Here we’re sitting,
Knowing spring is coming,
But spring is nothing,
When war is looming.
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Category: Politics & government
Damn the snow. I was planning to go for a walk at the Arboretum today but God changed His mind. Behold, it must snow today. Sigh…
Anyway, I spent my whole evening at Ypsilanti, trying to help the race crew building the car. One thing worth noting; yesterday session was tense. Never in my life as a Solar Car member have I experienced what I had last night.
At first, the Power Electrical team had wanted to install the wiring on the car but the mechanical team needed to do something first. So, we disappointedly gave up our plan and instead, rescheduled our timetable and went out to Ypsilanti in order to help out the mech team. Once there, Mirai and Ivan needed to test the battery so they left me with our rival, which is the Mech team. While I had nothing to do for the Power Electrical team at that time, I decided to help out Mech. After all, although we’re rivals, our goal is still the car.
The rush of adrenaline started around 2100 hours, I at first stage was given the task of preparing some glue. Later, I had to go into the car to install some carbon stuffs on the car. The interesting thing was that the team had the operation timed. I, well we were racing against time and the Engineering Director even raised his voice, trying to keep people on track. At one time, we screwed up something and he was looking really mad
Nevertheless, we did finish up the work sometimes around midnight.
After the work session, I have decided to hate two thing, fiber glass and ethanol. Fiber glass makes the hand itchy while ethanol burns the hand. Therefore, the moral of the story is not to join the Mech team. Power Electrical rules.
Honesty is not necessarily the best policy and nothing is the best when it comes to ways of behaving. However, hypocrisy is better than honesty. That is for sure. First of all, I define hypocrisy as displaying two kind of behavior in two different situations. I see hypocrisy as a superset of honesty. In fact, the people whom first used the phrase “honesty is the best policy” are hypocrites themselves. Honesty on the other hand is simply the notion of being true to oneself i.e. following rigidly the principles (ideal, rules etc) that one has set on oneself.
The world around us constantly changing and this need us to adapt. Hypocrisy is a way to adapt to the ever changing world. One proof is China before the age of pre-pax Americana and during pax Americana. They were somewhat against the capitalist system and closed their system from world scrutiny. But now, we found that China is even in the WTO, the organization that they once looked in disgust. They only did this after they saw that it will benefit them to join the organization despite the fact that this is against their ideal.
Sometimes, two similar cases need us to deal with them differently. One case is the United States’ stance on North Korea and Iraq. They are applying double standard on those so-called members of Axis of Evil simply because it benefits them to do it. Surely, to fight on two fronts separated by the mountainous Asian terrain is folly. Also, using the same threat on North Korea will be a grave mistake since China is certainly more interested in the Korean Peninsula scenario than the Iraqis’ problem.
The affirmative action movement is classic case of hypocrisy. Yes a long time ago, there was discrimination of certain group of people against others. Discrimination no doubt is bad and the affirmative action was born from the notion that discrimination must be cleaned out from society’s mind. And now, the movement itself is discriminating certain sorts in favor of a few particular groups. Isn’t this hypocrisy?
But of course, when one reads this, one will wonder what the connection between hypocrisy and honesty is. The relationship is, as I said before, honesty is a subset of hypocrisy.
If you don’t agree with me then consider the following situation. You have an ability to do something that nobody else possesses. A friend of yours knows this and asked you to use your expertise to do something for him or her as a favor. His or her request was against your principle and thus, you presented your friend with a monotonous no as an answer. Later, a stranger approached you and asked you to do the same thing that your friend had asked you. As a return, the stranger promise to reward you with something that you need but can’t afford to buy it. So, will you be honest and fair towards your friend by saying no to the stranger or will you obey the stranger’s request and get the thing that you really want?
If you think the last scenario is not strong enough, then imagine that the reward was your life and the request was to murder someone else. Will you be true to yourself and your friend or will you be a hypocrite?
This week has been a tiring week. Even during weekdays, I found myself during Solar Car business. I am sure this is the start of a busier phase but yet, I am glad. The first stage concerning the solar panels is nearing completion and we are entering the second level.
To mark the start of the second stage, Mirai, Brent, Ivan and I went out of Ann Arbor to eat some seafood. It cost us USD 60 but it was definitely worth.
Also, I have finally seen SpectruM complete design on the computer. The design is complicated but then, I don’t really know how to the read CAD or use it, yet.
