I think the article, "Building bridges of respect" in The Star today is cool.
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/11/29/focus/5202297&sec=focus
Looks like there are people among the grassroots who are interested in interfaith dialogues.
I was listening to the Kairos Public Forum for Christians on THE REAL JESUS CHRIST OF HISTORY: Jesus of The Bible versus Jesus of the Documentaries (National Geographic/Discovery /BBC) when towards the end of the forum a Muslim man stood up and greeted us, "Shalom" and told Kairos to organise an interfaith forum on Jesus of the Bible and Jesus of the Quran. The director of the Kairos said he welcomed such dialogue, as he had had dialogues and debates with Muslim scholars in the past, but it has to be done with care.
While seeing a couple of curious Muslims coming to the forum in church was refreshing, the man's suggestion was really unexpected. If only many Malaysians are as open-minded.
I hope many more Malaysians would have meaningful dialogues and try and understand each other. This could enable us to live in peace and harmony.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Future Prime Minister
I am still in a daze that Datuk Seri Idris Jala has been appointed a Minister (without portfolio) in the Prime Minister's Department. He resigned yesterday from his post as MAS CEO and managing director.
I had a wishful thought earlier this year that he would be a Prime Minister one day. I had not met him then or know anything about him except to read about him in the newspapers. The part that struck me about him was his setting a minimum wage for the staff at MAS. He made sure that none of his employees earned less than RM1,000 so to ensure that they would be adequately provided for. Although it would have been ideal if the amount was RM1,500, it was certainly a step of faith for him to increase the salary when MAS was still in the dumps.
I knew then that what he did was an indication that set his heart apart from any other CEOs or leaders.
The other person I had such a wishful thought was former head of Mercy Malaysia Tan Sri Dr Jemilah Mahmood, whom I had personally met.
What’s outstanding about these two personalities was their amazing strength in bringing transformation in society wherever they are. Unlike many people who would rather gripe, complain and criticise, they did what they could in their own capacity to bring about changes to the lives of many around them.
We need top leaders who have a heart for people and not a heart for power and money. This is the change we must strive for and bring down those who had misused power and squandered away our hard earned money.
There are many reasons why I think a good leader must give extra care and attention to the poor and needy in society.
1. The poor and needy is in most part a reflection of failure in political, economic and social systems. A good leader must disband the oppressive systems.
2. It reflects that he/she understood God’s heart and will. (He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honours God – Proverbs 14:31) A large number of oppressed grassroots is a sign of spiritual failure and a rebellion against God’s will for mankind – love God and our neighbour (people) - and the failure is seen in the lack of care for the needs of the downtrodden regardless of race and religion.
3. If the rich and powerful turn a blind eye to the poor and despair and wealth disparity widen to a disgusting level, the increase in crime rate may hit back at them. Our lives are, I am afraid, synergistically linked. What goes around comes around.
For now, it is impossible for Idris and Jemilah to be Prime Ministers due to the prejudicial mindsets of some conservative Malaysians - one because he is not a Muslim and a Malay (although he, being a native, has a rightful claim more than any of the former and current Prime Ministers) and the other because she is not a man. For these reasons, they will surely face many obstacles and objections if they are ever considered for the top leadership post.
However, if Idris or Jemilah is destined to be a Prime Minister one day, it will happen.
I had a wishful thought earlier this year that he would be a Prime Minister one day. I had not met him then or know anything about him except to read about him in the newspapers. The part that struck me about him was his setting a minimum wage for the staff at MAS. He made sure that none of his employees earned less than RM1,000 so to ensure that they would be adequately provided for. Although it would have been ideal if the amount was RM1,500, it was certainly a step of faith for him to increase the salary when MAS was still in the dumps.
I knew then that what he did was an indication that set his heart apart from any other CEOs or leaders.
The other person I had such a wishful thought was former head of Mercy Malaysia Tan Sri Dr Jemilah Mahmood, whom I had personally met.
What’s outstanding about these two personalities was their amazing strength in bringing transformation in society wherever they are. Unlike many people who would rather gripe, complain and criticise, they did what they could in their own capacity to bring about changes to the lives of many around them.
