Connection’s been down for the past week, and tonight I’ve resorted to using dial-up. Dial-up ya’ll! Jeez, I’ve forgotten how slow using this connection can be. I want my broadband back, but since I’ve exercised the full extent of my limited computer skills and all to no avail, I guess the only other option is to wait til Lutfi comes home for the holidays.
There have been suggestions from some mates of mine that I should switch from Friendster blogs to more popular outlets, since I seem to be taking this whole blogging thing seriously. I’ve been considering wordpress for quite some time now, and already have a blogspot account which I don’t use. I’ve just grown too accustomed to using Friendster blogs (despite its shortcomings as far as free services come by), and then there’s the sentimental factor. Who was it that said sentimental is stupid anyway? Besides, its format is simple and the user interface is similar to that of (paid-subscription services only) Typepad, which is a top-rate blog and which I’m comfortable with. However, there is that annoying ad that comes after each of my entries. Eye-sore. And then there are the free additional features offered out there to consider, since I’ve come to the point where I wonder how many people actually read this stuff. Just wondering. Besides, it would be nice to know if I had a blog readership of, say, 10 people or so from various locations, as unlikely as that is. Even so, I wouldn’t stop with this though. I think blogging has now definitely become an addictive hobby. Oh boy, do I need a life.
All things considered though, I might remain here for the time being because hey, I’m just here to write.
And since I have naught to convey for tonight, I suppose an article I wrote about a week ago should suffice to assure those I haven’t been in contact with that indeed, I am alive and well, Alhamdulillah:
(Written on Saturday, 6th May 2006)
Currently Playing: Death Cab For Cutie-What Sarah Said.
It occurred to me the other day how very neglectful I have been of what is going on in today’s world. The degree of treatment newspapers and the Internet have got from me has been dreadful when it comes to important issues, be it political, economical, legal or social. I have completely lost touch with the times, and I am never one to exaggerate. At least, not in serious matters like this.
Rather, all I’ve been reading on is sports and nothing more. Every day, I read the back page of The Star first before briefly glancing at the main headlines. I find myself tuned in to Channel 80, 81 and 82 on Astro more nowadays and all matters of text messages too, have not strayed far. I knew about Wayne Rooney’s metatarsal injury first before I knew of…whatever it was on the front page that day.
What’s got into me?!
Take the Thomas Cup tournament, as an example.
The last time I paid complete attention to badminton was probably during the Thomas Cup in 2002. At that time, I was in the midst of my examinations and Malaysia had reached the finals to set up a showdown with Indonesia. I remember discussing it with Hisham endlessly in between classes, talking until we were practically spitting with wild gestures. That was until he moved and I haven’t been in contact with him ever since. I watched the finals anyway, despite the fact that I was to face my own showdown the first thing the next morning. I speak of my greatest foe, Chemistry.
At that time, I could not be cured. It was the 7×5 system, and our players had shown that they had more advantage playing on that. Hafiz had made his debut by becoming a hero, playing a game that secured the final point that got the team to the finals. The defeat by Indonesia left me unable to concentrate on my exams. I suffered a mild case of a mental breakdown. Things were different then. My brother was there to watch the games with me, and my father showed more interest. In fact, the three of us brought the house down every time the games were on. We were loud and unashamed.
It’s quieter now. Now, I can only talk the game over with the former over the phone, while the latter comes home late and asks the latest developments while being served dinner. Now, it’s my youngest brother who I’ve reeled in to jump about with me.
Anyway, the Thomas Cup 2006 quarter-finals was the first time I watched Malaysia play the new 21×3 system. I have to say, I’ve never seen a sport have its rules changed so often. 15×3, then 7×5, then switching back to 15×3 before settling on 21×3. I use the word ‘settling’ too liberally. The system might change again by the next time the Thomas Cup comes around. Although initially, I thought the 21×3 made the game unnecessarily shorter, after watching Chan Chong Ming-Koo Kien Kiat battle it out in the semi-finals second match, second game with the Danes, I warmed up to it a whole deal. That particular game made me want to throw up…maybe it was due to the fact that Luqman was strangling me out of excitement and suspense.
It’s a sad thing we exited the way we did. I know that the team put up a fighting spirit, and I’m proud of them, but to know that the team would have had a different result and better chances if team captain (and this writer’s personal favourite player) Wong Choong Hann had been there was really a letdown. Ruptured Archilles’ tendon, metatarsal injury…why does it seem the teams I support get all the bad luck? And I’m talking about England in the World Cup, not Man U here. If there was disappointment, it was watching our singles players crash out. Geram seh. Yang si Hafiz tu, main fancy-fancy kalah gak. 2 more years to wait…haiya. Mana konsistensi, wahai para pemain negaraku?
There’s one thing that really pissed me off when watching the semis. Did anyone notice that some of the Danish supporters were Indonesian? After going down to China in the other semis match earlier on, apparently they rooted for a team of a nation they don’t hate. I was really pissed.
I’d really like to leave politics out of sports here, but tell me, what does it mean to have a fellow Muslim country cheer on another country which coincidentally is the very one that houses the publications of insulting and derogatory caricatures of the Holy Prophet SAW? What does it say that our fellow sisters and brothers chose to applaud such a nation?
Wait, I’m asking the wrong question.
What does it show that our fellow members of the Ummah chose to display their cold sentiment and displeasure of our national team by doing such a thing? It’s a known fact that Indonesians in general, despise Malaysians. What is it though that makes it such? Is it that we are a more progressive Muslim country? Is it that we are more developed in status, more productive in resources, more orderly in administration, more stable in economics, what? Is it because we allow them to enter our country and give them opportunities to find work? Is it because we provide them jobs and high wages that do more than just secure their livelihood? Is it because we allow them to enter our homes, protect our properties, and educate our children? Is it because despite all this, when we deport them, because of our high crime rates from which a considerable amount can be attributed to them, because they misuse their working permits, because they tear families apart by schemes and seduction, because of every natural and legal grounds to rid our lands of aliens who scorn at our open arms, they are angry? I’ll have you know that I have great respect for the Indonesian people; their patriotism and pride leaves our own attitude towards our nation much to be desired. Plus, what would music be without Peterpan, SO7, Dewa and Padi? So then. Why all this enmity?
Sports and politics should never be placed in the same perspective. That is why sports is, in theory, a unifying event, in which circumstances and political backgrounds of participating nations should be left out of the stadiums/courts/any other sporting grounds. I am still teaching myself this lesson, because there was a time when I booed Israel in every sports event they took part in. Now and today, you will find me with an inclination towards a nation in the coming World Cup who had played a key role in the invasion of Iraq. I’ve watched Iran play though, so I’ll be keeping a lookout for them. It is a coincidence that they are a Muslim country. If sports and politics were to be thrown in the same limelight and if that was the practice of every sports fan, I wouldn’t be behind England at all (although their chances of the ‘66 glory is all but gone now), I wouldn’t be watching EPL and hell, there wouldn’t be any Liverpool.
And we will then find ourselves in a whole deeper shit then we’re already in.
Enough said here.