In a few hours, I’ll be in Ohio to start on the second stage. This is the first time a Solar Car work has brought me outside of Michigan. Before this, there were a few trips made by the Team members. One was to Canada (“or Canadia” quoting Skip) and the other one was to Detroit for the Auto Show 2003.
Before I depart for Ohio, I want to clarify my stance on affirmative action, particularly concerning Malaysian case.
Basically, I am against affirmative action. Reasons are, number one, it make it unfair for the others. Some (in fact all the AA supporters) argue that AA is a way to correct a wrong. This is a screwed way of seeing it. The way of seeing it is this – it is correcting a wrong with another wrong. The a.a movement is like Hammurabi’s Code of Law that says an eye for an eye. What the code failed to see is that if we took that principle as a way of life, the whole world will go blind.
Secondly, AA movement, at least from my eye is a racist movement. From my observation, most of the AA supporters are the one that were oppressed in the past. So, there will be two groups (maybe three on the people on the fence, lets not count them), the a.a. believer and the opposition. In the end, this will polarize the society. For example, in Ann Arbor, the AA supporters are mainly Blacks. Note that this is exactly the opposite of AA goal.
Thirdly, the notion of feeling guilty. It is true that there are some supporters coming from outside the said ring. For these people, I tend to think of them of still holding to the idea of white man’s burden. For me, I strongly believe the past is the past. We can’t change it until somebody found the secret of traveling backward in time (forget relativity, I am NOT seeing Physics anymore). We can learn from the past but to feel guilty for things that we have already been forgiven is wrong. Life goes on so let us just more on.
Fourth, I can’t think of any.
About the Bumiputra status, it is a little bit difficult to say. Malaysia has gone too far down the affirmative path and in the end, even the Malaysian political parties are divided racially. There are even SRKJ (C), SRKJ (R) and SRK schools. In order to change this, it is going to take some doings. A lot of opposition will arise. Even now, some of the Malaysian Chinese are fighting against the government will to impose “sekolah nasional” or something like that on them.
The Malay of course wants to retain their special rights guaranteed in the Constitution.
After five decades of AA, I could only wonder whether it is worth it to change the policy. It is a dilemma. If we stick to the current policy, the Malaysian society will continually be divided. If we change, there will be another 13th May. Some say to go with the 13th May path all over again. Some rather stay (and these are the conservative).
Which is better? I myself do not know. Do I consider the Malay rights as holy? A part of me say yes, the other half say no.
Yet, suffice to say that I would like to see a day where there will be no Malay, Malaysian Chinese or Malaysia Indian. I want to see only Malaysian. No more, no less.
p/s – The Dutch Eresdivisie has resumed. De Magish van de Meer!!! Go Ajax Go!!!
p/s 2 – I am seeing a lot of grammar mistakes. I am above grammar.
p/s 3 – Just kidding, I’ll do some correction later.
p/s 4 – Console games suck.
I watched Bush’s State of the Union speech over the net last night and I must say, Bush is a really good orator.
During the speech, he spoke about reducing the tax, a typical Republican decision since they always think that the American is on the left side of the Laffer Curve. I don’t have too much knowledge in economics but throughout history, there is no prove that the Laffer Curve exists although the idea seems acceptable. Reagan tried it but nothing happened. Bush is trying it and I with skepticism say the government revenue will not go up. Yet, tax cut is good. We all love tax cut huh?
What made me lift my eyebrow was Bush push for hydrogen-powered vehicle. He reason was this push will help the United States to be less dependent on the foreign oil-producing nations. For the first time, I think Bush is doing the right thing.
Another environmental related issue was Bush drive to cut power plants emission up to 75%. Now, this is a little bit manipulative. 75% is a huge number and no doubt, it is good. However, 75% cut on power plants is different from trying to cut even 10% of the polluting industries emission.
All in all, these steps are not enough. The push for hydrogen-powered vehicle is a noble effort but the technology won’t reach the public in mass number within a few short years. It would be well beyond 2010 before this hybrid technology is widely used. Furthermore, with Bush on the top, it is doubtful he will not bend to the oil companies demands (e.g. S.U.V. stuffs).
In the speech, he also touched about Medicare. He wants the rising medical cost to be cut down by releasing the doctors from liability. In other words, he tries to prevent the doctors from being sued unfairly. Another good thing but the Democrats don’t like it (I think).
