Poverty's hideous face.

Good evening Malaysia,

While you have probably just been out enjoying yourself, enjoying the latest film, been to the latest clubs, and reading the latest magazines, I hope you find it in you to spare a moment for those less fortunate.

Of course, there are many that are less fortunate than we are, but I speak tonight specifically about those living in poverty, those who do not enjoy the comforts that we often take for granted. The things like basic healthcare, security, food and nourishment, indeed, even the simpler things like sleeping with the certainty of tomorrow is something not all of us enjoy.

Indeed, who shall speak for those less fortunate? Shall we leave the unspoken voices to be those of politicians, of global institutions, of musicians and playwrights? Shall we turn a blind eye to the children in the streets, to the migrant workers, to the prostitutes, to the sick with HIV/AIDS and those living in squatter houses?

Shall we deny them the humanity that we have so liberally taken on as absolute truths, that we parade in everyday? How many, how many of us stake a claim in being part of humanity's loving hand and yet do nothing when that hand demands the best of us?

This will not change your lives. The siren call for compassion rings out everyday, and we, o citizens of the world, have learnt to block this call, to ignore that siren and focus on ourselves as we indulge in the many opiates of our urban lifestyle. Yet, even so, can we really ignore that call, for isn't to ignore that which demands compassion of us, to ignore that very element that makes us human?

And to you, my brothers and sisters who sleep with holes in their roofs, to you who sleep in suffering tonight, I bear no gifts, I bear no houses on green hills for you, I bear no cure or medicine; I only give you this promise, that while I still live on this earth, while I breathe, and while I can earn enough to tend to my family and loved ones, I will not forget you. Someday soon, I promise I will come back for you.

Truly yours,
K

Feminism is starting to piss me off.

That's right it is. I've met a few feminists in my life, and always I approach them with an open mind, a sort of protest against the majority of chauvinistic men who deem women to be below them.

Now look; I completely agree that there are women who are being discriminated against, and that there is a serious lack of respect for women, especially in Malaysia. Take for example, Umno Assembly Speaker Badruddin Amiruddin. Now, that's an idiot. Seriously, you'd have to have an IQ of 30 to be a politician and spew out sexist comments. Especially in a country where women constitute half of the voters in this country.

But the few feminists I've met, they're not so much interested in equality, but rather more of getting back at men. And really, gender discrimination is very rarely the center of their attention. Why? Because a lot of them want to get back at men through gender discrimination. Once, at a film screening at an NGO, I sat through a discussion which involved this feminist who said that "You're only a sexist if you have a dick."

That's probably the most retarded statement I've heard.

And seriously, to the feminists who place 'rape' as the basis of their ideologies: Seriously, give it a rest. I really don't get why it is incredibly sexist to say "women are bad drivers" but it is only fair to say that "men are all rapists/indecent ogglers". How about a big fuck off? Not every person with a dick is a goddamn rapist!

Turn the tables around: Is it fair to say that every person with a vagina is a gold digging man manipulator? No retards. Just because you have the capability of committing rape or seducing old men to get their money, doesn't automatically make you a criminal.

There's a 'woman's room' in the place of learning that I go to, and I think it's about as useful as a piece of rock. I've been informed that (among other ridiculous reasons) it's to 'help propagate the woman's movement for equality'.

Here's my contention: Must it only be people with vaginas? Can't a person with a dick be a feminist or help women gain equality? What about transvestites? Do people who have undergone the operation be allowed in? How about before the sex change?

Ridiculous reason 2) To protect them from the indecent gazing of other men.

You know, I talked about this with a friend the other day, and she said something very profound. Muslims wear the headscarves so they're protected from the indecent gazing of men. And yet, that practice has been deemed sexist and patriarchal. But having a room just for women, that's okay.

Absolute nonsense.

If I wanted to stroll down my place of learning wearing a clown costume, I would expect people to stare at me. Really, I would expect the whispers and the stares and perhaps the occasional ninja kicking and tripping. So, now I feel harassed, and I demand a room for people who want to dress as clowns. If you want to have a women's room, that's fine, but my contention is this; why can't I have my own clown room? I reserve my right to dress however I want, but I don't want the stares that come with it! Fair enough?

The fact is, that the world doesn't operate on idealist terms people. If you live in a place where criminal activity is high, you'd be a bloody idiot to not place bolts on your doors and windows. If you dress indecently and walk through the back alleys alone in the early hours of the morning, then, good lord, you're a bloody idiot as well.

I pre-empt the argument that what I just did was place blame on the victim rather than on criminal. (You chauvinistic pig!)

Look, would you put the entirety of the blame of a robbery on the robber who decided to rob a guy who decided to count 100, 000 in cash out in the open? Or the bank company who decided to deliver their cash with a guy on a bike and a bucket?

My point is, we should all live in the idealistic world where people follow rules and are kind to each other. But we don't. We have tons of assholes and stupid people. That's why we adopt a reward-you-if-you're-smart system. No one's stopping you from not buying basic security measures for your house - but you'll have a higher chance of being robbed. No one's stopping you from dressing however you want - but you'll have to deal with the stares. Don't ask for a room everytime you feel violated. Or if you do, then let other people ask for their rooms too.

Update: A person from the Womans Candidacy Initiative came to give a talk today. I find it funny that they think there should be a 30% affirmative action quota for women representation in parliament, where there is no law banning their participation in the first place.

Shall we have this extremely qualified candidate to represent us in parliament? Oh damn. He has a dick. Sorry, buddy maybe next time.