From Sound to Silence.

daaaaaaaaaa





It was a night of music and songs with four international and some local AOL singers. Beautiful was this night of comradely, joyous, come-together fun for more than a thousand AOL members.

The four international singers were male lead singer Srinivas Piratla from Singapore, female lead singer Dolgion Tserendaava From Mongolia, Drummer Umesh Prabhu from Mongolia and talam (a small cymbal-like musical instrument)player Jayanth Narayanan from Singapore. Together with other local singers, they made the night of music and world peace meditation gathering a night to remember.

We were at Dewan Milenium, Kepala Batas, Butterworth on the last day of the year 2009. As one of the volunteers, I met the other volunteers well before the start of the evening's programme. We had our duties and we went off to get the 'Yes' teenagers ready for their 'peace' performance, put up AOL T-shirts and books for members to purchase, attend to food and drinks, direct vehicles to parking lots and the welcoming of members and the invited guests.

The evening started with our sponsors lighting the candle of peace to start the evening. With the singers on stage, we sang bhajans which are sanskrit songs, allowing the music to move us to stages of joy as the relaxing atmosphere took us to graceful swaying of our bodies and clapping in time with the music.

Then, as the evening wore on, the mood moved the participants to dance among ourselves. Smiles, laughter and joy filled the Milenium hall as bliss and happiness permeates the air with the dance of joy.

Later, the people cooled down to sit, close their eyes and meditate for world peace. After the meditation, our teenagers went on stage to form the word 'PEACE' with candles as the song 'We are the world' filled the hall.

Eventually, reluctantly, we had to wish our AOL brothers and sisters "Good night and a Happy New Year." before moving out back to our states to spread the words of peace and joy and as well as create a divine society among our other brothers and sisters who have yet to become AOL members.

Once again AOL members came together as one to fulfill a worthwhile cause, this time in the name of world peace. Once again, we experience the love and joy of One World Family.

Beware of what we teach our children.

In a world where there is the school, the library and the internet with their sources of various kind of knowledge, it is surprising to find that there are still so many people who stick to myths and superstitions learned from their old parents.

One of them is the 'Touch wood' belief that whatever had been mentioned by someone could come to pass. To overcome such a possibility, they touch wood while sounding those words.

Another myth that is still strongly held onto is the belief that bad luck comes to those who cut their finger-nails at night. I received an angry stare from a woman when I enquired her what was wrong with that action. She believed that the spirit will not find or recognise the body again after the night's sleep. How ridiculous can such a belief be! Apparently, there are other things that are not to be done at night. Only the other day, one lady said,"It's alright to cut the plant with its yellowing leaves since it is still not dark yet." As I did not know her well, I just pondered on her words. Something to do with spirits again, I suppose.

Another woman I know would never allow anyone to talk about death in her house. However, she is most inconsistant. There were a number of times she mentioned that unspeakable word. Once, I could hold my tongue no longer and told her that she just voiced the word 'death'. Upon hearing that, she got up, glared at me and walked away in disgust.

Upon enquiring the husbands of such superstitious women, I was given to understand that it was the fault of the parents. It was a 'Don't do this.' or a 'Don't say that.' due to some superstition the parents had a strong belief in.

Well, it looks like such parents are good at teaching as no matter how much their husbands or wifes ridicule them on the matter, the belief persist. Apparently, resisting can only cause them to persist even more. Eventually it is the othe half who desist righting the beliefs of such people. Superstitious persons are too well taught to be uprooted from the myths that they live with.

Greed, mind and awareness

This evening, I watched a man with a trolley cart at one of the boxes taking out some pieces of coconut candy from a torn plastic bag. I watched as he removed some pieces and held the pieces in his hand. Of course, i did not see him tear open the plastic bag. Still, open or not, he should not remove the pieces from that torn bag. Suddenly, he realised that i was observing him. Aware of being watched, he stopped, closed his fist and moved off. I followed at a discreed distance and found him putting one piece after another into his mouth. Obviously, the man had no intention to pay for it.

All that happened in a supermarket. I wonder how many times this same man had done this while shopping. After encountering such a person, I can now understand how some bags or packages of food were sometimes left exposed or open. There must have been the same pilfering that i had just noticed.

This man must have been one of those who constantly do this, knowing that it is difficult to catch him redhanded. Furthermore, by the time he reached the cashier's counter, the food would have disappeared into his stomach. Unless a bothersome X-ray is done on him, the evidence is no longer to be seen.

This is clearly a demostration of that weakness in humans that we call greed. Greed has been the downfall of many a human. And it looks like almost everyone, except those who have discipline, is suscepible to greed. Politicians turn corrupt because of greed. You would have thought the filthy rich would not be easily led astray on the path. Unfortunately, history tells us otherwise. Even the guardians of the peace, our law enforcers, fall easily into its web. And the lure to greed is always there at every corner of life.

Those who manage to conquer greed are those who are strong in character and are true believers of God. The weak fall to its lure and find themselves in trouble in one way or another.

Those who always escape from being caught or never become aware of the wrong that they do are in worse trouble. You see, these people would be the bad example for their own families, perhaps even teaching them or encouraging such a weakness. Some may even show pride in escaping detection and numb their conscience. When the concience of a human is numbed or lost, that human is no longer human any more. Without conscience, that human will sink into the deepest, darkest, vile traits the world can ever think of.

Therefore, Man, who is given a mind which comes together with a conscience must use it well and correctly, failing which he descends to a level lower than the lowest animals.

The desire to improve knows no barriers.

Once upon a time there was a little boy who desired to improved himself as he saw the advantages of education in the knowledge people possessed, the clarity with which they could explain things, the jobs people had, the money people earned, the food people ate, the clothes people wore, the vehicles people used and the understanding people mastered.

However, in those days education was not free. There were fees to be paid. There were books to be bought and such things were comparatively expensive. Many of the children of poor families had to drop out of school as a result of inability to pay for education. One of his friends, Sathasivam, had to stop schooling even though he was one of those bright students who had made it to the Penang Free School, the school where only the top students of the state were chosen to continue their secondary school education.

Each year's end saw students gathered at certain places to resell their used books so as to collect sufficient funds to buy the next year's textbooks. Sometimes, the money from such a sale was insufficient for the purchase of required books and this could lead to a number of problems. If luck was on your side, there were kind souls from better financial families who could lend you the books. However, this was not always the case. One such kind soul was Ong Keng Kok who was also a Penang Free School boy then. (Hope you are still around, Ong Keng Kok, to read this to know how appreciative this guy is. Your kind deed forty-eight years ago is remembered to this day.)

There was hardly enough cash for books, what more magazines and newspapers. The one important factor in the improvement of any language, other than an environment conducive to its learning, is interesting reading material. So, as a child from a poor family, where can interesting reading material be found?

Of course, the library is a good place to get interesting reading material. However, when one is too young to venture into another part of town where the library is situated, what can be done? Newspapers contain a lot of interesting everyday affairs but if the family cannot afford them, what can be done?

Well, I was that little boy who, in my primary school days, wanted to read so much but could not afford the purchase of newspapers or books. So, what did I do? I read old newspapers. Well, old newspapers were used very often in those days to wrap food and other items purchased. Upon reaching home, such newspapers are thrown away, left on tables and all over the place. Whenever I found such clean old newspapers, I would read them and in my hunger for words, I would read everything printed, even advertisements. That was good as advertisements gave a lot of adjectives and there were ways with words to illustrate ideas. In fact, reading of such old pieces of papers help my improvement so well that I was able to confidently converse with British tourists. An uncle noticed my capability and the next time I saw him, I was presented with a dictionary, my first new book.

Later, when I was allowed to walk to another part of town alone, I went to the library, I borrowed books from the USIS library in Beach Streer(the United States Information Services Library) and the British Council Library in bishop Street where memberships were free.

My love for books has given me greater understanding of almost every aspect of life. Today, besides the library and subscibed magazines such as The Readers' Digest, I venture into the internet where almost everything is available.

And knowledge is so vast with so many new discoveries that there is no fear that it can run out. There is still so much to learn and experience just as medical science and outer space has so much more to explore and understand. Humans are still confronted with so many problems which have yet to get solutions. Life is indeed full of adventure as new knowledge leads one to greater understanding and joy in life; understanding and joy which could have prevented an unwanted incident in our lives.

Happiness is where we wish to have them..

It's still dark but the trees are a welcome sight.

Slowly but surely, the sun appears to greet us with its warmth.

And the path up is so wide at certain places.

The scenery from the Semarak Hill.

