Do think of your mother!!!!

(During the weekend, I watch a movie from TV3 and at the same time, I am hearing 2 real stories about how people treat their mothers....its very shocking!)

Mr and Mrs M has 3 daughters and 1 son. Liza is the eldest of the lot, Leela is the second while Leena is the youngest. Lance is the only son. Mrs M worked as a cleaner (household). For the past 15 years and until now, she is still cleaning the houses despite the fact that Liza, Leela and Lance is now working. Mrs M used to work for about 3 houses the whole day to earn about RM1200 a month. Quite sometime back Mrs M got a contract to clean the factory's hostels for RM900. There was one day, I saw her hands and feet were blotchy. She says its due to the cleaning. Sometimes, she does complain of back pain. Mr M is working as a sub-contractor - doing construction work. Mr M is not a regular worker - well, he works according to his moods - in short, when he feels like it. (No mood, no do!)

Liza got married about 7 years ago. She is now a mother to 3 very cute children, Mary the elder daughter will always greet me, Auntieeee in a very high pitch voice....she used to call my mum auntie, until she realise, there could not be 2 aunties....so she greets my mum....grannyyyyyy......and so my dad becomes grand pa la.... Mike is the second child, very cute also - a little bit shy...but always eager to smile that very cute and innocent smile. Matt is the youngest one.....a little bit shy...like the brother.

When Liza got married 7 years ago to Sam, well its like one of the soap operas. Sam was in love with someone else, Cathy. Cathy's parents didn't want him as Sam was jobless at the moment so Cathy's parents felt that he will not be in a position to take care of their daughter. So Sam..went out with Liza. Liza knew of Sam's love and fought hard for it. Their marriage was arranged very fast as to prevent the stomach from showing. During this time, Liza's parents took care of the 3 little kids. Mary will start wailing if Mr and Mrs M went out without her. Mr M used to take her out on his trusty bike. Since everyone is staying together, Sam offered to give money to Mrs M, but Liza told Sam - its not necessary! So everything, Mrs M has to pay! Mrs M swallowed the first bitter pill. The second bitter pill was Mr M did not want to work - and only work for certain projects - and so Mrs M has to work very hard to pay for 2 households - hers and the Liza's.

Just about six months ago, another quarrel surfaced - about money again. This time, Sam answered Mrs M very rudely - Mrs M slapped him across the face and told him never to step inside the house again. With that Sam left the house. Three months later, Auntie May saw something and quickly called Mrs M. Sam got married to Cathy without the knowledge of Liza! It seems that Cathy divorced her family to be with Sam. And they are staying just about 15 minutes drive from where Mr and Mrs M is staying.

Liza went to confront Sam. So Liza went to stay in that house together with Cathy and the 3 kids followed as well. One day, Liza saw Cathy feeding her 3 kids with instant noodles and Liza was fuming! Liza told Cathy and Sam off! Sam got annoyed and slapped her blue black infront of the 3 kids! Liza called her mum tearfully. Back at the house, Liza was very rude again to Mrs M and to Leela. So now, Mrs M and Liza do not talk to each other. Even Leela also refuses to talk to Liza. Leela and Liza is working at the same building but Liza refuses to let Leela sit inside the car! She asked Leela to find her own transport! Liza has forgotten that during the 7 years, Leela helped to take care of her 3 kids!

Has Liza forgotten about the sacrifices made by the mum!

Time to exercise your rights

Tomorrow March 8, 2008 is a very important date. One of the reason...my former student getting married. I am very happy for her. One funny thing about all these marriages is that, you will suddenly realise that you will be related. Guess what, her uncle is my husband's cousin and so she is now my niece and I am her aunt!

The second most important thing is, March 8, 2008 is another day for all eligible Malaysians to exercise their rights as a citizen of the country. Voting represents one of the foundations of a democratic country. In the dictionary definition, democracy "is government by the people in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system." In the phrase of Abraham Lincoln, democracy is a government "of the people, by the people, and for the people." So, in other words, we will be electing people who we think will be able to serve us, to ensure that they will see us through the years ahead.

