Barack Obama's Inauguration

Okay. So I missed it.

I am annoyed with myself, without a doubt.

But with good reason- I had to go to work at 8.30am [which I'd almost forgotten when I woke up], which meant that staying up from 1am to 5am would have killed me today. Not to mention, I have a Pre-enrolment session to head to at UWA, which basically means that any repeats the new channels may be showing today are more or less wasted on me.

Because I can't watch history in the making!!!

Yeah, alright, kill me now. I can't believe I missed a live piece of history in the making because of my erratic sleep schedules. Stupid timezones. I live in a bad place to watch any kind of history in the making.

I should've totally taken the day off on Wednesday so that I could stay up all morning to watch Barack Obama's Inauguration.

I'm listening to Obama's speech now as I type, and I'm amazed and the amount of work, time and effort put into his speech. Inspiring hope, initiating coordination and engineering the success of the world. He stands as a representative of what could happen, and hopefully, what will happen.

Another topic I'm amazed about is the hoo-haa about Michelle's Obama's dress. I have no idea why the fuss is all up there, but hey, I guess we as females can't get rid of our human weaknesses sometimes. My opinion: Michelle Obama did dress very nicely for that night, although I wouldn't hail her as the First Lady of Fashion. Our tastes are different, but then again, what works for her may not appeal to me.

Still, I'm going to sit back and savour an amazing triumph of humanity and for the world.

Mishy <3

Race-Based Politics

Malaysia not ready to abandon race-based politics: Mahathir

Malaysians are not yet ready to ditch their race-based political system in favour of parties which represent all ethnic groups, former premier Mahathir Mohamad said Wednesday.

Barack Obama's victory in the US presidential elections has triggered discussion about whether a minority leader could emerge in Malaysia, which has until now been ruled by a member of the dominant Muslim Malay community.

Mahathir said there is no constitutional barrier preventing an ethnic Chinese or Indian citizen from becoming prime minister.

But he said the country is a long way from abandoning the current system where the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), which represents Malays, leads a coalition that includes parties representing other races.

"It doesn't work, every 'multiracial' party is dominated by one race," Mahathir said after a lecture on Malaysian identity.

"Even the PAP in Singapore is not multiracial, as is very clear when Hsien Loong says no non-Chinese can become PM," he said.

Singapore's premier Lee Hsien Loong said earlier this month that the multicultural city-state of over 3.5 million people is not ready for a non-ethnic Chinese premier in the near future.

"We are still not united if we can't even agree on having a school where all children study together regardless of race, so how can we push aside racial concerns?" Mahathir said.

"Unless people come together and try to have something in common... how can you have a party representing all the different races? You have to have a base first."

Mahathir's nemesis, opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, has declared his Keadilan party the nation's first multiracial party as its members and supporters are drawn from all three racial groups.


You know what's sad, is that in a way, however slight it may be...I actually agree with Dr. Mahathir. Not that we are not ready to abandon race-based politics, but that even in schools we are all still allowing our children to continue with a system of education that invites segregation and disunity among the population from a very young age. I mean, already we are seeing that in Chinese and Indian schools, kids must take 7 subjects, whilst in Malay schools, kids only have to take 5. Inequality?
Let me tell you I would be disgustingly annoyed if a quarter of my classmates were told 'Hey, you only have to take 3 subjects' whilst I get told that I'm forced to take 6, and then to add insult to injury, I must excel in all my 6 subjects while Tom/Dick&Harry over there can simply revel in the glory of 3As and go into the same field of work that I want to get into.
In Australia, we have a choice as to what KIND of subjects we take, but really, in the end we all still have to take 6 subjects, no matter what we end up deciding to do.

I have my own ideas on how to improve the education system although I will not propose any reforms here. To be honest, I do not need the government coming to arrest me under the ISA because I 'criticised the education system' and in doing so, have somehow managed to 'insult Islam'.

But I think that Dr. Mahathir is very quick to shift the blame on education. A suggestion I might make? [I am still not criticising Dr. M...at this point, it might seem as though I'm just trying to save my ass, but if I've said something, I actually mean it] We need a base? Yes, let's make a base. Let's start with politics. Children will follow the actions and thoughts of the adults who guide them and teach them. So let's begin at with the people who can make the reform and set an example, so that we may eventually change things and create a more united Malaysia. It is never too late to start anything, and really, it should not matter where this starting point is.