We need top leaders who have a heart for people and not a heart for power and money. This is the change we must strive for and bring down those who had misused power and squandered away our hard earned money.
There are many reasons why I think a good leader must give extra care and attention to the poor and needy in society.
1. The poor and needy is in most part a reflection of failure in political, economic and social systems. A good leader must disband the oppressive systems.
2. It reflects that he/she understood God’s heart and will. (He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honours God – Proverbs 14:31) A large number of oppressed grassroots is a sign of spiritual failure and a rebellion against God’s will for mankind – love God and our neighbour (people) - and the failure is seen in the lack of care for the needs of the downtrodden regardless of race and religion.
3. If the rich and powerful turn a blind eye to the poor and despair and wealth disparity widen to a disgusting level, the increase in crime rate may hit back at them. Our lives are, I am afraid, synergistically linked. What goes around comes around.
For now, it is impossible for Idris and Jemilah to be Prime Ministers due to the prejudicial mindsets of some conservative Malaysians - one because he is not a Muslim and a Malay (although he, being a native, has a rightful claim more than any of the former and current Prime Ministers) and the other because she is not a man. For these reasons, they will surely face many obstacles and objections if they are ever considered for the top leadership post.
However, if Idris or Jemilah is destined to be a Prime Minister one day, it will happen.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Should pass English but please plan ahead
On Monday (June 8), Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was surprised to learn that English was not a compulsory subject for students to pass their Form 5 SPM and wanted public feedback on the matter.
This is my take: a sudden new policy blast is certainly not my policy. I am not in favour of a sudden policy that compels students to pass English in SPM. There should be long term planning because it is unfair for students weak in the language to catch up at such a short time.
However, ultimately the language should be made compulsory for students to pass. This will push them towards attaining a basic but strong command of the language. Acquiring the language skill will give our nation the extra competitive edge while it functions as a useful language to have when we travel or live and work in other countries where English is widely spoken.
More English learning facilities need to be channelled to rural folks who do not have the opportunities and exposures to the language that city folks have. Informal and fun way of learning English should also be broadcast in the evenings when people are home. The Government cannot just make a policy and not provide the necessary tools for improvements.
Note: Those who want to give feedback on whether to make English pass compulsory in SPM should call the Education Ministry's customer service line at 03 - 7723 7070 or e-mail in their views to mailto:tokpkpm@moe.gov.my.
Below is my brother KK's view about English and education in Malaysia written as it is.
MUCH ADO ABOUT ENGLISH
The issue isn’t Eng as medium of instruction in Math/Science but rather the standard of local education, be it Eng, Sci or Math. Teaching Sci/Math in Eng doesn’t mean that the standard of Sci/Math or even Eng will improve. It’s the standard that we set that determines that. If I am not mistaken, Singapore ‘A’ level students do not get as many ‘As’ as our students (to the point that its ridiculous, like a bunch of ‘buah rambai’, 20 As???) – which means the passing level there is very much higher.
Even if Eng is maintained as medium of instruction in Sci/Math or even if Eng is set as a compulsory passing subject, the passing mark can be lowered and the problem remains.
The Germans n the Japanese (fr ashes of losing WW2) use their mother tongue as medium of instruction in sch n yet they are now leaders in commerce, technology n governance.
WHY???
Simple reason; they do not compromise on high standards n they are extremely discipline in achieving their targets. Setting high targets will mean less of a ‘feel good factor’ ie getting a string of As and by setting high standards, perception will slowly change towards appreciating excellence, in that to ace SPM/STPM is not easy and that a few As is a very high achievement.
This reasoning is relevant to our standing in the academic world (local university standing which hs fallen). The Philippines have many local universities but which are hardly recognized internationally to the point that their graduates work as maids. Why cant these graduates get decent jobs in the US (since the Philippines have close ties with them)? Could it be that the standards of universities in Philippines have been compromised n are considered low?
We must ask ourselves that very same question……have we compromised our standard of education (and in general, level of excellence)?
We must also be truthful to ourselves in answering that question no matter how painful it can be. Only then can we proceed onto the road to recovery.