THE PILLARS OF DEMOCRACY

• Sovereignty of the people.
  
• Government based upon consent of the governed.
  
• Majority rule.
  
• Minority rights.
  
• Guarantee of basic human rights.
  
• Free and fair elections.
  
• Equality before the law.
  
• Due process of law.
  
• Constitutional limits on government.
  
• Social, economic, and political pluralism.
  
• Values of tolerance, pragmatism, cooperation, and compromise.

(Source : Defining Democracy: http://usinfo.state.gov/products/pubs/whatsdem/whatdm2.htm)

Freedom?

This is entitled "Freedom" with a question mark just to remind us that sometimes not everything is "freedom". Many people have said that now, the youth have got freedom to do whatever they want. To a certain extent its true. However, if we look closer, sometimes youth have to behave in a manner that society permits. Hence, are we free? But are these behaviour necessary?

This story is about a family of 6, father, mother and 4 children, 3 girls and a boy. This story describes a situation when they had a very joyous event - one of the daughters got married. Indeed, all parents dreams of this day when their pride and joy is making them proud.

In a typical chinese wedding scenario, the groom and his entourage will come to the bride's house to "fetch" the bride. The "fetch" is not so easy as it seems. The groom seems to need the "approval" of the bride's "bodyguards". .......Hey, they are here...shouted Sam, the youngest of the family, also the only son. Everyone got excited. "Ok, everyone this is the plan, Sister Shirley you stall him (the groom) at the front door, while we fix the props"...he he he he this would be grand...declared Sam. Sam went off to prepare the "props"...2 hula hoops and 2 milk bottles!

"Ok...my future brother-in-law"...called out Sam to Ben, the groom, ..."This is what you need to do....we are now going to compete...who will be faster...... on our side..we have Mei Mei who will do the hula hoop for us...now you need to choose someone to do it..if no one volunteers...you do it!" Ben looked alarm, he was not prepared for this, his suit is all white! White shows dirt very easily...and this is only 9am in the morning...they have more events towards the day. Luckily, Ah Fatt volunteered. However, Mei mei won, Ah Fatt was out of practice. Sam sniggered and said, "looks like this is 1 - 0 for the girls side"..."now for the 2nd event...the milk bottle"..."we want to see how fast you drink the bottle..."...This time Ben was smarter, he ripped the cap and drank the milk. Sam said, "okay...now it seems its 1 - 1...Since, its your day, we let you win...but you need to do a declaration of your love for my sister." .....Sam pushing a piece of paper to Ben. Ben is supposed to use lipstick and to declare whatever its written loudly. ......Now Shirley (the sister) took over. Ben played along and declared his undying love. Shirley shouted out..."hey thats not loud enough...say it louder". This went on for about 30 mins....and while this is going on, the groom's entourage seemed annoyed with this play. The groom's aunt muttered softly, "just ask her whether she wants to be with you as the wife, if she does not answer, lets go back." ....And finally, Shirley relented...and...the ceremony carried on. Sam was unhappy as he was not able to carry on whatever plans he had. When Sam was reprimanded by his elders, he glared at the elder and said .."Now its my turn to do this, next time, other people will do on me....so we will be even". ....

Then the whole team, comprising of the groom and bride side went to the restaurant for the lunch. Sam...was very happy....as his sister got married....he went around pouring liquor all around.....encouraging them to drink.....and Sam drank along with them. Sam's face was getting red as a lobster! .....Still....he went along pouring and drinking. Many of the elder relatives were unhappy with Sam's behaviour......Why?

Sam was at that time 17 years old!.......

(All these actions which Sam did is unnecessary. There is no need to make a fool of the brother-in-law, although some tastefully done activities can be played to make the event happier...but all these has a certain limit. To you is happiness....but have you thought of other people? ....All those "botttoms up" drinking, is it necessary to show to people that you can drink and still be alright?)