A smile to brighten the day.
------------------------------------------------
This morning, when I woke up, I looked into the mirror and gave myself a smile. I liked what i saw and i was happy with my face and the smile that makes it attractive. Vain, right? Yes, that is part of my ego. I just love my face. Now, if you you do not like your own face, how can you expect anyone else to like it? So, like it! Nay, love it, for that is the only face you have.

I was happy just looking at my face. See, it is so easy to be happy. Do that, look at the mirror and give yourself that beautiful smile to brighten up your world for a good start for your day. It always works.

After my warm-up on the yoga mat, my patma exercise followed by the Kriya, I took a very light breakfast before heading to the hills. At 6.40am. it was still dark but I started treking up the Samarak Hill. As I went up the hill I concentrated on the number of exercises I did which were walking uphill backwards, sideways, and forwards again. I stretch my strides as i went along giving full attention to the muscles of my legs and pelvic area as well as my breath. Soon, despite the cold breeze, I was starting to sweat. I was aware of the change in body heat as I continued up the hill.

Then, I met a few friends up at the summit. Awareness of their presence brought a smile to my lips as I greeted them and was delighted to receive greetings and smile in return. Happiness lights up my heart as my mind takes in the happening. I dwell on that joyful connection with those friends.

At the top of the hill where the fround is fairly level, I broke into a run and enjoyed the breeze brushing and cooling my face and body as I sped forward. The cold was even more welcome as body head rose while I began to pant. Just before another slope, I stopped to regain my breath and looked at those squirrels as they leapt from branch to branch with such wonderful grace. And those branches and their foliage would open up every now and then, as I moved forward to reveal slightly more light and the fantastic view of the still-lighted town below. Every so often, I heard noises in the underbrush as some small creatures rush off to hunt for food, perhaps.

Up there, there is one particular spot where I would stop to relax a while before I do some leg exercises and pumping before I continue my run. I have always enjoyed the knowledge of the lightness of my body and legs as I galloped along mindful of the stones, rocks and branches in my path, happy to realise that I was still agile enough to leap more to the left or the right to avoid such obstacles.

As the morning got brighter, I met more friends, with whom I would exchange some jokes or banter as we smiled and laughed over whatever cropped up in our mind then.

As I ran or walked backwards down the hill, there was always something to light up the spirit as more and more people are encountered.

With sufficient exercise and a joyful start for the day, I looked forward to work and other healthy pursuits of the day.

Happiness in not the only thing i gained from each morning's exercise. At the age of sixty-three, I have no aches to slow me down. I never had a headache. No aches unless I knock some part of my body against a hard object which sometimes happens when I am clumsy enough, especially when my attention is distracted by a beautiful female figure. Well, I believe I am not the only guy with such a weakness. After all I am human. And although it's painful, it's a delightful happiness.

Humans should not interfere with the teachings of God.

It all started with a good intention perhaps, but it eventually leads people to wrong beliefs and disrespect.

In religion, for example, the Taoist instill respect and fond memories for the dead by getting its followers to pray to them. This is beneficial as the good of our ancestors ought to be remembered and be the examples by which we improve ourselves. Let not the good that Man do be interred with their bodies.

However, the commercial efforts of humans looked at the prayer practice as opportunities to earn money. First, we had joss-sticks and candles. Then, paper money is sent to the dead through such prayer times. As people became richer, entrepreneurs became more imaginative and encourage the Taoist to send bicycles and cars. These entrepreneurs are quite down-to-earth in their persuit of profits. No aeroplanes or helicopters are seen so far as few of the dead are pilots of such things. Even then, they forgot to send along barrels of petrol for the car. Lately, we even have lap-tops and televisions as well as handphones. I wonder why they never ring back to tell us about the after-life. It must be because these people forgot about sending sim cards and batteries. Did anyone ever wondered about electricity supply there? Perhaps, these things bring more complains than pleasure to the dead. Yes, it is becoming ridiculous. The belief is getting out of hand. It is leading to a lot of ridicule which is not good for its initial aim.

When it comes to the Christians, its preachers reach out to humans to lead them to the rightful path for God so loved his 'children' that he sent his only son, Jesus, to die for the sins of all humans. Those who are not found are the lost sheep. Frankly, I liked that very much. In fact, I used to go to Church the most often because I was fortunate to meet such pastors as Brother Love in Alor Star from 1967 to 1970. Here was a very friendly, patient man of God who talked only of the love of God for all humans. Through him, I learned of love and compassion, of friendship and acceptance in his church besides the lovely hymns I enjoyed in his company.

However, slowly but gradually I met with preachers who talked of hell and damnation. It is something I just cannot accept. You see, I believe in God. For me, God is love. God is compassionate. When we love someone, we do not condemn him into eternal damnation. It cannot be, especially when it is the love of God. It is only possible to be thus condemned if the love is that of Man, for Man can have weaknesses and imperfection but not God. For me, God is perfect in every way. In his perfectness, with his limitless, shall i say godly patience, he would not allow his 'children' to suffer hell and ETERNAL damnation, no matter how blind, lost or stubborn they may be. When preachers put in words that God, in his Prefect Love, would never utter so venomously, I am shocked and repelled from their preaching. Would God send such venomous condemnation one those He loves?

Muslims are prohibited from eating pork. Such a prohibition could have arisen as a result of swine-fever during the prophet's time, I suppose. You see, I do not pretend to be an expert in the field. Whatever it is, I believe the original purpose was good for the followers. Anyway all humans must respect each other's religion.

As I have written in an earlier posting, my Muslim and Hindu friends would gather together at a table to eat the food allowed by our various religions. (Hindus do not eat beef as required by their religion. They have their good reasons for doing so.)Then, slowly but gradually, the scene changed. Nowadays, when a Muslim is eating at a place, it is expected that no pork is eaten or sold at the place, no even at the next table. And recently, pork at the market place must not even be seen. In my place, the pork which I eat has to be purchased in a smelly, dirty back lane because, according to the sellers, they are not to be seen. Imagine how you would feel, no matter what your religion, if your food is banished from the market proper and sold as if it is......(I am lost for words.)

Humans have added to the original belief and in doing so created what God would never do. God is full of love and compassion and would never hurt other people's feelings. (Please go to my posting on the treatment of God's creatures by a Muslim scholar.)All failings are human's, never God's. Unfortunately, only the wise and truly Godly will understand.

Let us pray for such wisdom and Godliness for all mankind.

When policies of a country indicates bias, can the people be united.

In Malaysia, there is a policy of giving one particular race a five percent discount in the price of a house, regardless of the person’s economic position.

Thus, a poor citizen of one race would have to pay the full price to afford a house while a rich citizen of this privileged race can get the same house at a price 5% cheaper than the price the other poor citizen has to pay.

This is because the policy stipulates that all new house buyers from that race, regardless of financial status which means even a millionaire, must be given a five percent discount. The other races, regardless of their financial status, be they rich or poor, must pay the price in full.

Since the housing development is a private enterprise, the developer would want his profit margin to remain the same, it merely means that the developer will have to raise the price a little and the little extra paid by the other races, some of whom are comparatively poorer, would be used as a kind of subsidy for the buyers of that privileged race, some of whom are very rich. How unfair such a policy is!

First, such a policy is not just to help the poorer citizens own houses. If that is the case, I believe many would not feel any unfairness; the people would in fact support it. Doing charity work must be encouraged. However, this is certainly not the case. The policy is divisive as it separates the citizens of one country into two groups, giving financial aid to one community despite the fact that some of them are so rich that they can even afford mansions.

And such feelings of being treated less equal will exist as long as the policy continues when some of the citizens, who have incomes of RM2,000 or less a month, realize the unfairness of having to pay more for the same type of house than another neighbor of that privileged race although that neighbour is receiving an income of more than RM5,000 or more a month.

Despite the clear cut unfairness of such a policy we are told by the Managing editor of the Star newspaper, P. Gunasegaram, who took a tour of the Malaysian Government Transformation Programme at the Sunway Pyramid Convention Centre that one of the eight booths there, the 1Malaysia booth which is the country's national unity booth, did not have ‘an assessment of the overall problem, the proposed solutions and a clearly defined action plan’. According to him, he was given to understand that this was so because some politicians had objected to some of the recommendations by the 1Malaysia lab. One of the recommendations was the giving of discounts to houses for all communities based on needs. Such a recommendation, I feel, is very fair and ought not to be objected to by any sane, matured politician. It is the right move towards establishing the unity of a country.
(Read ‘Progressing towards a free and open society’ in ‘Question Time’ dated Friday December 18, 2009 by P. Gunasegaram at thestaronline.)