At the same time...parties can be multicultural. They can be if we let them. Just because the head of the party at the moment may be of a certain race does not mean that the whole party will lean towards that race's point of view. Looking at the general picture, if we have a Chinese head one term, a Kadazan head on another term, maybe a Malay head after that...it will show. We need to be as democratic as possible, and to elect a leader among that individual party, no matter what race they are. They should be judged on their qualities. So perhaps a Malay might be the best man/woman for the job. But surely after 50 years, a good Chinese leader must have emerged at some stage. Or a good Indian leader must be popular and good with the people in the past 50 years.

And so what if Singapore is a totalitarian Chinese nation? Must we follow Singapore? Can we not begin our own path, and allow it to be one that leads to fairness and equality? One where the Chinese are not seen as 'immigrants', where the Indians are not shunned and marginalised, and one where society may finally acknowledge the true 'bumiputeras' if, there in fact, are any...The Orang Asli, the Orang Kadazan, the Orang Jakun... Somehow we seem to forget that they are a part of the Malaysian society and that they have been there for much longer than even the Malays have been.

But then, maybe we should remember that we were all immigrants at one stage in time. If you believe in the theory of evolution and migration, that is. So let's just get rid of all this 'bumiputera' nonsense. The Malays are no more bumiputera than the Chinese and Indians, the Orang Kadazan, the Orang Jakun, the Orang Asli and so on. It would certainly save on a lot of squabbling and create a better sense of equality in an already divided nation.

50 years since independence...since the day 'Merdeka' was uttered proudly and loudly in Merdeka Square. I wonder if it was all for nothing.

Mishy <3

Signs of Equality

He's done it. He's actually done it.

But what does it mean for me? I was asked on tckid.com, and also via an email sent round by Brice.

A TCK made it to the top position in America. Not only that, he's an African American. I'm pretty certain that identifying with the marginalised class doesn't exactly make the walk to the top any easier.
In fact, he probably had to claw.

To me, it means that change and some form of equality and acceptance has finally come to the world we live in. 150 years ago, America was pro-slavery. Under Geroge Washington, the White House was completed by a group of black slaves. 150 short years later, there is a black man in that same White House.
Another idea that astonishes me...is the way he has fitted back into the USA, and the way he's been accepted. His appointment to the leadership of the country shows me that there is a way for TCKs to settle down, and to be accepted. For a tree to find its roots. For a fish to feel comfortable in its water. Whatever metaphor you wish to find, Barack Obama has defeated his demons, and proved that it can be done. [and due to all the good reviews that this book is getting, I really must go pick up a copy of Dreams From My Father]
Last but not least, to state the obvious, a Black man, an African American man has made it to the White House. The very name of the presidential residence says it all. Barack Obama has taken over what was formerly an anglocentric country.

So really...what does it say to me?
One day, I there will be a Chinese or an Indian Prime Minister in Malaysia.
One day, there will be an Aboriginal Prime Minister in Australia.
One day, I will fit back into the country that rejects me.
I just hope I'm arround to see it happen.
Barack Obama is currently placed next to Nelson Mandela on my list of idols. What is ironic is that I'm not even black, I'm chinese! But he serves as a representative of positive change and a united front. I'm just glad that the American people have voted for him, and in my view, they've made the right choice.

To give him credit, John McCain did make a very eloquent concession speech, and even attempted to quiet the booing, hissing audience. So kudos to him. =)

Looking forward to change.
MIshy <3

2008 American Presidential Elections

Okay, so I really really REALLY should be studying. But I can't help it. I'm so excited, I think I'll force my dad to go buy a paper the minute it hits the headlines.

2008 AMERICAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS!!

And this is the guy who should win.

What's to know about him? And more specifically, why do I want him to win?
1. He's a TCK. W00T!
2. He was an expatriate in Indonesia. Indonesia. Same here! Wheeee... He might understand my fanatical liking for rendang sapi? :D
3. Different. How many African American Presidents can you honestly say you know of? Okay, so he's coloured. But it's a step. A good step. Especially after the mistake America made with Bush.
4. "There is not a liberal America and a conservative America - there is the United States of America. There is not a black America and a white America and latino America and asian America - there's the United States of America." It's about time somebody realised that America is not white!
5. As a foreigner who knows that whatever America does affects the rest of us so much, I think I really need to see someone who can reflect the rest of the world as much as he/she can reflect America itself, and to understand...finally that they must act for the world as well as the United States of America.
6. Pulling the troops out of the Middle East? Sounds like my candidate!

Why am I against McCain so much, one might ask?

