Lest we forget....

This aptly-worded phrase, or variant(s) - as we all know - concludes the ANZAC day dawn services, and is inscribed on Allied war memorials around the globe.  Yes, indeed we ought to always remember fallen troops whom we honour every ANZAC day, or Remembrance Sunday, or Veterans day.

Rather coincidentally, a friend of mine posted this youtube video of Akon's "Freedom". Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hW_3Nl2vVsA

While on the close inspection of the lyrics one can justifiably argue that the song is written from the point of view of a disenfranchised American, the images mostly from Africa glaringly tell everyone why they should always remember those we will honour tomorrow. Unfortunately yet factually, those images come from corners of the world  where despotic rule is as literally and figuratively endemic as poverty and warlords. If not for the soldiers who fought in the two World Wars against those who intended to dominate the world by their diktat,
we could had been wanting freedom the mentioned parts of the world do not have. 
Acknowlegdments
Picture of the Allied Memorial in Yangon, Myanmar, http://www.goldenpagodatravel.com/images/warcemetry1.jpg

Mang, K. - who posted the youtube link above on his facebook page.

http://www.metrolyrics.com/freedom-lyrics-akon.html

Revisting my flag proposal

This was the flag of the future I envisioned for New Zealand while  Hon. John Key was busy, doodling a silver fern.

Remembering that red ensign version of current New Zealand flag is recommended to fly on occasions of Maori significance, I realised my flag should reflect the Maori-Pakeha bicultural identity.

So, I suggest the koru becomes red or background of the koru becomes red. I am not in favour of flying red ensign on land since it is customary to fly one on private vessels. Hopefully, my suggestions and union jack in the canton would be sufficiently red for a historically bicultural New Zealand.

secular/religious holidays

In the Western world, these days there is a tendency to make almost everything Christian by history and tradition secular -and presumably "inclusive". Remembering a half-hearted coverage of this matter on TVNZ Breakfast a few days ago, it may be timely for this topic given Easter is this weekend.

Around Christmas and Easter, it is quite customary for the media to sandwich/pepper a few religious-themed articles and present the commercial side of those holidays from advertisements of specials to Santa Clause/Easter bunny decorations in colourful, attractive styles, while fuelling a low-level argument over whether the original religious baggage of the holiday should be dropped altogether or not.  Consciously or otherwise, many people also very unsurprisingly try to secularise the greetings such as "Happy Easter/Christmas" by replacing with ubiquitous "Holiday". In reference to this , a blogger who identifies himself as a Buddhist monk said, "...if you can't join others in their celebrations, even if the theology behind it does not correspond with yours, then I think you lack mudita." (Mudita is a Buddhist (Pali and Sanskrit: मुदित) word meaning rejoicing in others' joy.)

Although the author said it to make a point on a Christmas greeting, everyone, who opposes state observance of any religious holiday - be it Christmas, Easter, Ramadan, Wesak or some other - on the grounds that s/he does not share the faith, should ponder on the above quote.

Happy Easter to my readers!

Acknowledgment:
http://sdhammika.blogspot.com/2008/12/happy-christmas.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mudita

A note from soliloquies..

Good Morning Everyone!

Well, whether you are here in morning or at night, I am here to tell you that I am much delighted to be invited as one of your authors for this particular blog. I have read through most of the posts on here and am overly confident that your current author has some marvellous skill in delivering opinion in a textual medium.

You're probably not going see my posts too often on here, as I have my own little journalling medium ( http://hdsoliloquies.blogspot.com/ ) , but nevertheless I always have access to contribute to any and every scope that his blog encompasses.

See you around

H

Places I deem lovely

Partly due to: tourism adverts, random wikipedia-searching on different places, and my flag collection, I have some places that in my terminology are simply "lovely". Allow me to become a travel guide book-ish for a moment.

ASEAN: My country of origin is a member of this regional bloc. The abbreviation sounds creative. I sincerely wish it will become like what EU has become. Its flag is well-suited to a common identity of the region.

Christmas Island and Cocos Islands: They are lovely for they are part of geographical Southeast Asia and thus potential members of ASEAN. Plus their flags are colourful and unconventional - what a great mix.

Guernsey: One of the channel islands. I don't know why specifically but it's my favorite amongst what are known as the Crown Dependencies.

United States: I used to imagine myself as a head of a diplomatic mission presenting credentials to the US president in Washington DC. (As noted in my earlier post, I think I should make this imagination realisable for "it's never too late to change".) Besides Miley Cyrus's "Party in the USA" is one of my favorite songs.

Cayman Islands: The name itself is cute and pleasant. Appearing to be very beachy, as of now I do agree with the opinion that these islands are the "paradise". I kind of wish I was even born there...

Change

At the start of this month, much to my relief I learned that reluctance to change is quite natural (hence understandable by a little extension and few assumptions). Coincidentally just a few weeks earlier, at least two of my ex-classmates noted "I haven't changed much". Naturally and not too surprisingly, I did retort that I never promised any change the way Barrack Obama did spectacularly.  However on a purely objective note, it needs to be said that they in fact were and still are equally guilty of the same reluctance in my humble opinions. 

Having said that, I guess I can stop worrying about not yet becoming close to what I "intended" to change (as part of an assignment) - it included blogging about the "progress" too. I hope I'll appear to attempt at least. Whether change is impossible, difficult, or something that you must appear to attempt, over time I have become more and more acceptable to the idea that "we are never too late to change". 

Ratings for the early days of an academic year in Dunedin

At the end of the mentioned period, I think ratings should be given on some highlights. The rating is on a scale of 1 - 10 with 10 being the best. Here we go...

O week - 4.3 Cancellation of the toga parade was bad idea, click on O week .....liquor.....and thoughts for further information on this matter. The events were average.
  
Kristov Vodka Cruiser - 8.9 for being a alcoholic beverage that taste nice and still being in my budget range for alcoholic beverages.

House parties so far - 9.5 Judging by photos afterwards on facebook, everyone seems to have enjoyed them. So, it's a well deserved rating for the hosts.(There was an individual rating 10 in the time frame.)

Classes in the first two weeks - 7.0 Delays in supposed all-in-one web-based portal is less than impressive. However, for "easing" us back to books, notes and not-too-easy to understand concepts after more than two months away from all of those redeemed this from an abysmal rating.

"New Pharmacist"(yearbook) - 8.2 Good choice of photos. Mostly well written. But while giving information on "weekenditis" is commendable it seems to me that there is a bigger problem with "weekdayitis" from  Monday 8.00am to Friday (whenever the day ends).