An interesting homily

Over the weekend I heard an interesting homily and I thought how true it is that mankind is such that much of what we are suffering from is our own doing. AIDS for one is our own doing. The subprime and related financial crisis are our own doing. And I guess mankind has always been destructive. As we invent something new, we will eventually end up victims of our own inventions. So I thought to myself, if I should come up with any new idea, I will first examine if it will in any way destroy myself, and what can I do to neutralise that destructive element.

Even as I was writing I can't help but be distracted by the large number of editorial space devoted to the aftermath of the Mumbai terror attacks, and suddenly the economic crisis became a backseat passenger. In fact the economic crisis is almost forgotten, as the media also prepares readers for the events that would unfold in Thailand.

I decided to turn my mind to the weekend impending marathon. While I won't be a competitor I certainly am a firm believer of good health. I noticed an increasing number of eager beavers running up and down the coastline and assumed that they were training for the big run. I huffed and puffed, but realised that there was no way for me to keep abreast of these runners whose legs seem to gallop like the horse. Their stamina appear unlimited in supply and I was contend with running two kilometres. I guess not many people would appreciate the joy of running and some may even complain that it is boring. However, running with iPod in your ears under the starry eyes of the night sky is but a joy. I remembered once someone told me how he would always bring his running gear when he travels abroad so that he could run in the different parks around the world. Well though I am not a great swimmer I recalled doing that when I was headed for Hawaii. I brought my swim wear and got myself into the waters off Waikiki beach. At least I thought I could say I swam on that famous waters!

An intellectual gathering

Its been refreshing to have a gathering among good people to have a free exchange of ideas on various issues particularly on the changing financial landscape. Such views as the future of the US financial institutions which are household names, and the likely outcomes of the current aftermath were discussed over a round of good Italian food and wines. It only people from different professions could gather and have more such exchanges then the community could benefit from the outcomes. Alas we live in a world where invariably those who hold the positions think that they know best and hence everyone is made to work within that framework. Why didn't someone stand up and offered a change one may ask? The cost of doing so would be too great, some would say. Others find it the opportunity cost would be too great to give up something where they are benefiting albeit only a fraction of the whole pie. Nonetheless people are inclined to flow with the tide especially if all is at least on the surface seem well. It is like someone coming up to challenge why should we drive on the right side of the road instead of the left. What benefit is there since if any change is made, you to would need to be subjected to all the inconveniences to be retrained. So most people would then focus on their bread and butter and their own businesses and make the most money out of it; and leave others to make their own money in their own way. No point playing the modern day Plato and in the process lose your life, only to be read and admired by future generations.

This then raises the question in a modern day society where everyone is self sufficient, highly educated or skilled, would it then be necessary to buy a life insurance so that your children can be beneficiaries. In the first place, the children are often having their own careers and their own income, and they may find having to benefit from a large insurance bequest may only be a thorn in sibling relationship. Someone may be eyeing a larger pie or the estate if not equally divided may cause the siblings to split up in the process. Hence, it is not surprising that policyholders are cashing out once they think their their children are no longer financially dependent on them for a living. The estate would only be useful if the children are not well off or well educated to be able to sufficiently stand on their own feet. Well that's a thought for you to ponder if you are one of those with multiple insurance policies and you have grown up children who earns more than you did in the past! Besides with all the uproar in the insurance industry what is there to assure the insured that his beneficiaries may get anything useful if the company goes belly up? Think about that...

Let's have some peace

What a day to see on the TV screen the carnage caused by terrorists attacks on Mumbai, India. Yet minutes later came an advertisement showing a cripsy green leafy vegetable in a dessert bowl, exhorting the values of eating well. Surely people who do bad things must have somehow crossed the path of good things in their lives. Surely they know what is right from wrong...or are they so engulfed with their causes that nothing matters any more.

Innocent lives are lost needlessly. Here I have a close relative who is fighting for her life, determined to challenge the ravages of cancer. Yet in Mumbai lives are extinguished because someone called the shot. What a shame to kill especially under the guise of a religious cause. Yesterday I thought of saving my thoughts about promoting tourism and trade to write about today. But alas with travel warnings on India and Thailand, there's nothing much that can be done about tourism for now until the dust is settled.

I have been discussing with a group of friends of what we should do over Christmas. Perhaps we should plan early and pick the bargains; perhaps we should go out and spend some money to help fan the economy in whatever little way we can. Maybe..maybe that's the way to enjoy this season of Peace. It all begins with each of us, doing our little things, in our own little way, and it will somehow sprinkle that same feelings onto others, like the sprayed perfume where the scent will waft in the air and cling on to others around us.

Should we hold a Do Good Day, which should be observed internationally so that we can bring those who have gone astryed back to the mainstream of life. It won't be too difficult to organise such a campaign. But someone was quick to point out that the media may not give it the ventillation it needs because is no drama and no sensational headline to offer. At best it will hit the inside pages. Perhaps it may just get a one-paragraph report, or none at all unless the organisers buy an advertisement. Perhaps I shall begin with myself and do something good today by paying a visit to my sick relative and say a prayer in the hope that like all good prayers they will be answered someday, in someway.

Oh what a pity!

It didn't take more than 24 hours since I wrote about the manipulations in Thai politics and how the events have unfurled into an uglier scene. Bangkok international airport is closed and there is the prospect of an emergency being declared. What a shame for a peace-loving people...at least that was the impression I have of Thais when I met them throughout the years. Shouldn't they be focusing on economic issues which are more pressing than worry about blockades and political triumphs? If nothing else the events shows how mankind has a neck of overlooking the nicer things in life and turning issues into destruction and carnage.