1. It's McCain. Republican. BUSH WANNABE!
2. Bad-tempered: "At least I don't plaster on the makeup like a trollop, you c*nt." --to his wife, Cindy, after she playfully twirled his hair and said "You're getting a little thin up there."
3. Yes, you may have been a Vietnam war veteran, but surely that will only serve to make me more wary of you. Military minded, and more willing to sacrifice America and the rest of the world in the fight for more oil. Come on, we all know it's not about terrorism anymore.
4. "You know that old Beach Boys song, Bomb Iran? Bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran." Need I say more?
5. Since when was Putin from Germany? And when did Iraq suddenly become moulded next to Pakistan? Please take a look at a world map, or check up on your world leaders BEFORE you open your mouth...can you imagine what would happen if he was the president when he said all that? http://www.tckid.com/group/lets-be-careful-we-dont-make-mistakes-like-this/

The comeback to all of the crap given to Obama by the Republicans? HAH! :P

Mishy <3

Political Propoganda

We are currently in the midst of yet another political election. This time, it's not Kevin Rudd vs. John Howard, but rather Alan Carpenter vs. Colin Barnett.

And I've decided that political propoganda in Australia is weak and without direction.
Honestly, when you launch a campaign, you should be telling the people what you want to do, how your policies are just that much better than the other person's. A bit if a put down here and there is fine. But honestly, I would so much rather hear what a politician has to offer, than what he/she has to say about the other side.

In Australia, politicians do not tell us what they have to offer. In fact, they use all their money on propoganda, telling us about how bad the other side is.

Back in 2007:
K. Rudd: Well, I'm so much better because...John Howard will do this, and he'll do that, and I mean, i'm doing these things, but those work choices that John Howard has will kill our jobs!!
J. Howard: Don't vote for Kevin Rudd and his odd bunch of Labors...they'll stuff our economy!!

And the list actually does go on. I saw some really odd propoganda videos on TV in 2007, but they're not showing them anymore.

Now, in 2008:
A. Carpenter: I'm a much better choice because...the Liberal party have already had FIVE LEADERS SINCE THE LAST ELECTION!!
C. Barnett: No! Wait! The A.C. is trying to trick you! I mean, he's holding elections just after the Olympics when no one is going to pay attention!!

Not in so many words, and certainly not in that language, but that really is the gist of it.
There was a political debate going on between those two, but I didn't watch. English Lit was just that much more important than they were, unfortunately.
I think Aussie politicians need to step up their game. Barack Obama and John McCain are putting them both to shame.
If it came down to Alan Carpenter, Colin Barnett of John McCain [should John ever become an Australian], I would vote McCain. Just because his campaign is that much better.

But since McCain will never become Australian, and because Australian politics is lame:
I <3 Barack Obama.

Mishy <3

Oh where art thou...Hillary Clinton?

So it seems that Hillary Clinton has gone and given up on the presedential race and has finally bowed down to Barck Obama in the hopes that he will take her in as a vice-president. [Okay, so this was ages ago, but I've only just thought of it now]
Personally, I'm a little disappointed. I was always on Obama's side [mainly due to the TCK-in-Indonesia connection] but now there are no female candidates.

I reckon she should have tried. She should have continued to try and run for president. Mainly because then it would show the world that females are ready for such a position. Females are ready to take on roles that the world once thought were much too hard and wayy too high for them.
Despite the fact that I didn't think Hillary Clinton would be the best candidate, she was the only female who's gotten this far in attempting to achieve a top position in America, and I have to say I respect her for it.
In giving in to Barack Obama, and hoping that he takes her in as his vice-president, she's sent a message to the world, that females are obviously not ready for such a position. As an American, she's bound to be aired all over the world. Embarrasingly, I know more about American politics than I do about Malaysian, but that's the way of life. What America does is important to the rest of the world, and as a consequence, what happens in America because the role that is set for the other nations. [well, perhaps not Iraq or Iran]
Forget Margaret Thatcher, that was years ago. Admittedly, she was a role model for women all over the world, but that was a generation ago, and England has yet to elect another female Prime Minister. What we need is someone new and fresh who can show this generation- the most accepting and equal generation to date- that women are ready to lead the world.

So now it's down to Barack Obama and John McCain. [whenever I hear his name, I think of microwavable veggies]
It's pretty obvious who will win this election now, I think. But whatever comes out of it, I just hope that a better world [and a better America?] will be one such result.

Come to think of it, this election would have been the world's weirdest one to date. Whoever got elected would have made some serious history in America.
Barack Obama: would have been America's first black/African American president.
Hillary Clinton: would have been America's first female president
John McCain: would have been America's oldest president.

You know...is Amercia really ready for members of such minorities to become their leader?
In a way, I guess it is. And you know what: sometimes the change is good. And I'm looking forward to the changes that will come after this election.

Mishy <3

TCK Question: Where Are You From?