After all, if the main objective is to correct the economical imbalance and if most of the people in a particular race need the financial assistance, then those people will get the discount to help them own a house. This will never deprive the truly poor from being assisted. What other citizens find unfair is the fact that the very rich is being assisted or subsidised by people who are financially worse off than such people just because these rich people belong to a particular race.


It is most unfortunate for a country to have one-community-only leaders heading the country. Apparently, 1Malaysia and national unity cannot be a reality unless and until we get national leaders who can truly represent all citizens. The fact that our political leaders cannot accept such a fair policy tells us how backward our political leaders are. Does any country need such kind of leaders?

And the strangeness of this is that the ordinary people, those I talked to, of this particular race feel that such a recommendation is fair. Like they said, "It will not deprive the poor Malays of being given the 5% discount when buying houses." If P. Gunasegaram's source is accurate, it looks like it is the rich politicians (Are there any who are poor?)who wish to hold on to such privileges.

Only when all citizens are, without a doubt, treated really equal in their own country can unity be said to exist.For that to happen all divisive policies must be replaced with policies to assist all citizens who need assistance in every sphere of life regardless of race and religion.

Let us pray for a true leader who will genuinely implement such uniting policies. Until then, there can be no real progress.

Are you deficient in magnesium?

The article below is interesting and very informative about magnesium. As magnesium is seldom discussed, we will be surprised at how important it is to so many aspects of our health. Do find out about its importance to our good health.
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As soon as she answered the phone, I could tell something was wrong...
"Is she okay? What happened?" my wife asked.

"Well, thank goodness the hospital is so close. How is she doing now?"
I could only hear half the conversation, but I knew Kelley was talking about her grandmother. Joyce is 86 years old, but seemed to be in great shape. She is perfectly lucid. She works in the yard. And still drives wherever she goes. I was surprised to learn that she was rushed to the hospital.

Kelley's grandmother has never had heart problems. But she was short of breath, her chest was tight and her heart was palpitating. The doctors thought she was having a heart attack. And the symptoms were serious enough that they kept her in the hospital for three days to monitor her condition.

It turned out that she wasn't having a heart attack. Thankfully, her forward-thinking physician checked her mineral levels. Kelley's grandmother was suffering from an acute magnesium deficiency.

Fortunately, the only prescription she left the hospital with was one for a magnesium supplement. And to think that for less than five cents a day she could have avoided a near-death experience... and a costly visit to the hospital!

Are You Deficient in This Vital Mineral?

Kelley's grandmother was deficient because she didn't get enough magnesium in her diet. But she was also taking a drug that caused her mouth to become dry. She was drinking so much water that it accelerated her mineral loss.

Her condition was very serious. But it is not at all uncommon. The National Academy of Sciences estimates that up to 80% of the population is chronically deficient in magnesium. And this is not a mineral you want to go without.

Magnesium helps to regulate more than 300 enzymes. A deficiency in this mineral can affect virtually every system in your body. It helps to regulate your heart rhythms and control blood pressure. It helps to maintain insulin sensitivity and keep your blood sugar stable. It helps to prevent hardening of the arteries. It plays an important role in bone-building. It is vital to your immune system. It can relax cramping muscles and calm nerve impulses.

Magnesium also plays a key role in your ability to relax and sleep. And not just any old sleep... deep, refreshing sleep.

Sweet Dreams Are Made of This... Magnesium!

As we grow older our sleep becomes lighter and more restless. In fact, the National Sleep Foundation reports that 67% of people over 55 suffer from insomnia and other sleep disorders. With this in mind, Forrest H. Nielson, PhD, of the USDA Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center, decided to conduct clinical trials on the subject.
His theory? Magnesium deficiency.

You know it takes more than just dozing off while tossing and turning to wake up feeling energized. You need to fall into deep, slow wave sleep for your muscles to really relax, your nerves to calm and your brain waves to go on idle.

A sleeping pill might make you drowsy – and make you think you are sleeping – but studies show that most over-the-counter sleep aids keep you in the lighter stages of sleep.

And the Chronic Results...

When you're not getting decent sleep, things really snowball. You become more vulnerable to infection. Your un-relaxed muscles and nerves generate chronic pain. The human body does its best repair work in deep sleep.

In 2002, researchers at Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry did a double-blind, placebo-controlled sleep study and found that patients who took magnesium supplements experienced a significant increase in slow wave (deep) sleep. Further blood testing showed that the magnesium effectively reduced their cortisol levels – a stress hormone that promotes alertness.

Other studies, again from USDA Human Nutrition Research Center, revealed that low magnesium levels disrupted brain waves (electrical activity) when the patients were asleep. This resulted in very agitated sleep patterns and excessive awakenings.
Head researcher Nielsen concluded, "It looks like magnesium is important for a good night's sleep."

Chronic Deficiency... Why is this Happening?

So what are the dietary sources of this mighty little mineral, magnesium? That's the interesting question – and the answer is very telling...

The best sources of magnesium are whole, unprocessed foods. There has been widespread removal of minerals from processed foods. The result is that Americans' intake of magnesium has dropped 50% in the last century.

Another significant source of magnesium? Mineral rich drinking water. But not the softened, de-mineralized water that most of us drink.

In August, 2004, the World Health Organization issued guidelines for drinking water quality. They noted that magnesium levels have a protective effect on the smooth muscle cells found in blood vessels. This can help to lower blood pressure. Their studies showed that restoring calcium and magnesium to drinking water directly reduced heart disease mortality!

Caffeine, sugar and alcohol intake can increase magnesium loss. Diuretic drugs and overloading on calcium supplements can flush it from the body. And gastro-intestinal disorders such as diarrhea, Crohn's disease and intestinal surgeries can impair its absorption.

More Marvels of Magnesium:

I could tell you lots more about this little powerhouse known as magnesium...
Like how it has a direct effect on conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, depression, memory loss and migraine headaches.

And how it has an anti-aging effect because it helps stave off inflammation and Metabolic Syndrome.

Those are all topics we will explore in the future.

But I know, because you are reading this issue of Total Health Breakthroughs, that you already strive to eat a healthful diet. And that means it will be a whole lot easier for you to boost your magnesium levels.

Oh, Magnesium, Where Art Thou?
Excellent sources of magnesium that I would recommend include dark leafy greens, pumpkin seeds, legumes, avocado, almonds, cashews and walnuts, wild shrimp, wild salmon and halibut.

Whole grains are also a rich source. But most of us should keep the grains to a minimum. They can spike your blood sugar and insulin levels.

The sources I recommend most highly are raw cacao beans or cacao nibs (these are the crushed beans). They have a crunchy texture just like nuts and a rich, chocolate flavor. Cacao beans are incredibly high in magnesium. They are also one of the richest antioxidant foods on the planet.

You can eat them by the handful straight out of the bag. If they taste too bitter, mix them with nuts and a few organic raisins.

Keep those magnesium levels up and running and you'll enjoy the natural health you were meant to have. Not to mention turning back the clock to restful sleep and Sweet Dreams!

To Your Health,

Jon Herring
Editorial Director
Total Health Breakthroughs

"This article appears courtesy of Early to Rise's Total Health Breakthroughs, offering alternative solutions for mind, body and soul. For a complimentary subscription,
visit http://www.totalhealthbreakthroughs.com”

