An Intellectual Dialogue

March 21st 2010.

School in the morning. Finishes at 2.30. Rushed to St. Anne's Church on BM. Reason: The Issue Allah.

It was a two hour open dialogue between several PAS members and the Catholic community. The main idea on this open dialogue was actually to promote national unity among the two major faiths in Malaysia. You could say it was a political ambition but it was rather an understanding of each other's faith.

The goal was set and the results were rather interesting:

• It is not wrong to use "Allah"
• Islam, Christianity and Judaism comes from the Abrahamic link
• One can practice any faith at all, but the key to unity is understanding
• We can say Assalamualaikum

It was rather interesting to see Muslims in the church. It was calming to see Muslims and Christians eating together. In both faiths, it is said to tolerate one another and to love each other as brothers and sisters, because we were made under one God.

This issue is 'hot', but with the correct understanding we can avoid all animosity and toils among us all. The ultimate key to unity among races is RESPECT and UNDERSTANDING, of course not abandoning our faith in our own religion. It is said, if we really follow our beliefs than we will have no problems dwelling with other faiths too.

Understand this people, this post is NOT to rise any controversian but rather to understand that unity in diversity is through tolerance and respect.

A wake up call!

It was the 11th of March, many hearts of the 17 or 18 years old, were beating fast. Each heart pounding, having a restless night, and all are terrified to step back their foot in school.

It was the day the SPM results were released.

It was 11 till the grades were out.

It was an ephiphanical event for those of us, who are in Form 5 this year.

It was a Thursday.

I was there.

It was after recess, the school canteen was filled with last's years batch of students. All eagerly waiting to take their results. The teachers were in a meeting, and me and my friends were happily skipping class to see our seniors. So, we waited, we talked, we laughed and we proceeded to the open hall.

One by one, we saw our teachers coming out, holding files in their hands, gripping tightly a batch of papers nicely wrapped. We knew what was it - it was the results.

Then all of us, crowded the hall. The hall was suddenly filled with deafening silence as the teachers were preparing their 'counters'. Then it all began. The time where the results were to be taken. Quickly our seniors sprung on the stage and lined up, all to be heard was chattering and nervous cries.

I stood there, observing the faces, some had big grins - almost like their teeth were going to fall out, some had the looks that even if they saw another person's face, they would burst into tears. It was, touching.

Touching by the meaning of, that now we know NOT everyone is capable of a bullseye. It was terrifying; and yet it was also motivational. My, my year guys were all nervous. We are going to sit for the papers this year, but we are as scared as our seniors.

So, the story goes....... We know this year is vital, and if it wasn't for our seniors taking their results we would never known how hard was it to hit the bullseye.

Shots!