from apologizing for their atrocities committed during WW2. The Rape of Nanking did not happen, they say. We are not guilty of committing any crimes back then. The sooner they come to terms with what transpired, accepting that fact, and moving on with their lives, the better. Just take a look at Germany. Germany is a nation that was involved in not only 1, but 2 World Wars, and on the baddies' side as well, to boot. They apologized and paid the price for their crimes, and they moved on. Even their people acknowledged the mistakes of their forefathers, although the guilt still remains in many of her citizens (which should not happen). Germans picked themselves up after WW2, worked hard and regained the respect of the world. As a nation, they had the intestinal fortitude to admit their guilt and move on with their lives. Why cry over spilt milk?
Yes, as many as 6 million (or more) Jews were wiped out in Holocaust. Countless of them were left homeless and destitute after the war, and were treated as pariahs. Unfortunately, its about time they realise that NOBODY OWES THEM A DAMN THING. You have our pity for all the pain and suffering, but its been more than 50 years already, so stop using the Holocaust as a crutch to justify your every action. Face up to your past, learn from it, and strive forward to better things.
You don't see people hating Germans after watching Band of Brothers, even though that show did depict how the German war machine treated their prisoners. I would be hard-pressed to think that the whole world's gonna beat up the next Jew they meet just because their ancestors caused Christ to be nailed to a cross. These are all unfounded fears - or are they?
All this controversy surrounding Mel Gibson's latest silver screen effort has turned into a dog-and-pony show. I seriously wonder if anyone did their research on the historical events that led to Jesus' crucifixion before coming up with their 2 shekel's worth of comments.
Why are so many people, especially the Jews, so hard up against this movie? They claim that the movie might incite anti-Semitism after watching The Passion of Christ. The current batch of Jews are afraid that they might be targets of hate crimes due the film's portrayal of Jews being the direct cause of Jesus' death. In fact, most of them have already gone so far as to wash their ancestor's hands off the crime of deicide.
It's a shame, really. Why wait 2,000 years before making a turnaround? For 2 millenia, nobody complained that the Jews were the murderers of Christ. Not until now, anyway. What is there to be ashamed about to admit, "Yes, our ancestors were the perpetrators, but the descendants are not to be blamed for it. We're sorry.", and move on with their lives.
It kinda reminds me of Japan refraining from apologizing for their atrocities committed during WW2. The Rape of Nanking did not happen, they say. We are not guilty of committing any crimes back then. The sooner they come to terms with what transpired, accepting that fact, and moving on with their lives, the better. Just take a look at Germany. Germany is a nation that was involved in not only 1, but 2 World Wars, and on the baddies' side as well, to boot. They apologized and paid the price for their crimes, and they moved on. Even their people acknowledged the mistakes of their forefathers, although the guilt still remains in many of her citizens (which should not happen). Germans picked themselves up after WW2, worked hard and regained the respect of the world. As a nation, they had the intestinal fortitude to admit their guilt and move on with their lives. Why cry over spilt milk?
Yes, as many as 6 million (or more) Jews were wiped out in Holocaust. Countless of them were left homeless and destitute after the war, and were treated as pariahs. Unfortunately, its about time they realise that NOBODY OWES THEM A DAMN THING. You have our pity for all the pain and suffering, but its been more than 50 years already, so stop using the Holocaust as a crutch to justify your every action. Face up to your past, learn from it, and strive forward to better things.
You don't see people hating Germans after watching Band of Brothers, even though that show did depict how the German war machine treated their prisoners. I would be hard-pressed to think that the whole world's gonna beat up the next Jew they meet just because their ancestors caused Christ to be nailed to a cross. These are all unfounded fears - or are they?
Thursday, February 12, 2004
Suicide
It got me thinking - do people who commit suicide ever stopped to think of others before attempting that final act that condemns them to oblivion? Being a practical person, I plead with them to choose a much better exit. You wanna end your life, fine, but don't dirty the carpet in the living room with your blood. Choose a better venue for your earthly exit. Jumping off from an apartment is all good - only if you jump from your most hated enemy's unit - at least you're guaranteed that his unit's price will go the same way you've gone; all the way down south. If you jump from your own place, think about your family who has to pay for your funeral expenses and suffer a price drop in that piece of real estate. Its not worth it, man!
The most noble way to go would be clearing Cambodia and Vietnam of landmines, being a peacekeeper in Iraq, or volunteer to patrol the Gaza strip for the Israelis. At least when you go, you've gone WHILE attempting to do some good. And you won't screw up property prices nor stain Aunty Anne's Persian carpet.
It got me thinking - do people who commit suicide ever stopped to think of others before attempting that final act that condemns them to oblivion? Being a practical person, I plead with them to choose a much better exit. You wanna end your life, fine, but don't dirty the carpet in the living room with your blood. Choose a better venue for your earthly exit. Jumping off from an apartment is all good - only if you jump from your most hated enemy's unit - at least you're guaranteed that his unit's price will go the same way you've gone; all the way down south. If you jump from your own place, think about your family who has to pay for your funeral expenses and suffer a price drop in that piece of real estate. Its not worth it, man!
The most noble way to go would be clearing Cambodia and Vietnam of landmines, being a peacekeeper in Iraq, or volunteer to patrol the Gaza strip for the Israelis. At least when you go, you've gone WHILE attempting to do some good. And you won't screw up property prices nor stain Aunty Anne's Persian carpet.
Wednesday, February 11, 2004
Black Bow-Wow
Why is Guinness good for you? Please leave your views in the comments section, thanks!
Why is Guinness good for you? Please leave your views in the comments section, thanks!
Tuesday, February 10, 2004
Goose's Gab
Being the Kok's unofficial shadow, here's the latest news on him.
Ladies and gents, if there is any one time where you want to beat the Kok in Quake, Pool, or Snooker, now is the time! He has suffered a grievous injury in one of his fingers, and that has paved open a golden opportunity for the likes of Reaper to wrest the coveted Top Dog in Q3Tourney4 award from him, once and for all!
Contrary to popular belief, he did not injure his finger in the latest Nose-Picking-World-Championships (he finished 2nd runner up in the ASEAN category), but was undone by his Chinese brethren's disposable wooden chopstick splinter. Send all bouquets to Jalan Rama-Rama, Shah Alam, and all cheques to Cantonment Road, Penang :P GET WELL SOON KOK!!
Being the Kok's unofficial shadow, here's the latest news on him.
Ladies and gents, if there is any one time where you want to beat the Kok in Quake, Pool, or Snooker, now is the time! He has suffered a grievous injury in one of his fingers, and that has paved open a golden opportunity for the likes of Reaper to wrest the coveted Top Dog in Q3Tourney4 award from him, once and for all!
Contrary to popular belief, he did not injure his finger in the latest Nose-Picking-World-Championships (he finished 2nd runner up in the ASEAN category), but was undone by his Chinese brethren's disposable wooden chopstick splinter. Send all bouquets to Jalan Rama-Rama, Shah Alam, and all cheques to Cantonment Road, Penang :P GET WELL SOON KOK!!