Once I had a conversation with a Malay man. He mentioned that Malaysia has progress much and that the government has done a great job. He reasoned that Malaysia just needed a bigger population so that with an increased workforce, productivity will in turn increase.
I reasoned with him that that perception is disastrously flawed.
1. A car that has been moving at 100 kph now accelerates to 120 kph does not mean that it is going faster if other cars are accelerating even more, say to 150 kph.
Progress is relative and by that analogy, we may be losing ground – similar to our standard in football in which poor nations like Myanmar, Cambodia can thrash us.
2. Malaysia is blessed in that it has many natural resources – and a relatively small population base. Her bountiful riches can be easily shared around compared to our neighbor Indonesia, who is also very rich in natural resources but is burdened by a huge population base.
So to be more productive, we must not just increase our workforce per say but to improve the quality of our workforce – through education.
In my opinion, to achieve Vision 2020, we need a fundamental, systemic change.
1. to reintroduce the importance of Eng as a core passing subject in sch as it is required in accessing the world.
2. or even to maintain Eng as the medium of instruction for Sci/Math.
3. to improve the standards of our teaching profession as the copies can only be as good as the mould.
4. most importantly to re-set our standards and our perception to excellence.
There will certainly be much resistance towards this as there will be transitional pain esp in the rural communities.
This matter will also provide ample fodder for political sharks to capitalize on.
But march on we must – or be left behind.
The biggest obstacle to progress is the resistance to change as it often entails much work and heartache.
To conclude, we must set high standards in school to produce good quality students n thereon a good quality work force and towards being a developed nation.
This is my take: a sudden new policy blast is certainly not my policy. I am not in favour of a sudden policy that compels students to pass English in SPM. There should be long term planning because it is unfair for students weak in the language to catch up at such a short time.
However, ultimately the language should be made compulsory for students to pass. This will push them towards attaining a basic but strong command of the language. Acquiring the language skill will give our nation the extra competitive edge while it functions as a useful language to have when we travel or live and work in other countries where English is widely spoken.
More English learning facilities need to be channelled to rural folks who do not have the opportunities and exposures to the language that city folks have. Informal and fun way of learning English should also be broadcast in the evenings when people are home. The Government cannot just make a policy and not provide the necessary tools for improvements.
Note: Those who want to give feedback on whether to make English pass compulsory in SPM should call the Education Ministry's customer service line at 03 - 7723 7070 or e-mail in their views to mailto:tokpkpm@moe.gov.my.
Below is my brother KK's view about English and education in Malaysia written as it is.
MUCH ADO ABOUT ENGLISH
The issue isn’t Eng as medium of instruction in Math/Science but rather the standard of local education, be it Eng, Sci or Math. Teaching Sci/Math in Eng doesn’t mean that the standard of Sci/Math or even Eng will improve. It’s the standard that we set that determines that. If I am not mistaken, Singapore ‘A’ level students do not get as many ‘As’ as our students (to the point that its ridiculous, like a bunch of ‘buah rambai’, 20 As???) – which means the passing level there is very much higher.
Even if Eng is maintained as medium of instruction in Sci/Math or even if Eng is set as a compulsory passing subject, the passing mark can be lowered and the problem remains.
The Germans n the Japanese (fr ashes of losing WW2) use their mother tongue as medium of instruction in sch n yet they are now leaders in commerce, technology n governance.
WHY???
Simple reason; they do not compromise on high standards n they are extremely discipline in achieving their targets. Setting high targets will mean less of a ‘feel good factor’ ie getting a string of As and by setting high standards, perception will slowly change towards appreciating excellence, in that to ace SPM/STPM is not easy and that a few As is a very high achievement.
This reasoning is relevant to our standing in the academic world (local university standing which hs fallen). The Philippines have many local universities but which are hardly recognized internationally to the point that their graduates work as maids. Why cant these graduates get decent jobs in the US (since the Philippines have close ties with them)? Could it be that the standards of universities in Philippines have been compromised n are considered low?
We must ask ourselves that very same question……have we compromised our standard of education (and in general, level of excellence)?
