Notice: RA mini makeover

*If you are reading this, or especially if you have been reading RA, then I am extending this invitation to you.

*I am asking because you have one way or the other supported it and I appreciate that. On top of that, on average there are more and more people visiting the site daily.

I, or more precisely one of the designers of randomalphabets.com wants to give it a small makeover. The 4 pics you see on the top most of RA, will no longer be idle. It’s gonna be changed to to Flash.

I already decided on 25 pictures. I want more. Each box will have a selection of many pictures. It will change to pictures every 2 seconds. It will be:

1. pictures that I’ve taken
2. pictures of people who read

The picture must be of you. Or of you with people you know. Preferably, those who are visitors of RA as well.

It can be you doing anything. As long as if someone who knows you, sees the picture and recognizes you.

You must be recognizable.

No captions, or names name will be displayed once it is up. Just pictures.

 

I prefer a picture that captures something. Life, a moment, an expression. Candid. Spontaneous. Anything. A picture does not have to be for the sake of taking it. I prefer that. Like the pictures I’ve included in this post already submitted to me, some of my favourites. Also keep in mind that like the site’s header, I will edit it to be square shape and most probably resized.

Pointer: This is not a ‘so 5 minutes ago’ place. I hate cliches. So please don’t send pictures of anyone pouting. Also, I’m not keen on shyness. Just send it. Don’t worry. You’re not the only one. If you feel like sending it. Just send it.

I look forward to a positive response. Urgently. Seriously.

Email it to [email protected]

Free hugs malaysia: cultural concern

“But all the quotes I know are serious and meaningful.”
-Shazeea Banu

For the moment:
John Legend Live in Philadelphia

This post is a follow up to the previous one, Legal Concerns dated 1st February 2008.

*I thank Sakinah Muhammad and Dina Khan for assisting me on parts of this post.

**Once in a while I approach people I know online for a quote. And I tell them that it does not have to be meaningful, inspirational or motivational. As long as it is readworthy, shoot. It can even be one of their own. To me, that** is readworthy.

I feel that it is imperative to deal with the cultural sphere first before the religion one as it correlates. For that, let’s take a completely external foreign example to show that the ‘obstacle’ is not peculiar to Malaysia. We are all the same. We are all also different. And we should all respect this fact.

I take for example, a successful industry that has flourished by its own in its own way, without extremely adopting a foreign culture, but perhaps learning from them. Bollywood.

This film industry, despite it not being in English, still maintaining its own ways and even some might say ‘cliches,’ has still managed to cultivate, develop and gain respect. In the production of their films, they rely so little on foreign labour, skills or approaches. There is of course foreign or external influences but at the core if it, it is still what it is.

It may have not started off with having award shows as early as the Oscars, but now there is IIFA. Or Bollywood Awards as it is casually known.

Observe how when a male award recipient receives his award from a female presenter. No he does not hug her, or kiss her cheeks. Is this an act of disrespect? Narrow mindedness? Does it make their culture any less than any other out there?

Just in case you ignorant folk answered yes to the above, those questions were rhetorical and sarcastic.

Now I’ve watched less than 5 Bollywoods film in my life. And I’ve never watched the IIFA but I was told that when,

1. a male presenter presents the award to another male, they shake hands and maybe hug.
2. a female presenter presents to another female, they hug or kiss each other’s cheeks.
3. a male and a female, they do the namaskar or the namaste.

Yes. You can actually do it without knowing yoga.

Namaskar or namaste is when a person joins his or her own palms and (usually) places it at the chest. It is a way of respecting the opposite gender, outsiders and elders.

If you go to Japan, you bow. The Maori place their foreheads to each other in greeting. Something they do welcomely with non-Maoris. But if you’re not ok with that gesture, I’m certain there’s a polite way to show it. As certain as I am that the Maori would understand.

Sometimes when you don’t observe or adhere to the culture of the place that you are in, it maybe alright, frowned upon, or taken as an act of ignorance or blind rebelliousness. I know of a great number of non-Asians, who when (even) in their own country visit the houses of their Asian friends, they take off their shoes before entering.

It is common among Italian men to kiss the cheeks of a male friend or relative, much like in the Middle East. Some find this act only appropriate between two different sexes. Including Malaysia. Each to his own.

Malaysia is multi cultural. If you know, or are likely to know, that the person you’re offering a hug (is of a different sex) comes from a culture that does not find such an act appropriate, then use your common sense. Be respectful.

If a man wants to hug a woman stranger in public, and she wants to hug as well, then proceed. Vice versa. An offer is subjected to acceptance.

The same also goes between two people of the same sex.

Don’t harass or compel anyone, or place that person in an awkward position. That would be inappropriate thus giving Free Hugs a bad name.

We have similarities, yet we are all different. You should not feel oblige to adopt foreign cultures or ideas in totality. Cater it to your surrounding. We are not superior to them, neither are they are to us.

To insist upon absolute universality, that everything in this world must be done in one way and no one else’s way, is almost like proposing one sex human beings. No males, no females. No countries, just planet Earth.

Imagine…

No Paris. No Britney. We can’t possibly live without that.

Free hugs malaysia: legal concern

“The most important thing to do if you find yourself in a hole is to stop digging. ”
-Warren Buffet

For the moment:
Luvstory-Sigur Rós & Mogwai

A few days ago I sent out an event invitation via Facebook for a Proposed Free Hugs session in Kuala Lumpur. The idea of the invitation is to properly gauge the support of the idea, clear legal issues (if any) and finally make it happen.

I have been receiving messages and this is my response to them. For the sake of understanding I will explain it in 3 different posts. Legal, religion and culture.

Should anyone feel I have not given an accurate response or that I am missing something out, please email me at [email protected] To make clear, Free Hugs has nothing to do with the elections or any political parties.

First of all, I think it would suit to everyone’s interested and queries if we read the ‘Description’ box of this event invitation. I think, again, most of it will be answered and dealt with conveniently over there.

Hetish, Dzameer, Deni and Cressa brought up the concern which I think is also shared by many. Thank you for pointing it out. I would not be posting this if it wasn’t for the 4 of you.

Unlawful Assembly

I have yet to hear any express prohibition under Malaysian law prohibiting Free Hugs or something similar.

Under Malaysian law, 5 or more people gathering in public is an unlawful assembly. But not all laws are enforced and implemented in its literal interpretation. Thus, this particular law is enforced when the police/authorities deem it necessary. More often than not, due to political or public safety reasons.

If it is being literally interpreted, thus enforced, we would all be very much aware of that law and there would be no need for me to explain it to you here.

In the case of Ooi Kean Thong (and Siow Ai Wei), DBKL arrested them for allegedly hugging and kissing in public. Under the Federal Constitution of Malaysia (the most supreme law of the land), such matters/offences should fall under the authority of the Police (according List I and List II of Schedule Nine of the Constitution).

Not DBKL or Sting and the rest of the band. But the Federal Court ruled that DBKL does have the power.

1. I don’t think it is appropriate for me to dig deeper in that case nor it is for us to speculate about what truly happen between Ooi and Siow, or how it was decided. That discussion belongs to another forum.
2. Free hugs will be just hugging. :)
3. Free hugs is hugging in a different nature completely. :)

For the sake of convenience, readability and understanding, I will write on the religion and culture issue in another post.