On international affair, he mentioned about the Palestine struggled and he said he is on the PLO side. Israel is going to love that.
He also touched a few other things but he tarried on Iraq. One think is clear though, it is war for oil. Bush himself said he will not let an aggressive enemy occupy a strategic and rich region to threaten the United States. No more speculation. It is official that it is war for oil.
Well, it’s a pity but we will see another oil-rich territory fall into the hand of the oil megalomaniacs. After that, Bush has won the war. Sigh…
Wait a minute, isn’t State of the Union is supposed to be about state of the Union instead of promises?
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[130] Of Pulau Batu Puteh
A long time ago, well, maybe not so long ago but it was long enough, they were two brothers. They helped each other out and compromised on almost everything. They minded their own business but never reluctant to help each other out in times of desperation. There was even time when a bully came up at them and they stood together against the bully. Yes, that was a long time ago. One could only assume they would be good brothers for all eternity.
But one day, the mother of these two brothers bought them a cake. They enjoyed the cake together, having a chat with a few laugh just like they had as always. Then, it was time for the last piece. The smaller brother reached for it and thought the other wouldn’t mind. How wrong the little one could be. The older brother had wanted it too. The brothers started to argue. Harsh words were exchanged and they hurt each other pride.
In the end, both of the brothers refused to compromise until the cake went bad.
Yet, the cake was so small and uninteresting.
I mean, c’mon, they are arguing about water and the ownership of a freaking lighthouse on a bunch of rock in the middle of the sea!
That is stupid. Malaysia should just sell the water at the agreed price and wait until the water agreements end if it doesn’t want to sell the water anymore. The amount of money generated this water arrangement is nothing compared to Malaysia’s total GDP. Malaysia may operate at a loss but if Singapore is booming, Johor will also enjoy the ripe. In the end, both will prosper. I say just sell the water at 6 cent per gallon and move on. I am sure Malaysia and Singapore have other more important stuff to do.
Concerning the tiny piece of rock, heck, it’s merely a few kilometers from the Malaysian shore while the rock is more than fifty kilometers off Singapore. Where is the common sense? Just give it to Malaysia.
Moving on the subject, the current action by the Singaporean navy is somewhat questionable. Everybody realizes that Singapore is trying to practice the “effective occupation”, the principle that won Malaysia the Sipadan – Ligitan case recently. Nevertheless, the Singaporean Navy has only recently aggressively patrol Pulau Batu Puteh. From my opinion, that is not effective occupation. Looking back at Sipadan and Ligitan, Malaysia has enforced its law and patrol the sea around Sipadan and Ligitan for decades. Singapore on the other hand has only started to patrol the tiny rock for the pass what, months? Weeks?
In addition, Singapore increased patrol had even caused a laugh in Malaysia and Indonesia. Singapore so jealously guarded Pulau Batu Puteh that while looking for “trespassing” Malaysian vessels, it failed to see a huge tanker immediately in front of them. I know its bad for me to say that but hey, sometimes the truth hurts.
By the way, effective occupation worked for Malaysia because Indonesia failed to counter Malaysia activities due to the turmoil in Indonesian domestic affair. Indonesia was still licking it wound caused by East Timor and the riot in Sulawesi. At same time, Acheh was waiting for an opportunity of a lifetime. By comparison, Malaysia is far from losing Kelantan (I know, I know, it’s a bad joke) and like it or not, Malaysia currently is doing economically better than Singapore. Plus, the lighthouse on Pulau Batu Puteh was not built by Singapore. It was built by the British with the consent of the Sultan of Johor.
Thus, effective occupation won’t work for Singapore.
Also, Singapore is arguing that the Malaysian Royal Navy frequently intrudes Pulau Batu Puteh. Well, I think intruding Pulau Batu Puteh is like saying the Malaysian Army is intruding Kuala Lumpur. By the way, the ICJ hasn’t even decided on the case yet. Might I add, if the Malaysian Royal Navy ever crosses Singapore precious border, how about Singapore Royal Air Force intrusion of Johor air space?
Give me a break.
Damn, look at how entry digressed.
Damn, I forgot, I’m a Green. I’m pro-peace (I’ve just found out that the term pro-peace looks better than anti-war – something that I learned from The Daily. That is the first time I learned something from The Daily. Wait, maybe the second time. Who cares?)