We must also be truthful to ourselves in answering that question no matter how painful it can be. Only then can we proceed onto the road to recovery.
Once I had a conversation with a Malay man. He mentioned that Malaysia has progress much and that the government has done a great job. He reasoned that Malaysia just needed a bigger population so that with an increased workforce, productivity will in turn increase.
I reasoned with him that that perception is disastrously flawed.
1. A car that has been moving at 100 kph now accelerates to 120 kph does not mean that it is going faster if other cars are accelerating even more, say to 150 kph.
Progress is relative and by that analogy, we may be losing ground – similar to our standard in football in which poor nations like Myanmar, Cambodia can thrash us.
2. Malaysia is blessed in that it has many natural resources – and a relatively small population base. Her bountiful riches can be easily shared around compared to our neighbor Indonesia, who is also very rich in natural resources but is burdened by a huge population base.
So to be more productive, we must not just increase our workforce per say but to improve the quality of our workforce – through education.
In my opinion, to achieve Vision 2020, we need a fundamental, systemic change.
1. to reintroduce the importance of Eng as a core passing subject in sch as it is required in accessing the world.
2. or even to maintain Eng as the medium of instruction for Sci/Math.
3. to improve the standards of our teaching profession as the copies can only be as good as the mould.
4. most importantly to re-set our standards and our perception to excellence.
There will certainly be much resistance towards this as there will be transitional pain esp in the rural communities.
This matter will also provide ample fodder for political sharks to capitalize on.
But march on we must – or be left behind.
The biggest obstacle to progress is the resistance to change as it often entails much work and heartache.
To conclude, we must set high standards in school to produce good quality students n thereon a good quality work force and towards being a developed nation.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Makkal Sakthi explained
Coincidentally, after writing my thoughts on Makkal Sakti on Monday, there is an explanation on Makkal Sakti being opened to all. I wonder what had triggered that response because I don't think it could be due to my article. Not many people know about it. Perhaps there were others too who had felt what I had felt, who knows. Here is the story in The Star:
Thursday May 28, 2009
Makkal Sakthi ‘open to all’
KLANG: The newly-formed Malaysian Makkal Sakthi Party (MMSP) is not exclusively for Indians and its founders hope that Malaysians of all races will join it.
Pro tem secretary-general Kannan Ramasamy said the MMSP was registered as a party with an open membership.
“The party constitution does not classify the party as Indian-based,” he explained.
He said the party’s open membership was in line with the Makkal Sakthi concept, which was basically about people power regardless of race and religion.
He said the party’s central working committee would have representatives of every ethnicity in the party.
However, Kannan said that due to the many unresolved issues facing the Indian community, the party’s “initial work would revolve around the community.”
“Our pilot project is to look into the problem of statelessness among Indians,” Kannan said.
Kannan also said that the party offered free membership for the first 100,000 who signed up.
Thursday May 28, 2009
Makkal Sakthi ‘open to all’
KLANG: The newly-formed Malaysian Makkal Sakthi Party (MMSP) is not exclusively for Indians and its founders hope that Malaysians of all races will join it.
Pro tem secretary-general Kannan Ramasamy said the MMSP was registered as a party with an open membership.
“The party constitution does not classify the party as Indian-based,” he explained.
He said the party’s open membership was in line with the Makkal Sakthi concept, which was basically about people power regardless of race and religion.
He said the party’s central working committee would have representatives of every ethnicity in the party.
However, Kannan said that due to the many unresolved issues facing the Indian community, the party’s “initial work would revolve around the community.”
“Our pilot project is to look into the problem of statelessness among Indians,” Kannan said.
Kannan also said that the party offered free membership for the first 100,000 who signed up.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Makkal Sakti does not deserve its name
I thought the message from the results of the March 8 General Elections last year was clear enough - that many Malaysians from all walks of lives DO NOT want politics based on racial lines. And here we go again the latest party, the Malaysia Makkal Sakti Party, being formed (registered on May 11) to fight for a certain race only. That is a total disappointment.
Makkal Sakti means “people’s power.” Why is it not formed to fight for all of Malaysian’s poor? It should just be called Indian power.