As soon as she answered the phone, I could tell something was wrong...
"Is she okay? What happened?" my wife asked.
"Well, thank goodness the hospital is so close. How is she doing now?"
I could only hear half the conversation, but I knew Kelley was talking about her grandmother. Joyce is 86 years old, but seemed to be in great shape. She is perfectly lucid. She works in the yard. And still drives wherever she goes. I was surprised to learn that she was rushed to the hospital.
Kelley's grandmother has never had heart problems. But she was short of breath, her chest was tight and her heart was palpitating. The doctors thought she was having a heart attack. And the symptoms were serious enough that they kept her in the hospital for three days to monitor her condition.
It turned out that she wasn't having a heart attack. Thankfully, her forward-thinking physician checked her mineral levels. Kelley's grandmother was suffering from an acute magnesium deficiency.
Fortunately, the only prescription she left the hospital with was one for a magnesium supplement. And to think that for less than five cents a day she could have avoided a near-death experience... and a costly visit to the hospital!
Are You Deficient in This Vital Mineral?
Kelley's grandmother was deficient because she didn't get enough magnesium in her diet. But she was also taking a drug that caused her mouth to become dry. She was drinking so much water that it accelerated her mineral loss.
Her condition was very serious. But it is not at all uncommon. The National Academy of Sciences estimates that up to 80% of the population is chronically deficient in magnesium. And this is not a mineral you want to go without.
Magnesium helps to regulate more than 300 enzymes. A deficiency in this mineral can affect virtually every system in your body. It helps to regulate your heart rhythms and control blood pressure. It helps to maintain insulin sensitivity and keep your blood sugar stable. It helps to prevent hardening of the arteries. It plays an important role in bone-building. It is vital to your immune system. It can relax cramping muscles and calm nerve impulses.
Magnesium also plays a key role in your ability to relax and sleep. And not just any old sleep... deep, refreshing sleep.
Sweet Dreams Are Made of This... Magnesium!
As we grow older our sleep becomes lighter and more restless. In fact, the National Sleep Foundation reports that 67% of people over 55 suffer from insomnia and other sleep disorders. With this in mind, Forrest H. Nielson, PhD, of the USDA Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center, decided to conduct clinical trials on the subject.
His theory? Magnesium deficiency.
You know it takes more than just dozing off while tossing and turning to wake up feeling energized. You need to fall into deep, slow wave sleep for your muscles to really relax, your nerves to calm and your brain waves to go on idle.
A sleeping pill might make you drowsy – and make you think you are sleeping – but studies show that most over-the-counter sleep aids keep you in the lighter stages of sleep.
And the Chronic Results...
When you're not getting decent sleep, things really snowball. You become more vulnerable to infection. Your un-relaxed muscles and nerves generate chronic pain. The human body does its best repair work in deep sleep.
In 2002, researchers at Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry did a double-blind, placebo-controlled sleep study and found that patients who took magnesium supplements experienced a significant increase in slow wave (deep) sleep. Further blood testing showed that the magnesium effectively reduced their cortisol levels – a stress hormone that promotes alertness.
Other studies, again from USDA Human Nutrition Research Center, revealed that low magnesium levels disrupted brain waves (electrical activity) when the patients were asleep. This resulted in very agitated sleep patterns and excessive awakenings.
Head researcher Nielsen concluded, "It looks like magnesium is important for a good night's sleep."
Chronic Deficiency... Why is this Happening?
So what are the dietary sources of this mighty little mineral, magnesium? That's the interesting question – and the answer is very telling...
The best sources of magnesium are whole, unprocessed foods. There has been widespread removal of minerals from processed foods. The result is that Americans' intake of magnesium has dropped 50% in the last century.
Another significant source of magnesium? Mineral rich drinking water. But not the softened, de-mineralized water that most of us drink.
In August, 2004, the World Health Organization issued guidelines for drinking water quality. They noted that magnesium levels have a protective effect on the smooth muscle cells found in blood vessels. This can help to lower blood pressure. Their studies showed that restoring calcium and magnesium to drinking water directly reduced heart disease mortality!
Caffeine, sugar and alcohol intake can increase magnesium loss. Diuretic drugs and overloading on calcium supplements can flush it from the body. And gastro-intestinal disorders such as diarrhea, Crohn's disease and intestinal surgeries can impair its absorption.
More Marvels of Magnesium
I could tell you lots more about this little powerhouse known as magnesium...
Like how it has a direct effect on conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, depression, memory loss and migraine headaches.
And how it has an anti-aging effect because it helps stave off inflammation and Metabolic Syndrome.
Those are all topics we will explore in the future.
But I know, because you are reading this issue of Total Health Breakthroughs, that you already strive to eat a healthful diet. And that means it will be a whole lot easier for you to boost your magnesium levels.
Oh, Magnesium, Where Art Thou?
Excellent sources of magnesium that I would recommend include dark leafy greens, pumpkin seeds, legumes, avocado, almonds, cashews and walnuts, wild shrimp, wild salmon and halibut.
Whole grains are also a rich source. But most of us should keep the grains to a minimum. They can spike your blood sugar and insulin levels.
The sources I recommend most highly are raw cacao beans or cacao nibs (these are the crushed beans). They have a crunchy texture just like nuts and a rich, chocolate flavor. Cacao beans are incredibly high in magnesium. They are also one of the richest antioxidant foods on the planet.
You can eat them by the handful straight out of the bag. If they taste too bitter, mix them with nuts and a few organic raisins.
Keep those magnesium levels up and running and you'll enjoy the natural health you were meant to have. Not to mention turning back the clock to restful sleep and Sweet Dreams!
To Your Health,

Jon Herring
Editorial Director
Total Health Breakthroughs

Never pamper and give the child problems in facing challenges.

A four month old child cried fifteen minutes after the air-conditioner was switched off. The parent ran quickly to the remote control and switched it on again. The baby stopped crying.

But then, one day, the electricity supply went off and according to the national electric board, a major problem had forced the supply to be cut off. When the supply could return to the consumers was a big question mark. However, to appease the consumers, the board promised that the staff would be working round the clock to minimise any inconvenience caused.

That day was a problem for the child. He could not sleep well although he was sleepy. He cried a lot. Eventually, the family had to put him into the family car, turn on the air-conditioner and took him out in it. To put him in the car without it moving would be dangerous as carbon monoxide gas from the engine would bring death after some time. So, the family had to put aside everything else to make the four month old comfortable for a number of hours.

What was the cause of such a problem? The child had been conditioned to sleep only in the coolness of an airconditioner. The parents had pampered the child. Of course, the problem would not have arisen had the electric supply not been closed down by some unforeseen circumstances. And in life, there are numerous unforeseen circumstances which can occur. Therefore, we should never pamper. We should prepare our children for real life where he/she will have to face all kinds of challenges from the people he or she will meet, from the circumstances that may befall him/her, from the changes that may occur through the weather, the places and politics.

Pampering the child can bring problems to the child should conditions turn unfavourable in life. Life is tough if parents do not prepare them to face it well. In the above true story, parents introduced luxurious comforts to the child too early in life. I am not saying that we should never use the air-conditioner. However, we should only use it when really necessary, when the day is too hot. Even then, there is temperature control. We need not have the room so cold. give the child a temperature which is comfortable enough to have him/her sleep. And when the air is cool and the room temperature cool enough with just a fan, let the child sleep in that condition. Let the child be used to all kinds of condition so that should he have to go to a residential school where there is no airconditioner, only fans and the cool night air, he/she would be able to be comfortable with the situation.

In an earlier posting, there was another true story in which a young man committed suicide while studying as an undergraduate in a local university when he could not face the hardship of life on his own without maids to cater to his every need. Life became so unbearably tough even though others went through it without complains. His training for real life was just not good enough. As a result, he opted out at the prime of his life. How sad! How unfortunate that a young intelligent person could not cope with such mild challenges in life. We certainly do not want this to happen to someone we bring up to face the world.

Conquer self-pity and strength will be yours.

Once in a long while, we may find ourselves in the doldrums and we imagine some kind of weakness. We may perhaps suffer some kind of pain due to a loss of a relationship with someone or whatever that is possible.

At such a time, we feel a loss and some self pity perhaps. There could be this 'poor me' feeling. We could be asking ourselves, "What is going to become of me after this?"

Then our mind could be thinking of the hundred and one, if not a thousand and one, miserable things that could happen to 'poor me'. Our mind would dwell on all kinds of such addictive pitying thoughts, hoping to comfort ourselves with them. Yes, it is a reactive process which, to a certain degree, comforts us.

Unfortunately, such thoughts are in no way able to help us to recover from whatever setback we could have experienced. The process can have us think of the setback and find a solution or target the weakness that had brought about the problem and so prepare for future happenings. That is all. Unfortunately, if it is prolonged, it serves to be negative and a waste of time. Furthermore, if we allow ourselves to wallow in its comforting inertia, its addictive nature may prevent us from recovering and considering taking positive action to move on to other 'doors of opportunity' awaiting us.

However, understanding and realisation of self-pity's debilitating effect will give the impetus to move out of it. With it overcome, we can look forward to better things to appear. Life is full of surprises if we open our minds to all the possiblities that exist. In this, I am fortunate to have experienced such happenings in my life.

So, when we conquer self-pity, we find the strength to reach out to the many doors available in life. It brings new experiences, new people and unknown knowledge, bringing with them happiness and joy. Experiencing such happiness and joy is great at whatever age and this is the main reason I wish everyone to understand this fantastic way of our nature.

I believe many of you must have had such experiences in overcoming problems in life. Well, do feel free to share it with our fellow brothers and sisters.

Truth must be told to uphold integrity of a government.

Today, in the staronline, I read about the fighter jet engine which we only get to read about a year after it went missing from the Sungai Besi Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) airbase.

According to the Malaysian Prime Minister, there was no cover-up as a police report was made. The Defence Ministry and the RMAF cooperated fully with the authorities to ensure a thorough investigation.

At the time of the incident, the Prime Minister himself was the Defence Minister. At present, that position has been taken over by Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi who said it was an inside job.