I remembered the times when I was visiting Thai as the regional bureau correspondent with a foreign news agency. A Canadian chap, married to a Thai, was my ground man and he took me from the airport to the hotel. We visited many companies to introduce our organisation and the services we rendered. Thereafter, I made contacts with several Thai professionals and spoke with them regularly to gather information for my reportage. Bangkok is a dusty city but it has its own charm. Amidst the criss-crossing of vehicular traffic and the maze of side alleys lined with itinerant hawkers and others peddling their wares, the people are warm and friendly. They are a cheerful lot and gets more boisterous when they are engaged in an animated conversation. The city wakes up early and by about 7am the streets are crawling with people. Twelve hours hence, at 7pm another group of people throng the streets - they are the revellers and diners as well as shoppers looking for bargain. Famous Patpong and its bar top dancers are a must see for some. But there's more to Bangkok than just girls. The temples, river boats, Muay Thai and fortune telling give it the vibrancy and a mystical charm unlike other cities in Asia.

Singapore is too orderly, too sanitized so much so it looks like a "clean room" in a high-tech factory. I guess in that context it's "uniquely Singapore". Malaysia is too pretentious in trying to promote a charm which other than Malay is not indigenous to the country. Indian and Chinese cultures are bundled into "Malaysia, truly Asia". I am amazed at how this tagline came about. It's meaningless.

What can mankind do in order to live peacefully and enjoy the life that has been given us? Surely we have more important matters to deal with than to worry about a band of politicians manoeuvring to rule the country. Surely the APEC meeting is something that Thais should be focusing on more than worrying about who helms the government of the day - after all they have their King. Let's begin by looking at how can we encourage trade, tourism in order to create jobs, improve standard of living and promote knowledge through education and training. Let's keep that for the next posting on this blog.

Blow hot, blow cold

Em...how unpredictable life is. I was just talking about health and how to make the best out of life when I fell ill last night with a sore throat. Unwilling to let this get the better of me, I tucked earlier into bed and woke up later. The rest did some good, and I felt good enough to listen to the radio about President-elect Barack Obama chosing a new man to straighten out the ailing US economy. Asked my son Felix how did the stock market performed in New York last night and was told it rallied on news of the bailout for Citigroup.

Got into office and there was another mail for me from a friend who was sharing investment reports by analysts who now say the markets are set to rally in Dec. If you follow these guys, you never know where you are heading. One day they pour water on any suggestion of a rally and the next they swear to their last dollar that a rally is in sight.

But I don't know much about this blow hot and blow cold, but I certainly still have to take my cold tablets to ensure that I don't become like the US economy. Took a glimpse of the webnews and read about the salaries of Singapore civil service to take a cut, and of course the snips will include those of the political leaders. Then there was Bangkok's unfinished political business by the PAD. I guess the only time these pawns are going back to their homes is when Bangkok is Bankrupt. How easy it is to manipulate people to fight proxy battles for the politicians.

Let's look beyond this week and we are soon in to the last month of the year...and I have a meeting with someone who advises on philanthropy. I guess it is more interesting talking to her as we will be focusing on the brighter side of life...the giving of funds to save lives. I look forward to that meeting.

Big Cars Heading for Big Bang

Just got a mail from my son pointing out that the fall of the 3 big motor giants in US may have more than a ripple effect on the financial markets especially in the US. Its like getting an infection while resting in a post-operation stage in a hospital ward. Even before one newly sewn up wound is waiting to heal, the body is attacked by another bacteria. I think the US government is running out of antidotes to save the ailing financial market. What's needed now is for the layman to rethink and reshuffle the cards on the table and ask: where is everything heading? Where is not only the financial markets but jobs, businesses and the economy. I wonder what would the great minds like Einstein or Plato be thinking face with similar circumstances? Another opportunity to invent something new probably, and another opportunity to write a dialogue that generation after generation to come will enjoy and marvel at the legacy they leave behind.

Greenspan and Bernake are indeed leaving a legacy behind, so says my son. Well I kind of agree with his thoughts. But I rather that focus be given to what are the opportunities that may be sprinkled before our eyes, yet we don't see them.

Well at least for one family come hail and high water, they are going on a cruise this Christmas eve. Never mind the recession, never mind the government not cutting GST, never mind all the gloom, they are sailing into the horizon. Good thinking, at least they are taking charge of their lives and not letting the doomsday guru lead them into the tunnel of darkness.

A bright start

There is just so much to live for and so many new challenges to be encountered that it doesn't make sense to read of bickering between neighbours and destruction and carnage around the globe. Perhaps there should be a renaissance of sorts for the media to highlight the brighter side of life so that people's focus are on the good and not the bad. Started my day listening to BBC news and the item that struck me was about vitamin popping and how research has pooh-poohed the widely held belief that this practice of popping vitamins can keep illnesses away. So I ask myself what should I do if I had been one of those believers of vitamins? Do I feel short-changed or do I look up at the clear blue sunny sky and say: Well, if the birds don't need vitamins and yet they fly and take off into the sky...perhaps I should take a lesson from them. And with that thought in mind I carried on my journey to the office, stepped in a received a mail that invites me to give a lecture to a group of students in the next semester. How nice it is to start the day and start the week with bright skies and bright news like this against all the gloomy headlines about recession and the haemorrhage in the financial markets.

Talking about haemorrhage, I also had an sms that tells me that someone I am close to is suffering from severe pneumonia and was in critical condition. Then I thought about pill popping and asked did the person take vitamins over these years? If so, then the researchers could be right about their discovery. But I told myself I should not let this hanker my thoughts..and I said a silent prayer for the sick. Alas I have some solace and went on my day's activities.