From: Rafil Elyas Date: Aug 27, 2006 10:23 AM
Subject: Selamat Hari Merdeka 49!!!! Enable HTML for ease of reading.
 
Hey Ho kids!

Malaysia considers Islam in space

By Jonathan Kent BBC News, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia's choice of astronaut will blast off with a Russian team in 2007 A two-day conference on Islam and life in space is under way in Malaysia, in a bid to answer questions faced by would-be Muslim astronauts. Malaysia is due to send an astronaut into space with the Russians next year. The country's first spaceman is almost certain to be a Muslim, which raises a number of practical issues. For instance, Muslims wash before they pray but not only is water a precious commodity in space, but it is also impractical in weightlessness. Likewise, the faithful face Mecca. However, that will mean pin-pointing a moving location while in zero gravity. And Muslim prayer times are linked to those of the sunrise and sunset, but in orbit the sun appears to rise and set more than a dozen times a day. Serious discussion Malaysia's science ministry has called together a group of experts to thrash out these and other questions. It is being billed as the first-ever serious discussion of the issues. It is in keeping with the Malaysian government's mission to promote what it calls Islam Hadhari, or civilisational Islam, which encourages Muslims to embrace education, science and technology. It will doubtless be hoping that a conference of Muslim scientists and scholars debating such cutting edge issues will not go unnoticed in the rest of the Islamic world.

I don’t mean to be racist. I am not. I respect everyone’s rights. I grew up in a country where I am used to being looked over and seconded in terms of privileges, and special treatment. just because I am not of a certain color, actually more importantly, because I am not Muslim.

I live in a country where the actual natives of the land have no say, some live in poverty – by choice or they think is by choice – sometimes ignorance and not knowing makes you think you made a good choice, or forced you to take the only choice available.

there are things that people can overlook, sometimes there are limits and boundaries that people can take.

but its injustice, oppression, and plain abuse when you cross the line.

tunku made an agreement in 1957 so that we could all live in harmony and gain independence. we – non muslims- tolerated because we wanted to live here. we agreed to being looked over and seconded in terms of privileges just so we thought this was a land that accepted us and that we WORK for the land.

but today, 49 years later, lines have been crossed. these privileges have turned into oppression tools not only against non muslims but even muslims themselves.

the entire whole country is slowly but surely sinking into a state that I am sure none of use would like to be in.

the religion, is being manipulated as a mechanics to scare and fend off skeptics. the unalterable (or so they say) federal constitution is being manipulated as a tool to keep our mouths shut. that we say nothing that will hurt or damage racial integration.

but it seem to me, things that hurt the non-muslims can be loosely said and that is not considered damaging but a remark or even a work against the muslims is completely unacceptable.

how else, can the deputy chief of umno youth, our beloved controversial Khairy can say things like

that demeans MCA and when asked to apologise has the cheek to say

“Many people say our criticism is too harsh, provocative and extreme, but this does not matter as we are upholding our religious dignity and pride. So why should I apologise?"

in a mere reasoning using religion, he has decided that it is okay to put down his compatriot in BN. gentlemen and other people, what kind of a united government is this?

to make matters worse, MCA did not respond or at least acted too diplomatically. is this because of fear? or it this because of complacency? are we really that concerned with the well being of our own pockets to just take it?

why is it that our school textbooks continuously dwell on the bad shape of the malays/muslims in the economy and blow the position of the Chinese as top players over the top? isn’t that fanning sensitive issues?

would that be the perfect brainwashing method into letting everyone think that its okay to let them have a headstart in business by providing special loans, special rebates.. blab la.. because they are not so good at business. sigh.

khairy is not the only one whose been using religion as an excuse, the entire whole management of the country is.

everything is culture, everything is religion, everything is sopan, budi and bahasa.

every time an issue pops up, it seems the best way to resolve it is to refer to religion, when our country actually has a federal constitution. but no, federal constitution is used when it benefits them, namely the law that reads, no one is to raise sensitive issues in regards to race, religion bla bla (as mentioned above), but when it doesn’t benefit them, namely, everyone has the right to freedom of speech, religion, blab la.. they just ignore and refer to their own religion as a benchmark.

the funny thing is, they don’t even rebut your argument, they just ignore and give you a completely irrelevant excuse.

doesn’t anyone find that amusing?

young people, musicians, artists, yuppies, everyone, the voice of the youth, we are slowly moving into a state where it is not right.

we are not an islamic state. we are a country governed by the federal constitution. its time that we as young people stand up and look around us, taste the bitterness of the coffee and realize that sooner or later, we will lose this land. we will lose our identity.

being forced into this, not only will our basic rights be denied, even the malays will lose their identity as malays but be forever known as muslims. know that your culture and your religion is two different matter. let not others push into believing that the religion shapes who you are. Malaysia is a country for Malaysians, of multi cultural communities, not only the religion of islam.

posted by mushroom