As a result of the investigation into the stolen jet engine, it was reported that a brigadier-general and 40 other armed forces personnel had been sacked.

What is puzzling is the fact that the brigadier-general continued to receive his pension and other retirement benefits. Upon being questioned on the matter, the Prime Minister said such decisions depend on the wrong that was committed and that it would be up to the armed forces to decide. Another puzzling fact is that the full report on the incident has not yet been completed.

Incidents such as these tell us a lot. We know that a jet engine went missing a year ago. Therefore, it must have happened some time in 2008. Which month in 2008? Now we are at the end of 2009. How come the citizens of Malaysia were not aware that a theft had taken place so many months ago? Why were the authorities so quiet about such a loss from a supposedly very secure place? Looks like we may not know a good number of things.

The jet engine went missing. Was it misplaced. Was it a theft? How can such a big engine go missing from such a security area? It is mind-boggling to read of something as big as a jet engine disappearing from such a high-security area as a RMAF base.

As for the brigadier-general, to be sacked and yet still receive a pension as well as other benefits, it looked like merely a light slap on the wrist; perhaps an encouragement to others to do likewise; for such negligence or .....(Could be be worse than just negligence?) If it is an inside job which is what is claimed by the present Defence Minister, then it must have been a planned offence. And if an engine can disappear so easily from the security area, there cannot be any security at all, can there?

Another puzzling fact mentioned was the incomplete report. Certainly, since the people who have done the wrong have been sacked, the evidence must have been collected with the verdict reached, everything is complete and all that is needed is to write the report. How long did they need to write such a report?

There are still too many questions left unanswered on this issue. The Defence Ministry and the government must be more transparent to reassure the citizens that there is nothing amiss in the handling of this matter.

The truth must be told or one day it will be exposed by other quarters.











I

Happiness is a matter of the mind: Food and happiness

"When someone like me comes from a poor family where the next good meal is an uncertainty, he learns that having any type of food in his stomach is so satisfying."

I have never heard a greater truth than that. Hunger and poverty do not lead one to choice for there is none. When the stomach growls for too long, any type of food is good as it helps to stop the pangs of uncomfartable hunger. Such a person is happy just to get some kind of food into his stomach.

However, there are people who have never experienced hunger; always available to them is the tasty food of their choice. Such people become choosy and would sulk should they find the available food not their favourite. They can only be happy if the food is of the quality or type that is preferred. So, even good food may not be satisfying for some people.

As the above shows, happiness is easily attainable if the attitude towards food is right. And attitude is due to the experience of the persons concerned. Therefore we can safely claim that happiness is the interpretation of an act by the mind. It's thinking that makes the difference.

Since we have started on food, let us continue with food as the main criteria in our thoughts on happiness.

The type of food available to us depends upon our financial status. If we are not so well to do, we can only afford the cheaper types of food while the rich can have more choices.

Does that mean that we will lose out in terms of health, if not happiness? Certainly not! The poor can always have all the nutrients needed by the body. Our body needs proteins, carbohydrates, fats and oils, vitamins, minerals, fibres and water. Have I missed out on any?

When it comes to proteins, we have cheap fish as well as expensive fish. We have cheap meat as well as expensive meat. We have cheap vegetables as well as expensive vegetables. So, sufficient protein is available, be the consumers rich or poor.

If we buy smaller fish, it ought to be cheaper. not only that, we get more calcium too as with deep frying of smaller fish, such as anchovies, (Of course, with better knowledge on nutrition, even anchovies is rising in demand and price.) even the crispy bones can be consumed.And there is a lot of variety too when it comes to small fish.

If red meat is too expensive, it is better not to have it so often. However, even the price of meat depends upon the cut; depending upon which part of the animal it comes from. Protein from vegetables can also be available in cheaper vegetables. Furthermore, vegetables can be easily grown by the people themselves on small organic plots and even pots.

As for carbohydrates, most of the grains and vegetables are cheap. The cheaper grains, since there is less processes of refining, have more vitamins too. However, less processed grains are becoming more expensive as people realise this and the demand for the 'once-upon-a-time detested, cheap grains' rises.

Fruits and vegetables as well as liquids provide us with minerals and there are lots of free if not cheap vegetables and fruits available.

Fats and oils can be either cheap or expensive too. Coconut oil which is a good saturated oil is cheap. (Look at my posting on coconut oil.) It is cheap because it has been given a bad name through the misunderstanding that all saturated oils are bad. Flaxseeds, even the organic ones, are fairly cheap and when they are pounded the oil from them gives us a good supply of Omega-3, an important essential fatty acid as well as lignans. Groundnuts, which is tasty and cheap is another source of good oil.

So, healthwise, be the food cheap or expensive, it makes no difference where health is concerned.

As for the taste factor, it all depends upon the cook. If the cook is good and knowledgeable, any food can be cooked to taste fantastic. I know it for a fact as I have used both expensive food as well as the very cheap food in some of the meals I had cooked for my family. Yes, I did cook when my wife was still alive. We shared our chores.

So, from the aspect of food, happiness is easily achievable if we wish to be happy. Allow our minds to understand that all kinds of food can be tasty and let it realise the importance of food as a source of nutrients essential for our health. Give our mind the freedom to enjoy food without thinking of price as the indicator of good food.

Savings can be an umbrella for a rainy day.

"I never save any of my money. Who needs it. The old people maybe. But young people like me do not need to save. I have strong arms and body which will get me employed anytime."

It was obviously the positive but unrealistic voice of an immatured person. In fact, it came from someone who obviously needs savings should anything happen to him. A strong body is important but if a person's pay comes not from some kind of skill but only through his strength, then such type of work can be done by almost anybody; he can be replaced anytime.

When there is a monetory crisis like the present time, people think of the future. To those in the private sector, it could be a threat to employment. Demand for goods decreases and manufacturers find they have too many workers with too little work. Sales and profits decrease but the same number of workers need to be paid. So, to prevent losses, there has to be retrenchment. The days of work may be reduced and so the pay lessened accordingly.

When it comes to retail, people are more careful with their money and will not buy unnecessarily. This is the time when savings is seen as such an important responsible act. When people are retrenched or out of a job, food and everyday necessities continue to be important for sustaining life. Without savings, a retrenched worker will be in trouble.

So, savings is important not only for independence as one grows old. It is essential to tide over a financial crisis or as a capital for starting a new income generating venture.

“Exercise? Sorry, I don’t have the time.”

How often have we heard of the above being said whenever we hope to get someone to do some exercise which is for their own good?

Of course, we have our priorities. What are our priorities? Are they more important than something which ensures that we reach the end of of our life still fit and healthy enough to walk around, at the least?

Most of us may have our hours in our career as the factor which deters us from taking up some form of daily exercise. Other than carreers, time with the family and sleep what other involvements in our lives which ought to be given priorities?

Entertainment, recreation and relaxation are necessary but not priorities. Furthermore such things can be found in our jobs, time with our family, sleep as well as during exercise.

On the job, we meet friends; entertain each other with jokes, comments and gossip and during such times, relax a while before proceeding with the job on hand. As for recreation, some jobs in themselves can be certain forms of recreation. Physical recreation as well relaxation, and perhaps, entertainment are found in a brisk half-hour walk with friends. When it comes to the family, entertainment, recreation and relaxation can be part and parcel of a family do.

Even for the busiest among us, we can still have a little time for exercise everyday by taking the stairs instead of the escalator or lift. We can park a little further from our work place to walk quickly to the office. In fact it is advisable to get off our chairs to stretch our legs and straighten our backbone to get a little exercise and prevent our spine from getting compressed and pinching a nerve to give us pain. You will be surprised how many office workers suffer some kind of back problems.

However, if you are one of those who do physical work everyday; an aerobics instructor or a farmer; then you do not need to find that time for exercise as your own work provides sufficient exercise.

For the rest of us, we need to find the time to exercise unless we wish to grow old before our time. I believe none of us would want to reach sixty years of age to have to sit in front of the television the whole day, unable to do almost anything. That is the worst scenario. Perhaps, we could be better and be able to inch our way towards some place, unable to stretch our legs wider in order to walk faster. Such scenarios are for people who do not exercise. For those who do, no matter what the age, we can still walk and run at a good pace even though we may be a little weaker than when we were young.

Let us not start to think of exercising only when we no longer can. It might be a little too late to remedy the situation. Car engines that break down can be overhauled or replaced easily but not the human engine; not within the forseeable future anyway.

That brings me to what someone told me the other day. She said, “Some people think only of earning money with no time for exercise and recreation. They do not even have the time to spend their money. They do not realize that money which is not used is does not give them the value of money. It is merely figures in an account or pieces of paper in a safe. And when these people who do not care for their health fall sick, they would have to give all that money to hospitals, doctors and medicine. See?”

