Entries
Friday, May 18, 2007
http://www.netscape.com/viewstory/2007/03/03/sunni-family-killed-for-reconciliation-meeting-with-shiites/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fhosted.ap.org%2Fdynamic%2Fstories%2FI%2FIRAQ%3FSITE%3DAP%26SECTION%3DHOME%26TEMPLATE&frame=true
This is yet another article detailing the violence in Iraq where bullets are shot almost everyday and roadside bombs spring up from time to time.
This killing would have been like any other if not for the reason the victims were chosen. The six Sunni victims had attended a reconciliation conference with Shiites; soon after, they received death threats. If it had been a Shiite group which carried out the killing, it would have been just another case of sectarian violence; still a condemnable act, but an expected one. This time the killers were Sunnis.Having heard no other news of Iraq other than reports of bloodshed, it is easy to forget that most Iraqis just want peace. The impression I got from the news was that that all Sunnis hated Shiites and vice versa. After reading this article I realized that it is the only the Sunni extremists, not the whole community, who are trying to topple the Shiite-led government.While relieved that it is only a few who are causing chaos, I now know of the divide that exists within the Sunni community, and it is this divide that the possibility of peace is being pushed into. How can there be peace between Sunnis and Shiites if there isn’t even peace within their own communities? While there are some who actively try to bridge the rift, there are some who will kill to keep the wound open. They want peace, but it seems they cannot agree on how to achieve it.There is a quote from the movie Hotel Rwanda. A camera-man, after shooting scenes of the Tutsi massacre, says: “I think if people see this footage, they'll say Oh, my God, that's horrible. And then they'll go on eating their dinners.”While I fell that I am affected by the cold-blooded killing and insensitive actions in some way, I will soon shove it to the back of my mind and forget it. It will be just another snippet of information to be stored away so that I may fill my head with more important things, like the latest games or movies to be played and watched.
This is yet another article detailing the violence in Iraq where bullets are shot almost everyday and roadside bombs spring up from time to time.
This killing would have been like any other if not for the reason the victims were chosen. The six Sunni victims had attended a reconciliation conference with Shiites; soon after, they received death threats. If it had been a Shiite group which carried out the killing, it would have been just another case of sectarian violence; still a condemnable act, but an expected one. This time the killers were Sunnis.Having heard no other news of Iraq other than reports of bloodshed, it is easy to forget that most Iraqis just want peace. The impression I got from the news was that that all Sunnis hated Shiites and vice versa. After reading this article I realized that it is the only the Sunni extremists, not the whole community, who are trying to topple the Shiite-led government.While relieved that it is only a few who are causing chaos, I now know of the divide that exists within the Sunni community, and it is this divide that the possibility of peace is being pushed into. How can there be peace between Sunnis and Shiites if there isn’t even peace within their own communities? While there are some who actively try to bridge the rift, there are some who will kill to keep the wound open. They want peace, but it seems they cannot agree on how to achieve it.There is a quote from the movie Hotel Rwanda. A camera-man, after shooting scenes of the Tutsi massacre, says: “I think if people see this footage, they'll say Oh, my God, that's horrible. And then they'll go on eating their dinners.”While I fell that I am affected by the cold-blooded killing and insensitive actions in some way, I will soon shove it to the back of my mind and forget it. It will be just another snippet of information to be stored away so that I may fill my head with more important things, like the latest games or movies to be played and watched.
LIVING.out.of.REALITY;
6:29 AM
Saturday, May 05, 2007
This article is about the desicion to develope Johor's waterfront into wat would be The Iskandar development region which covers an area of 2217 sq km, nearly thrice as large as singapore. This project will help with the unemployment rate cutting the unemployed from 4% to about 1.8% as on completion the project will bring in close to a million jobs.
This venture that malaysia is attempting is to complement Singapore's building of the integrated resorts as they say that there will be a spillover of the tourist going to singapore for business or lesiure and that with the Iskandar development project they are hoping to ride on Singapore's wave and to encourage tourist to go over the causeway to see what Malaysia has to offer like theme parks, luxury apartments and shopping malls at Johor's waterfront. I find that Malaysia is trying to take tourist away frm Singapore by coming up with this project, however, others see this like that of Shenzhen and HongKong where like them the IDR and Singapore will feed off each other to a mutual prosperity. This dream may come true, however according to anaylsts Kuala Lumpur's target of attraction nearly US$14billion of investments over the next five years will collaspe if the US economy enters a period of slowdown.
I personally do not think that Malaysia will succed with the IDR which will be completed over a period of 20years as if you go up to Malaysia you can see that many of their apartments are fairly run down and they do not really maintain their buildings. Recently, me and my family went on a holiday to Penang where we saw a few flats which had moss growing and was already turning black from exposure to the elements. What suprised me was that these flats were just recently completed and that already they were in such a condition. If malaysians can't maintain their buildings how would they maintain the first few buildings that would be built under the IDR. Would it mean that a few months after completion the building would deteriorate? If this is the case how would the buildings be over the 20 years taken to complete the IDR. Thus this is why i think that Malaysia would not be able to develope the IDR into its full potential.
This article was taken from the 5th of may straits times.
This venture that malaysia is attempting is to complement Singapore's building of the integrated resorts as they say that there will be a spillover of the tourist going to singapore for business or lesiure and that with the Iskandar development project they are hoping to ride on Singapore's wave and to encourage tourist to go over the causeway to see what Malaysia has to offer like theme parks, luxury apartments and shopping malls at Johor's waterfront. I find that Malaysia is trying to take tourist away frm Singapore by coming up with this project, however, others see this like that of Shenzhen and HongKong where like them the IDR and Singapore will feed off each other to a mutual prosperity. This dream may come true, however according to anaylsts Kuala Lumpur's target of attraction nearly US$14billion of investments over the next five years will collaspe if the US economy enters a period of slowdown.
I personally do not think that Malaysia will succed with the IDR which will be completed over a period of 20years as if you go up to Malaysia you can see that many of their apartments are fairly run down and they do not really maintain their buildings. Recently, me and my family went on a holiday to Penang where we saw a few flats which had moss growing and was already turning black from exposure to the elements. What suprised me was that these flats were just recently completed and that already they were in such a condition. If malaysians can't maintain their buildings how would they maintain the first few buildings that would be built under the IDR. Would it mean that a few months after completion the building would deteriorate? If this is the case how would the buildings be over the 20 years taken to complete the IDR. Thus this is why i think that Malaysia would not be able to develope the IDR into its full potential.
This article was taken from the 5th of may straits times.
LIVING.out.of.REALITY;
6:43 AM
