Sunday, June 12, 2011

Some things worth mentioning...

An excerpt from my handwritten journal...edited and added to a bit:

     Would you like to hear about Kuala Lumpur? KL is a place where you can ride an elevator with a Chinese 20-something wearing a red sickle and hammer t-shirt. Kuala lumpur is a place where sitting by the pool in a bikini while the call to prayer hums beautifully in the background isn't out of the norm. Kuala Lumpur is a place where traditionally conflicting views and groups exist with relatively little civil unrest (in comparison to other parts of the world). Granted no place is perfect, but this city (government aside) and it's people have something the world can learn from. Aside from the year-round heat (I'm a seasons kind of gal) I find it to be quite a livable place. The culture here obviously takes some getting used to, but this is to be expected.

     One thing I keep on hearing around here is your lifestyle and religion is a choice (unfortunately, this does not hold true for all lifestyles). Gays in particular are facing quite a lot of difficulty here. They even went to the extreme to ban showing Glee after this season because of it's 'provocative' view of gay life. Not that I think being gay is a choice, because I don't, but it should go without saying that aside from some of Europe and North America, the world is slow to accept gay society. One day I hope. Anyways, I digress, I've asked Muslims, Christians, Hindus, and seculars alike about religion and I keep hearing the words 'personal choice.' Granted, this is being said without Jewish input, but in a Muslim country a jewish community, if existent, remains underground. It is a complicated age-old issue that I, nor anyone else not born into it could possibly understand beyond a superficial level so I'll refrain from further comment. The government may think a bit differently as well, but just like any other country in the world, there is a significant difference between government and people. If you haven't figured that out by now, please do yourself a favor and get out from under the rock you've been hiding under and talk to people different than yourself. Seriously. Do you really want people to think you are exactly like - insert name of least favorite moronic politician of choice here - and truly believes the crap that he or she belches out to the world? Didn't think so.

     Choice, however, is not something that Westerners, particularly Americans associate with something like Islam. However, as an educated, open-minded American such as myself, I've learned better than that. I've also adapted a healthy distrust for American media. Our media is just as propaganda driven, censored, and biased as any other country we chose to demonize (with the exception being North Korea, which takes the concept of control to a whole new level).  The difference from some other countries being we have the freedom (in both an abstract and monetary manner) to find out what is really going on. You want to know what a place is really like? Go there. Go there and immerse yourself in it. Don't have the money, time, not willing to give it all up to chance, or prefer not to wander aimlessly into a war zone (don't blame you on the latter). Well, the internet is the next best thing. Get away from the big-named news sources and their over-headed companies (maybe start there if you are new at this) and find the real story. Read blogs, check out sites like VBS, read local papers/blogs in other countries, read personal accounts, anything really. There is so more than what we are being told. Just come to honest terms with the fact that CNN, Fox, BBC, ect feed you crap that the government or some other large corporation wants you to hear.

     For example, they demonize Iran. I have yet to meet a mean Iranian that isn't willing to share things about his or her country with me. By the way, the place has seasons, markets, houses, paved roads, and normal life. It isn't some mountain/desert hybrid shit hole filled with Jihadist crazies the way the American news media makes it out to be. Sure extremism probably exists there (and yes there is censorship) and so does poverty, but those things are everywhere; including our own backyards. These things are facts of life in every nation so get over it.

Now for a quick closer:

     What people really need to do in this day and age is get out there and realize that we are more alike than we are different. If you have the means, grow a pair and go for it. I'm not talking about going on some sheltered vacay where you never leave the comfort of the resort, get your hands dirty and talk to people. Ask them what they think (or if you think that might be offensive, mention you are curious about X because you know nothing about it so what is the opinion of the general population). People are more than willing to share if you show interest. Don't let government stop you. Seriously, if you listened to every tiny travel tidbit on the State Department website, you would reconsider leaving your own home to go to the supermarket, let alone the country. American government exercises more control than it lets on, so exercise your freedom and see for yourself.

     Still feeling sick, no better or worse than last night (which means I'm running at maybe 50%, 65% at best). Worked this weekend and slept. Ate soup with garlic added. Neeeeeeeed to get better asap! I also need to get my bus tickets to Singapore and find a place to stay...ie find a couch!

-M

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