So, do the right thing and lovingly keep our only body strong and healthy
as it is the only one we have. With it in good condition, we can enjoy this life to the full. Without that, what more can we do?

Staying independent.

As parents we teach our children to grow up in order to be independent one day. We know that being independent is a sure sign of maturity. This is so as no one can be truly independent unless he/she is able to think, act and be responsible.

When we know our children can think, act and be responsible, then we ought to be proud that we have achieved the ultimate goal of parents. Of course, being able to think correctly, act possitively and be responsible for not just himself or herself but also for the people and things in his/her surroundings is essential to the progress of any individual, without which no individual can be considered well-developed in every way.This development of the individual not only brings maturity, it brings self-esteem, confidence and courage. No failure can stop such an individual and success in whatever sphere of life the individual wishes to participate in can be the only outcome. Therefore, the development of real independence is of utmost importance.

Unfortunately, as a person grows older and older, some individuals lose such independence. This can come about as a result of poor planning of those individuals. Or there was never any independence gained by the individuals concerned.

What do we mean when we say that those individuals did not plan properly for life's independence. Well, poor financial planning could lead to dependence upon one's children. Bad health mangement could be another factor. Poor parenting could be another factor.

Let us investigate each factor and see what could be done or where it could lead to.

When it comes to finance, my respected teachers, Napolean Hill, Dale Carnegie and Norman vincent Peale have taught me how money grow through savings made from the very first time we received a salary have a multipying effect due to interests earned on all addition money saved as well as interest derived from the previous savings made.

If we put aside a certain percentage of our salary consistently, we can be sure to find a big sum of money ready to help us through retirement at which time we can have approximately twenty-five to thirty or more years of savings and interests in our account.

Some would like to point out that there is no money to save. This is just like the guy who says he has no time to exercise. How much a person wants to save depends upon his expenditure. It is always possible to lessen that expenditure a little. As someone said,"We should live our lives according to the amount we have."

With sufficient money, and we do not need a lot in our senior years, we have the independence to decide how we ought to live.

Then, when it comes to health, look after our own health well from as early as we possibly can and we stay healthy enough to do all the chores that need to be done. Without health, we may have to depend upon others to do things for us. We may face the situation of being placed in front of the television to have it look at us.

We certainly would not like that. So, let's think of ensuring that we will be independent to our last day on earth.

When it comes

Never be too strict in parenting.

Today, in one of the letters in StarOnline, a ‘SAD MUM’ wrote about her children turning out not the way she wanted them to.

She wrote: “I was quite strict with my kids as they were growing up. I resigned my well-paying job to be a full-time homemaker to provide the best “nourishment” to my kids in terms of food, love and guidance, and for that I was rewarded with the absence of tantrums as well as cravings for sweet things.

My problems started when my eldest son entered Form 4, when truancy became an issue. I used to leave him in front of the school gate complete with uniform and books at 7am, and by 10am I would get a call from the teacher asking where he was.

As I only provided mobile phones after the SPM, I had to call his friend asking my son to call me back, which he did and I asked him to come home (he had been at the cyber cafe).

The moment he reached home I took him to school to apologise for missing school. He was lucky that he managed to get 2As and credits for the rest in the SPM.” (To read the rest of the letter, please go to the opinions page of StarOnline, Malaysia.)
She seems to be having problems with all her children. Her disappointment was obvious.

I feel sad for her too as she had sacrificed a well-paid job to give herself full-time to her children. From her letter we know she did a number of things right as her children do not throw tantrums or crave for sweet things.

From such a short letter, we can only guess that there is the possibility that she had been too strict with them. Her intentions were good but being too strict can be counter effective in nurturing our children.

Children need lots of love and patient teaching, with sufficient explanation for them to understand the actions of parents. That requires lots of talking to our children, not reprimands or scolding.

Yes, parents must talk more with their children. Share their joys and happiness. Talk about things they like rather than what we like. Make life an adventure in learning and understanding. This can be done through the world around them. (Please go to some earlier postings where I elaborate on how the world around us becomes interesting audio visual aids to be used as and when incidents or things appear to help our children understand the world around us.)

If we share our thoughts and listen to childrens views of the things in the environment constantly, our children will grow up to talk and exchange ideas with us. They may even come to teach us some things and correct our faults as they have the confidence of sharing without the worry that they might not be allowed to express their genuine thoughts.

Anyway, my sons can talk very freely with me, sometimes even criticising me for some of my faults. I accept the criticism as I believe I am just human and no matter how much I improve, there is always a little room for improvement. Sometimes I merely take note of the fault with a smile for my children while there are times I would discuss the problem with them.

With such an interchange of ideas and opinions, we have gradually evolved into some kind of friendship although still holding on to our roles of parent and children. Everyone of us becomes so much more approachable when this kind of relationship is established.

For ‘SAD MUM’, it is still not too late to change. First, we have to recognise the fact that our children have grown up. We should not tell him/her ‘You must do this.’ Or ‘You must do that.’ He/She will only drift further as rebellion sets in. Instead, just enquire as to their welfare, how they are doing and instead of telling them to return early, ask them whether they wish to have supper that night and perhap, buy something for them to drink or eat and inform them about it. In doing so, a parent is indirectly (It has to be indirectly when a child has already shown signs of rebellion.) telling his/her child that he/she cares. Do this caring consistwently, putting away forever the nagging and scolding or directing which would send the children further away from us. The results may take a long time coming as the problem has developed after so many years of too much strictness. Because we love our children, it is worth it even if they were to improve only after we have departed from this world.

Unity (2) We need true national leaders.

When leaders are racial in their thinking, so are the people they lead. This is evident in our everyday life.

If I were to bring in the example of Malay police officers catching some youngsters stealing petrol from cars and releasing them upon discovering that those youngsters were Malay teenagers, I would not be able to produce any proof except that some friends have seen that happen.

If I were to say that I saw with my own eyes a police patrol car not stopping to apprehend some Malay kids riding their motorcycles without crash helmets, I could be called racial in my accusation although my own eyes could never lie to me.

Even if I were to point out that the authorities were slow in taking action on Malay protestors who kicked a cow’s head to demonstrate against the proposal to build an Indian temple, the authorities would claim I was merely finding fault.

And if I were to tell you my own brother-in-law left the Malaysian Air-Force in frustration as his Malay juniors went up the promotion ladder faster than him although his passion was the Air Force even when he was still in the secondary school and his language proficiency was above average as he was born and bred in a Malay village in Tikam Batu,(He is still around to tell his story.)someone would say he was not better than those juniors.

However, the civil service is always there for us to see. Look at the civil service and what do we see. I will be surprised, and would certainly like to know the reason, if I could still see a head of department who is not a Malay. Why? Is it possible that the Chinese or Indian citizens are not capable enough, not intelligent enough or not hard-working enough to occupy even a few posts as head of departments? It is an acknowledged fact that the non-Bumiputras are some of the most hardworking, intelligent and capable people in Malaysia, if not the world. So, can anyone fault me for coming to the only possible conclusion that there is racial discrimination in the promotions to those posts?

Before the Mahathir era, there were non-Bumiputras appointed to the top posts. I know that to be a fact as one of them was an uncle of mine. The father of one was my lady friends held one of those posts too. In fact, there was a time, unlike today, when non-Bumiputras held many positions in the civil service. They were there because the leaders of this nation then chose citizens who were hardworking, intelligent and capable to hold important posts regardless of race and religion.

The unfortunate part of Malaysian history is that Chinese and Indian political parties which joined the dominant party to rule the country had allowed the dominant party, UMNO, to get away with carrying out such racial policies despite professing to uphold and protect the rights of the minority they claim to represent. The minority citizens themselves must bear part of the blame as they forget their problems and the gloomy future they face whenever such non-Bumiputra parties sweeten them with all kinds of promises and insignificant presents just before elections.

It is evident that the present need to improve unity in Malaysia is due to the actions and policies, one of which is the compulsory attendence of the racialistic civil service course, of the government which preferred to look into the interests of only one community. When this is so, how can we get national leaders? Leaders who are more interested in the welfare and progress of one particular community can never be national leaders. Without national leaders who will regard all citizens as equally important to the development of the country, it is no wonder the country, despite its enormous resources, is getting poorer while many Asian countries which have less resources are progressing economically. Without unity, how can a country be healthy in every aspects?

Unless and until we get true national leaders who are interested in the citizens as a whole, we can forget unity or progress; for to not look into the interests of all the citizens is to not look into the interest of the whole country.