Now, who is going to fight for the poor of the other races? The orang asli makes up the poorest group in the country. Don’t tell me an orang asli party too should be established to fight for their rights. This will never end. Hopefully all parties from the Government coalition Barisan Nasional and the opposition Pakatan Rakyat will realise by now that poverty cuts across all races. Even if there are many middle class Malays and Chinese, it should not deprive the poor from these groups from being helped.
If there is any party that we urgently need now is a Labour Party and a Green Party. Look at how workers are exploited and the earth raped by greedy and deprave fools.
Our wages at this period of time are the worst I’ve ever seen in my lifetime. It’s obvious which side the present Government is siding – the employers, of course. It seems to collapse at the slightest pressure from them, for instance, in its effort to implement the double levy policy on foreign labour and keeping jobs for Malaysians. If the Government is serious about this effort, it can always start gradually and do with a mix of locals and foreign workers until their contracts expire.
The Government accepted the employers’ argument that it would be difficult for them to look for locals to do certain jobs such as cleaning and waiting at the table and that the cost of labour among locals would cause food prices to go up.
However, the Malayan Trade Union Congress and consumer groups pointed out that employers themselves had not provided fair wages and working hours, and decant or safe working conditions. Moreover, while locals are likely to spend their money here and stimulate the current sluggish economy, foreign workers will send their money back to their home country instead.
I wish that some conscientious employers can prove that they can be competitive by hiring locals despite a higher wage structure. It is hard to believe the excuse that employers often gave, that they cannot find locals to do the job. How was it that we were able to do it a few years ago and suddenly we could not? All so sudden. If employers have difficulties making ends meet, then perhaps other factors be looked into. The Government should set some limit to the exhorbitant rentals of commercial premises.
Enough said for now. I shall touch more on wages in my next blog.
Makkal Sakti means “people’s power.” Why is it not formed to fight for all of Malaysian’s poor? It should just be called Indian power.
Now, who is going to fight for the poor of the other races? The orang asli makes up the poorest group in the country. Don’t tell me an orang asli party too should be established to fight for their rights. This will never end. Hopefully all parties from the Government coalition Barisan Nasional and the opposition Pakatan Rakyat will realise by now that poverty cuts across all races. Even if there are many middle class Malays and Chinese, it should not deprive the poor from these groups from being helped.
If there is any party that we urgently need now is a Labour Party and a Green Party. Look at how workers are exploited and the earth raped by greedy and deprave fools.
Our wages at this period of time are the worst I’ve ever seen in my lifetime. It’s obvious which side the present Government is siding – the employers, of course. It seems to collapse at the slightest pressure from them, for instance, in its effort to implement the double levy policy on foreign labour and keeping jobs for Malaysians. If the Government is serious about this effort, it can always start gradually and do with a mix of locals and foreign workers until their contracts expire.
The Government accepted the employers’ argument that it would be difficult for them to look for locals to do certain jobs such as cleaning and waiting at the table and that the cost of labour among locals would cause food prices to go up.
However, the Malayan Trade Union Congress and consumer groups pointed out that employers themselves had not provided fair wages and working hours, and decant or safe working conditions. Moreover, while locals are likely to spend their money here and stimulate the current sluggish economy, foreign workers will send their money back to their home country instead.
I wish that some conscientious employers can prove that they can be competitive by hiring locals despite a higher wage structure. It is hard to believe the excuse that employers often gave, that they cannot find locals to do the job. How was it that we were able to do it a few years ago and suddenly we could not? All so sudden. If employers have difficulties making ends meet, then perhaps other factors be looked into. The Government should set some limit to the exhorbitant rentals of commercial premises.
Enough said for now. I shall touch more on wages in my next blog.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Documentary video on the Kelau Dam Project
DROWNED FORESTS & DAMNED LIVES
by Colin Nicholas
The Orang Asli and the Kelau Dam Project
Keywords: Indigenous peoples. Peninsular Malaysia. Chewong. Temuan. Lakum forests. Kelau River. Pahang-Selangor Water Transfer. 44km tunnel through the Main Range. JBIC-Japan loan. Shoddy EIA. Legal objections. RM4 billion cost. Fraudulent representation. Forced and unjustified resettlement. No free, informed consent. Deforestation. Environmental damage. Unconsidered alternatives. Unnecessary dam.