This is a letter that I wrote to the Wall Street Journal concerning a matter that I know all TCKs could write 5 page essays on, given the chance. Hmmm, maybe I should get my English Lit teacher to let me write about this as an essay then...=P

I came across this article when I was browsing www.tckid.com and thought it might be a really good idea to actually write back to you on this.

I am a Malaysian Chinese born TCK living in Perth at the moment. I've been moving around since I was 2 months old, and I've lved in Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, South Africa and of course, Australia.The question 'where do you come from?' does get frequently asked, and it's an incredibly hard question to answer. Even though I consider myself to be a Malaysian, I find that simply saying 'Malaysia' is not enough. When I am abroad, I am known as 'the Malaysian girl' and while I am in Malaysia, I am 'the [insert name of current country of residence] girl'. When I am abroad, it is very difficult to explain about Malaysia and all its different races, and why I am a Malaysian CHINESE and not simply a Malay. When I am in Malaysia, it is a lot easier to say that I am Malaysian, but many find it difficult to understand why my english is at a higher level than theirs, and why I am unable to speak the local language. A lot of the friends I make in different countries also find it hard to understand why I am able to speak english so fluently.

My travelling also affects the way people see me. Many caucasians see me as an 'uncivilised' asian girl because of my looks, and assume that I am from China- but this is simply not true. Many of my Malaysian peers see me as strange, and maybe even a little snobby because of my travelling and my international schooling- also simply untrue.
My travelling has made me more aware of the world and it's problems from a global aspect, and this does frighten some people who are only able to see the world from one point: much like a child looks at the world with tunnel vision.

Sometimes I see people as being incredibly ignorant. People who have never travelled like to stereotype people. If I came from the UAE, people would class me as a muslim terrorist. If I was from England, people might think that I am now a very rich person with a posh sort of accent. The thing is that it is simply not true. While I may have gained many cultural experiences, and understand the culture better than many others do, it does not mean that I have suddenly adopted their culture.

Take Barack Obama for instance. He is of a mixed American and Kenyan parentage, and used to live in Indonesia. We see America as a violent and even possibly ignorant country: does that make Barack Obama violent and ignorant? We see Kenya as a poor, uncivilised nation: does this make Barack Obama poor and uncivilised? And of course, Barack Obama has lived in Indonesia, a predominantly muslim country: does this make Barack Obama a muslim terrorist?
I would disagree. While Barack Obama may have been highly influenced by all of these factors, it does not mean that he is violent, ignorant, poor, uncivilised or even a muslim terrorist.
In fact, all this travelling shows that he is incredibly cultured, and is more likely to see things from several different perspectives.

It is through all these factors that we find the question: 'where are you from?' so difficult to answer. We have so many different perspectives, we have been influenced by so many different cultures: For a TCK to answer 'Where are you from?' could take up to an entire essay like the one I've just written here.

Mishy <3

Elections.

I've been noticing quite a few elections suddenly.
Maybe it's because I've taken up Political and Legal Studies now. XD
But seriously: elections. Plentiful and everywhere at the moment.

There's the ever famous one in America: Barack Obama or Hilary Clinton. The race continues.
Although I can't believe that Barack Obama in a TCK! He originates from Kenya and has even lived in Indonesia. To me, it's like 'wow...a real life TCK, becoming a president!' XD I imagine if he became president of the USA, though, he would probably have a better foreign policy than Bush ever did. As a TCK, our foreign policies are very open. I mean, please, his grandparents even still live in Kenya, he could put an end to the turmoil in Kenya! He lived in Indonesia, so he could very open to the muslims and all us poor things in South East Asia! This is brilliant! >.< Another election is the one in Malaysia. This one I don't know so much about, but I am a little worried about this election, for my own private reasons. I am not so sure I want UMNO to win this election again. They've done some very good work for the past 20 years, no doubt about it.
I agree that bahasa malaysia should be compulsory, because if we don't learn our own version of bahasa, then who will?
And I fully support this 'Visit Malaysia' programme they've got going on at the moment. Malaysia generates so much income from tourism, this is only gonna boost us up by a gazillion times.
But there's so much that needs to be done...that I believe needs to be looked at. But UMNO has been pushing all of these issues into the background [feigning ignorance?]. We could do with, okay, not a change of government, but perhaps a change of policies? Traffic policy. Foreign policy. We've been with the same party (parties, since UMNO has been having coalitions with MCA and MIC for forever and a day) since the beginning of Malaysia's government. Malaysia needs to progress, much as I agree we're probably the most forward muslim country in the world with women and dress codes and such [or are we?].
I want a Malaysia that I can come back to, a Malaysia that still has the same multi-cultural lifestyles, but with more opportunities. The tourists who go to Malaysia talk about all the shopping, but not much else can be said for the people sometimes.

Mishy <3