The people of Malaysia must hope for true national leaders to replace community leaders to lead our country to a brighter future for every Malaysian. Let us pray for this.

Once upon a time, we were already united.

In the year 2002, as I was going to retire as a teacher at the age of 56 years, just before an assembly before Malaysia's Independence Day, I was asked to give a talk on the progress of unity among the races.

I immediately refused to speak on the topic. When the organisers tried to persuade me, I told them I did not wish to lie to the students. I told them Malaysians were more united during my primary and secondary school days. Although there is still unity amongst the ordinary folks, the politicians and the extremists had done a lot of harm to unity.

If I am wrong in the information on those days when unity was really good, anyone reading this can put their thoughts in as comments. I remember the days in Wellesley Primary School, Hutchings School and then the Penang Free School where I mixed freely with the Malay and Indian students. The thought that a Malay or a Chinese or an Indian was any different from me never entered my head then. We played, argued, quarrelled and fought, sometimes becoming friends again without ever thinking the guy was of a different race. Some of us got better grades, were awarded scholarships and were given places for further studies based on merit. All of us were treated equal. Because we were equal in every way, there was no suspicion when a Malay teacher punished a Chinese or Indian student. It was the same when Chinese of Indian teachers punished a Malay student. If we ever felt there was injustice in the punishment, we all, be it Malay, Chinese or Indian, stood up as one to show our disapproval, indignation and disgust at the authority concerned. We were one.

In the canteen in the Penang Free School, so many different types of food were sold. We had mamak mee, curry mee, nasi lemak and lots of other favourite hawkwer food in that canteen. Each morning, Mohd. Shariff, Sathasivam, Chow Tatt and I would alight from our bus, put our school bags in our class and head straight for the canteen. We would order our favourite food and sit side by side to enjoy our breakfast with much talk and laughter.

Usually, I would order curry mee which at twenty cents a bowl, filled to the brim with noodles dried tahu hu, cockle-meat and coagulated pig's blood cubes while Mohd. Shariff had his nasi lemak with its crunchy ikan bilis and groundnuts. As for Sathasivam, it was fried Indian mee. That was the beautiful togetherness we enjoyed in school.

Every now anf then, we had our tiffs but the others in the group always got us back together again. Life was the same for almost every Malaysian citizens until the politicians decided to change the situation with a divide and rule policy.

The division came with the May 13th, 1969 incident. The Alliance lost many of their election seats to the oppossition just before that date. In the craze for power, certain politicians created the bloodbath of May 13th and with that excuse, the government declared Emergency. With emergency in place, the political powers drafted laws to safeguard their powers.

It is after the May 13th incident that the country was divided into Bumiputras and non-Bumiputras. Quotas for places in universities and scholarships divided the people further as bright non-Bumiputra students lose out to not so bright Bumiputra students. Recently, in one of the states, Selangor, Bumiputras protested over the appointment of a well-qualified non-Bumiputra in a top post in that state. Well, citizens of the country soon realised that not every citizen is equal under the Malaysian sun. That is the government's great injustice towards its citizens.

Today, most Malays would not enter a Chinese coffee-shop to eat. Today, it would not be comfortable to sit beside a Malay and eat curry mee with the same pig's blood. today, we are ever cautious in any quarrel among different races. Today, there is so much suspicion in mind of the different races. Today, the main topic seems to be unity. After fifty years of independence, we need a 1Malaysia slogan. After fifty years of independence, there are politicians who tell citizens of another race who have been in the country for more than sixty years that they are squatters. Why should Malaysians be so divided?

As the Bumiputra ruling party became more and more arrogant with its 'Better than non-Bumiputra' stance, its supreme race concept, some of the Bumiputra politicians think nothing of drawing the kris, a warrior's weapon, in a demostration of power, the power of supremacy.

These race-supremacy leaders forget what history has taught us about the First World War and the Second World War in which the Japanese and the Germans were trying to prove themselves supreme races. Instead of progressing, these leaders regressed.

Those politicians were so clouded in their power that they did not realise that even the better educated, more broad-minded Malays understand the injustice suffered by the other minority races in Malaysia. They empathised with the other citizens and showed their disgust of such power-madness by voting with the non-Bumiputras to allow the opposition to win five states and deprive the government of its two-third majority in Parliament.

Eventually, with the hope of better politicians who could possibly love the country enough to be sufficiently bold to dismantle the divisive policies, the citizens see a ray of hope for a united Malaysia. Will the hope materialise? Well, it is up to each and every citizen to think correctly each time they vote in a politician or a political party. They must not be influenced by the small insignificant gifts politicians distribute just before or during elction periods. They must think of the greater good of all citizens, the health of the nation, the progress of the country.

The voters must remember that the ruling party forming the government is merely the trustee for a certain period of time, the ruling party is not the country.

We must be patriotic to our country, not the ruling party. If the ruling party is not corrupted and not bringing progress to the country, then it is up to the patriotic people to replace it with a better government to ensure the health of the nation. That is democracy. To show true patrioticism, the people ought to exercise their right to choose the best politicians and the best political party which can bring real progress to the nation to be the government.

Sometimes we get half truth. Let's read a message of peace from Isreal's Prime Minister.

I have always suspected that we do not get all the news and so are unable to get a balanced view of what is happening in our world.

Take for example, news of Palestine children being killed by Isreali bombing. Of course, there will be children as well as adults killed in a war. Innocent people will die. It is inevitable. That is why we pray that there will be no war throughout the world. However, for Malaysian news to imply that there were no Isreali children in war casualties when the Palestines attack Isreal by never publishing bloodied or dead bodies of Isreali children, it is giving a picture of one-sided cruelty which is an impossibility. War is cruel and there is no way bombs can avoid children whenever it goes off in an area. So, always we are given the impression that only one side is cruel, only one side is wrong. Just as in everything in which two sides are involved, it takes two hands to clap. So, let us have a true picture, not half truth. Let us not take sides.

I received an email in which was a speech by Isreal’s prime minister which was never reported in our news media. Well, read for yourself, my friends and be your own judge. Do read on. (If you find anything false and has the proof to verify it, please do so. But, please let us be fair and not say things out of hatred, okay?)


Must read and pass it on!
Israel prime minister's speech to the UN gen Assembly not reported.
Netanyahu's Speech to the UN - A Worthwhile Read. This speech is not reported in the newspapers. I guess as usually the leaders are not willing to take the stand to do what is necessary to uphold world peace. What a shame?

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Speech to the UN General Assembly- Courtesy Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Nearly 62 years ago, the United Nations recognized the right of the Jews, an ancient people 3,500 years-old, to a state of their own in their ancestral homeland. I stand here today as the Prime Minister of Israel, the Jewish state, and I speak to you on behalf of my country and my people.

The United Nations was founded after the carnage of World War II and the horrors of the Holocaust. It was charged with preventing the recurrence of such horrendous events.

Nothing has undermined that central mission more than the systematic assault on the truth. Yesterday the President of Iran stood at this very podium, spewing his latest anti-Semitic rants. Just a few days earlier, he again claimed that the Holocaust is a lie.

Last month, I went to a villa in a suburb of Berlin called Wannsee. There, on January 20, 1942, after a hearty meal, senior Nazi officials met and decided how to exterminate the Jewish people. The detailed minutes of that meeting have been preserved by successive German governments. Here is a copy of those minutes, in which the Nazis issued precise instructions on how to carry out the extermination of the Jews. Is this a lie?

A day before I was in Wannsee, I was given in Berlin the original construction plans for the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. Those plans are signed by Hitler’s deputy, Heinrich Himmler himself. Here is a copy of the plans for Auschwitz-Birkenau, where one million Jews were murdered. Is this too a lie?

This June , President Obama visited the Buchenwald oncentration camp. Did President Obama pay tribute to a lie?
And what of the Auschwitz survivors whose arms still bear the tattooed numbers branded on them by the Nazis? Are those tattoos a lie? One-third of all Jews perished in the conflagration. Nearly every Jewish family was affected, including my own. My wife's grandparents, her father’s two sisters and three brothers, and all the aunts, uncles and cousins were all murdered by the Nazis. Is that also a lie?

Yesterday, the man who calls the Holocaust a lie spoke from this podium. To those who refused to come here and to those who left this room in protest, I commend you. You stood up for moral clarity and you brought honor to your countries. But to those who gave this Holocaust-denier a hearing, I say on behalf of my people, the Jewish people, and decent people everywhere: Have you no shame? Have you no decency?

A mere six decades after the Holocaust, you give legitimacy to a man who denies that the murder of six million Jews took place and pledges to wipe out the Jewish state.
What a disgrace! What a mockery of the charter of the United Nations! Perhaps some of you think that this man and his odious regime threaten only the Jews. You're wrong.