Also in Malay.
Go to www.coac.org.my to view or download or go direct:
http://www.coac.org.my/codenavia/portals/coacv2/images/videos/DFDL%20ENG.mp4
by Colin Nicholas
The Orang Asli and the Kelau Dam Project
Keywords: Indigenous peoples. Peninsular Malaysia. Chewong. Temuan. Lakum forests. Kelau River. Pahang-Selangor Water Transfer. 44km tunnel through the Main Range. JBIC-Japan loan. Shoddy EIA. Legal objections. RM4 billion cost. Fraudulent representation. Forced and unjustified resettlement. No free, informed consent. Deforestation. Environmental damage. Unconsidered alternatives. Unnecessary dam.
Also in Malay.
Go to www.coac.org.my to view or download or go direct:
http://www.coac.org.my/codenavia/portals/coacv2/images/videos/DFDL%20ENG.mp4
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Martin Luther King, Jr - disbanding racism the Jesus' way
My highlight today is dedicated to one of the heroes in my life – Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr, a Baptist minister who died on April 4, 1968 at a young age of 39. How ironic, 1968 was the year I was born and 39 is now my age…err hitting the big 40 later this year! We independent-thinking modern women who don’t wear high heels (haha!), need not hide our age lah. The more important question is, how have we impact people’s lives or the community we live in during the prime of our lives?
Contemplative thoughts aside, King’s efforts in disbanding racism at policy as well as cultural levels, brought about God’s Kingdom of justice and righteousness on earth and literally in Christ’s words’ “setting the captives free.” Like Christ himself, King’s life was a sacrifice for the community as well as for the generations ahead of him who could now enjoy equal rights in the land.
Two years ago, during a tour to the Martin Luther King’s Centre in Atlanta on the Religion and Society Exchange Trip sponsored by Asia Foundation, I saw photographs of King and protestors who went on peaceful marches despite police beating them up, with some badly injured and bleeding. They DID NOT retaliate or hit back. It was a painful sight. King learned the peaceful demonstration methods from Ghandi, who himself although not a Christian, was inspired by Jesus’ non-violent way of getting justice done.
My pastor, who happened to have mentioned about King in his preaching this morning said that people remembered King’s remarkable preaching on the need to love our enemies, expounded from Matthew 5: 43-48 (You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy. But I tell you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even the pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore as your heavenly Father is perfect.)
King’s life itself was a testimony of Christ’s love. Even when people tried to kill him, or when his own people betrayed him, he forgave them. (His background is at the end of this page.) In a world where professional killers are hired to gun down enemies and terrorists bombing whom they considered as enemies, Christ call for love for all, including our enemies, is the only way to heal the world. Loving one’s enemy is impossible unless the Divine is sought.
To return evil for good is devilish, to return good for good is human, but to return good for evil is divine was aptly described in the sermon.
During the trip I mentioned earlier, Dr Drew Smith, director of the Public Influences of African-American Churches Project at Morehouse College in Atlanta, explained to us the role of the African American churches in leading the civil rights movement. It began in the 1900s and peak in the 1950s and most protests took place in the south eastern part of the US, especially Montgomery, where King held peaceful demonstrations.
Interestingly, the support from the churches for the civil rights movement were only 10% while most were more interested in evangelising rather than be involved in social activism. Nevertheless, those involved were a main force in the struggle, with other social organisations joining in, said Drew.
Looking at the changes that have been going on in the country, Malaysians may not need to go through such painful history in order to achieve a more just society. It seems to be taking place gradually ever since March 8, and I hope that it will continue if we want to see the country reconstructed into something better.