History has shown us time and again that what starts with attacks on the Jews eventually ends up engulfing many others.

This Iranian regime is fueled by an extreme fundamentalism that burst onto the world scene three decades ago after lying dormant for centuries. In the past thirty years, this fanaticism has swept the globe with a murderous violence and cold-blooded impartiality in its choice of victims. It has callously slaughtered Moslems and Christians, Jews and Hindus, and many others. Though it is comprised of different offshoots, the adherents of this unforgiving creed seek to return humanity to medieval times.

Wherever they can, they impose a backward regimented society where women, minorities, gays or anyone not deemed to be a true believer is brutally subjugated. The struggle against this fanaticism does not pit faith against faith nor civilization against civilization. It pits civilization against barbarism, the 21st century against the 9th century, those who sanctify life against those who glorify death.

The primitivism of the 9th century ought to be no match for the progress of the 21st century. The allure of freedom, the power of technology, the reach of communications should surely win the day. Ultimately, the past cannot triumph over the future. And the future offers all nations magnificent bounties of hope. The pace of progress is growing exponentially.

It took us centuries to get from the printing press to the telephone, decades to get from the telephone to the personal computer, and only a few years to get from the personal computer to the internet.

What seemed impossible a few years ago is already outdated, and we can scarcely fathom the changes that are yet to come. We will crack the genetic code. We will cure the incurable. We will lengthen our lives.. We will find a cheap alternative to fossil fuels and clean up the planet.

I am proud that my country Israel is at the forefront of these advances – by leading innovations in science and technology, medicine and biology, agriculture and water, energy and the environment. These innovations the world over offer humanity a sunlit future of unimagined promise.

But if the most primitive fanaticism can acquire the most deadly weapons, the march of history could be reversed for a time. And like the belated victory over the Nazis, the forces of progress and freedom will prevail only after an horrific toll of blood and fortune has been exacted from mankind. That is why the greatest threat facing the world today is the marriage between religious fanaticism and the weapons of mass destruction.

The most urgent challenge facing this body is to prevent the tyrants of Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Are the member states of the United Nations up to that challenge? Will the international community confront a despotism that terrorizes its own people as they bravely stand up for freedom?
Will it take action against the dictators who stole an election in broad daylight and gunned down Iranian protesters who died in the streets choking in their own blood? Will the international community thwart the world's most pernicious sponsors and practitioners of terrorism?
Above all, will the international community stop the terrorist regime of Iran from developing atomic weapons, thereby endangering the peace of the entire world?
The people of Iran are courageously standing up to this regime. People of goodwill around the world stand with them, as do the thousands who have been protesting outside this hall. Will the United Nations stand by their side?

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The jury is still out on the United Nations, and recent signs are not encouraging. Rather than condemning the terrorists and their Iranian patrons, some here have condemned their victims. That is exactly what a recent UN report on Gaza did, falsely equating the terrorists with those they targeted.
For eight long years, Hamas fired from Gaza thousands of missiles, mortars and rockets on nearby Israeli cities. Year after year, as these missiles were deliberately hurled at our civilians, not a single UN resolution was passed condemning those criminal attacks. We heard nothing – absolutely nothing – from the UN Human Rights Council, a misnamed institution if there ever was one.

In 2005, hoping to advance peace, Israel unilaterally withdrew from every inch of Gaza . It dismantled 21 settlements and uprooted over 8,000 Israelis. We didn't get peace. Instead we got an Iranian backed terror base fifty miles from Tel Aviv. Life in Israeli towns and cities next to Gaza became a nightmare. You see, the Hamas rocket attacks not only continued, they increased tenfold. Again, the UN was silent.

Finally, after eight years of this unremitting assault, Israel was finally forced to respond. But how should we have responded? Well, there is only one example in history of thousands of rockets being fired on a country's civilian population. It happened when the Nazis rocketed British cities during World War II. During that war, the allies leveled German cities, causing hundreds of thousands of casualties. Israel chose to respond differently. Faced with an enemy committing a double war crime of firing on civilians while hiding behind civilians – Israel sought to conduct surgical strikes against the rocket launchers.

That was no easy task because the terrorists were firing missiles from homes and schools, using mosques as weapons depots and ferreting explosives in ambulances. Israel , by contrast, tried to minimize casualties by urging Palestinian civilians to vacate the targeted areas.
We dropped countless flyers over their homes, sent thousands of text messages and called thousands of cell phones asking people to leave. Never has a country gone to such extraordinary lengths to remove the enemy's civilian population from harm's way.

Yet faced with such a clear case of aggressor and victim, who did the UN Human Rights Council decide to condemn? Israel . A democracy legitimately defending itself against terror is morally hanged, drawn and quartered, and given an unfair trial to boot. By these twisted standards, the UN Human Rights Council would have dragged Roosevelt and Churchill to the dock as war criminals. What a perversion of truth. What a perversion of justice.

Delegates of the United Nations, Will you accept this farce?

Because if you do, the United Nations would revert to its darkest days, when the worst violators of human rights sat in judgment against the law-abiding democracies, when Zionism was equated with racism and when an automatic majority could declare that the earth is flat.
If this body does not reject this report, it would send a message to terrorists everywhere: Terror pays; if you launch your attacks from densely populated areas, you will win immunity. And in condemning Israel , this body would also deal a mortal blow to peace. Here's why.

When Israel left Gaza , many hoped that the missile attacks would stop. Others believed that at the very least, Israel would have international legitimacy to exercise its right of self-defense. What legitimacy? What self-defense?
The same UN that cheered Israel as it left Gaza and promised to back our right of self-defense now accuses us –my people, my country - of war crimes? And for what? For acting responsibly in self-defense. What a travesty!
Israel justly defended itself against terror. This biased and unjust report is a clear-cut test for all governments. Will you stand with Israel or will you stand with the terrorists?

We must know the answer to that question now. Now and not later. Because if Israel is again asked to take more risks for peace, we must know today that you will stand with us tomorrow. Only if we have the confidence that we can defend ourselves can we take further risks for peace.

Ladies and Gentlemen, All of Israel wants peace.

Any time an Arab leader genuinely wanted peace with us, we made peace. We made peace with Egypt led by Anwar Sadat. We made peace with Jordan led by King Hussein. And if the Palestinians truly want peace, I and my government, and the people of Israel , will make peace. But we want a genuine peace, a defensible peace, a permanent peace. In 1947, this body voted to establish two states for two peoples – a Jewish state and an Arab state. The Jews accepted that resolution. The Arabs rejected it.

We ask the Palestinians to finally do what they have refused to do for 62 years: Say yes to a Jewish state. Just as we are asked to recognize a nation-state for the Palestinian people, the Palestinians must be asked to recognize the nation state of the Jewish people. The Jewish people are not foreign conquerors in the Land of Israel . This is the land of our forefathers.

Inscribed on the walls outside this building is the great Biblical vision of peace: "Nation shall not lift up sword against nation.. They shall learn war no more." These words were spoken by the Jewish prophet Isaiah 2,800 years ago as he walked in my country, in my city, in the hills of Judea and in the streets of Jerusalem . We are not strangers to this land. It is our homeland. As deeply connected as we are to this land, we recognize that the Palestinians also live there and want a home of their own. We want to live side by side with them, two free peoples living in peace, prosperity and dignity.

But we must have security.. The Palestinians should have all the powers to govern themselves except those handful of powers that could endanger Israel. That is why a Palestinian state must be effectively demilitarized. We don't want another Gaza , another Iranian backed terror base abutting Jerusalem and perched on the hills a few kilometers from Tel Aviv.

We want peace.

I believe such a peace can be achieved. But only if we roll back the forces of terror, led by Iran , that seek to destroy peace, eliminate Israel and overthrow the world order. The question facing the international community is whether it is prepared to confront those forces or accommodate them.

Over seventy years ago, Winston Churchill lamented what he called the "confirmed unteachability of mankind," the unfortunate habit of civilized societies to sleep until danger nearly overtakes them.

Churchill bemoaned what he called the "want of foresight, the unwillingness to act when action will be simple and effective, the lack of clear thinking, the confusion of counsel until emergency comes, until self-preservation strikes its jarring gong.”

I speak here today in the hope that Churchill's assessment of the "unteachibility of mankind" is for once proven wrong.

I speak here today in the hope that we can learn from history -- that we can prevent danger in time.

In the spirit of the timeless words spoken to Joshua over 3,000 years ago, let us be strong and of good courage. Let us confront this peril, secure our future and, God willing, forge an enduring peace for generations to come.