King’s background:
http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1964/king-bio.html
Martin Luther King, Jr., (January 15, 1929-April 4, 1968) was born Michael Luther King, Jr., but later had his name changed to Martin. His grandfather began the family's long tenure as pastors of the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, serving from 1914 to 1931; his father has served from then until the present, and from 1960 until his death Martin Luther acted as co-pastor. Martin Luther attended segregated public schools in Georgia, graduating from high school at the age of 15; he received the B. A. degree in 1948 from Morehouse College, a distinguished Negro institution of Atlanta from which both his father and grandfather had graduated. After three years of theological study at Crozer Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania where he was elected president of a predominantly white senior class, he was awarded the B.D. in 1951. With a fellowship won at Crozer, he enrolled in graduate studies at Boston University, completing his residence for the doctorate in 1953 and receiving the degree in 1955. In Boston he met and married Coretta Scott, a young woman of uncommon intellectual and artistic attainments. Two sons and two daughters were born into the family.In 1954, Martin Luther King accepted the pastorale of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. Always a strong worker for civil rights for members of his race, King was, by this time, a member of the executive committee of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the leading organization of its kind in the nation. He was ready, then, early in December, 1955, to accept the leadership of the first great Negro nonviolent demonstration of contemporary times in the United States, the bus boycott described by Gunnar Jahn in his presentation speech in honor of the laureate. The boycott lasted 382 days. On December 21, 1956, after the Supreme Court of the United States had declared unconstitutional the laws requiring segregation on buses, Negroes and whites rode the buses as equals. During these days of boycott, King was arrested, his home was bombed, he was subjected to personal abuse, but at the same time he emerged as a Negro leader of the first rank.In 1957 he was elected president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, an organization formed to provide new leadership for the now burgeoning civil rights movement. The ideals for this organization he took from Christianity; its operational techniques from Gandhi. In the eleven-year period between 1957 and 1968, King traveled over six million miles and spoke over twenty-five hundred times, appearing wherever there was injustice, protest, and action; and meanwhile he wrote five books as well as numerous articles. In these years, he led a massive protest in Birmingham, Alabama, that caught the attention of the entire world, providing what he called a coalition of conscience. and inspiring his "Letter from a Birmingham Jail", a manifesto of the Negro revolution; he planned the drives in Alabama for the registration of Negroes as voters; he directed the peaceful march on Washington, D.C., of 250,000 people to whom he delivered his address, "l Have a Dream", he conferred with President John F. Kennedy and campaigned for President Lyndon B. Johnson; he was arrested upwards of twenty times and assaulted at least four times; he was awarded five honorary degrees; was named Man of the Year by Time magazine in 1963; and became not only the symbolic leader of American blacks but also a world figure.At the age of thirty-five, Martin Luther King, Jr., was the youngest man to have received the Nobel Peace Prize. When notified of his selection, he announced that he would turn over the prize money of $54,123 to the furtherance of the civil rights movement. On the evening of April 4, 1968, while standing on the balcony of his motel room in Memphis, Tennessee, where he was to lead a protest march in sympathy with striking garbage workers of that city, he was assassinated.
Contemplative thoughts aside, King’s efforts in disbanding racism at policy as well as cultural levels, brought about God’s Kingdom of justice and righteousness on earth and literally in Christ’s words’ “setting the captives free.” Like Christ himself, King’s life was a sacrifice for the community as well as for the generations ahead of him who could now enjoy equal rights in the land.
Two years ago, during a tour to the Martin Luther King’s Centre in Atlanta on the Religion and Society Exchange Trip sponsored by Asia Foundation, I saw photographs of King and protestors who went on peaceful marches despite police beating them up, with some badly injured and bleeding. They DID NOT retaliate or hit back. It was a painful sight. King learned the peaceful demonstration methods from Ghandi, who himself although not a Christian, was inspired by Jesus’ non-violent way of getting justice done.
My pastor, who happened to have mentioned about King in his preaching this morning said that people remembered King’s remarkable preaching on the need to love our enemies, expounded from Matthew 5: 43-48 (You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy. But I tell you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even the pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore as your heavenly Father is perfect.)
King’s life itself was a testimony of Christ’s love. Even when people tried to kill him, or when his own people betrayed him, he forgave them. (His background is at the end of this page.) In a world where professional killers are hired to gun down enemies and terrorists bombing whom they considered as enemies, Christ call for love for all, including our enemies, is the only way to heal the world. Loving one’s enemy is impossible unless the Divine is sought.
To return evil for good is devilish, to return good for good is human, but to return good for evil is divine was aptly described in the sermon.
During the trip I mentioned earlier, Dr Drew Smith, director of the Public Influences of African-American Churches Project at Morehouse College in Atlanta, explained to us the role of the African American churches in leading the civil rights movement. It began in the 1900s and peak in the 1950s and most protests took place in the south eastern part of the US, especially Montgomery, where King held peaceful demonstrations.
Interestingly, the support from the churches for the civil rights movement were only 10% while most were more interested in evangelising rather than be involved in social activism. Nevertheless, those involved were a main force in the struggle, with other social organisations joining in, said Drew.
Looking at the changes that have been going on in the country, Malaysians may not need to go through such painful history in order to achieve a more just society. It seems to be taking place gradually ever since March 8, and I hope that it will continue if we want to see the country reconstructed into something better.
King’s background:
http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1964/king-bio.html
Martin Luther King, Jr., (January 15, 1929-April 4, 1968) was born Michael Luther King, Jr., but later had his name changed to Martin. His grandfather began the family's long tenure as pastors of the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, serving from 1914 to 1931; his father has served from then until the present, and from 1960 until his death Martin Luther acted as co-pastor. Martin Luther attended segregated public schools in Georgia, graduating from high school at the age of 15; he received the B. A. degree in 1948 from Morehouse College, a distinguished Negro institution of Atlanta from which both his father and grandfather had graduated. After three years of theological study at Crozer Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania where he was elected president of a predominantly white senior class, he was awarded the B.D. in 1951. With a fellowship won at Crozer, he enrolled in graduate studies at Boston University, completing his residence for the doctorate in 1953 and receiving the degree in 1955. In Boston he met and married Coretta Scott, a young woman of uncommon intellectual and artistic attainments. Two sons and two daughters were born into the family.In 1954, Martin Luther King accepted the pastorale of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. Always a strong worker for civil rights for members of his race, King was, by this time, a member of the executive committee of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the leading organization of its kind in the nation. He was ready, then, early in December, 1955, to accept the leadership of the first great Negro nonviolent demonstration of contemporary times in the United States, the bus boycott described by Gunnar Jahn in his presentation speech in honor of the laureate. The boycott lasted 382 days. On December 21, 1956, after the Supreme Court of the United States had declared unconstitutional the laws requiring segregation on buses, Negroes and whites rode the buses as equals. During these days of boycott, King was arrested, his home was bombed, he was subjected to personal abuse, but at the same time he emerged as a Negro leader of the first rank.In 1957 he was elected president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, an organization formed to provide new leadership for the now burgeoning civil rights movement. The ideals for this organization he took from Christianity; its operational techniques from Gandhi. In the eleven-year period between 1957 and 1968, King traveled over six million miles and spoke over twenty-five hundred times, appearing wherever there was injustice, protest, and action; and meanwhile he wrote five books as well as numerous articles. In these years, he led a massive protest in Birmingham, Alabama, that caught the attention of the entire world, providing what he called a coalition of conscience. and inspiring his "Letter from a Birmingham Jail", a manifesto of the Negro revolution; he planned the drives in Alabama for the registration of Negroes as voters; he directed the peaceful march on Washington, D.C., of 250,000 people to whom he delivered his address, "l Have a Dream", he conferred with President John F. Kennedy and campaigned for President Lyndon B. Johnson; he was arrested upwards of twenty times and assaulted at least four times; he was awarded five honorary degrees; was named Man of the Year by Time magazine in 1963; and became not only the symbolic leader of American blacks but also a world figure.At the age of thirty-five, Martin Luther King, Jr., was the youngest man to have received the Nobel Peace Prize. When notified of his selection, he announced that he would turn over the prize money of $54,123 to the furtherance of the civil rights movement. On the evening of April 4, 1968, while standing on the balcony of his motel room in Memphis, Tennessee, where he was to lead a protest march in sympathy with striking garbage workers of that city, he was assassinated.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)