Walls

Walls are not just physical structures, but also represent mindsets, preservations of what seems to have worked in the past and a telling inability to effectively embrace and utilise the best of changes.

Walls made of stone, metal or earth can only last as long as the materials offered by Nature and human handiwork. Nature is forever transforming. Humankind has progressed because of the evolving brain of Homo Sapiens to make the most of volatility, observe what is more stable and reliable and adapt better than others. Other related species have found limitations without embracing this significant ability, despite having larger sizes, apparently better physical prowesss and a longer track record of survival.

So when particular human tribes or cultures revert strongly to the circle of bandwagons mentality, it can be a decidedly portent sign of negativity and decline. The actual act of erecting walls, in the broadest sense of the word, has historically been more of a disadvantage than a benefit. The society that builds walls perpetuates in its own limbo - it can be compared to someone who needs positive change but is encouraged and emboldened to be trapped in his own debilitating comfort zone of bad habits and incriminating behaviour.

Hadrian's Wall, the Great Wall of China, the Wall of Ston in Croatia, the Berlin Wall, the Great Wall of Babylon and fortifications serving as outposts in dangerous territory of deserts and plains jump out of our school textbooks. The primary justification of strategic defence provides a psychological rationale for the construction of walls and accompanying moats. Often such physical manifestations just delay the arrival of the inevitable.

Is the real and effective enemy the barbarian waiting at the gate? Maybe the actual enemy is an inability to consider the new and seemingly unacceptable, to make use of the best offered by a seeming threat and to resolve internal dismay by seizing on an opportunity to learn?

We know that walls can be breached anyway in unexpected places. The Achilles heel of using a wall as a socio-political tool has been demonstrated by a top military commander willingly opening the gates to invaders in dynastic China. 

The man made wall is best seen as a temporary and interim measure to use when the builder is disorganised and refuses to adopt other more reliable methods. Walls of a cultural nature are echoed by strict interpretations of often a religious nature, the deeming of uniqueness behind the walls and strong restrictions in allowing foreigners coming in. 

The human penchant for building walls can also be seen in cyberspace, exercising extreme conservatism and building defences against inter continental missiles. Military strategy in the future must encompass a variety of holistic fronts and not just rely on a physical structure.

The greater ease of mobility, in travel, exchange of goods, virtual transactions and social engagement, implies that any one still believing in the usefulness of erecting walls, has a complex job ahead.

Not Too Long Ago

As the year 2018 came to a close, there were many reflections by the media.

I absolutely love history and how it has shaped our present and future. 

In 1978, the Lunar Year of the Fire Snake, Deng Xiao Ping commenced the liberalisation of the economy for the common man and woman in China. Forty years on, the transformation of the world's most populous country in many aspects of life, business, infrastructure, trade, technology and nation building, has astounded Western societies.

In February that year, the Sydney Hilton was bombed involving violent terrorism, a rather rare event for an Australian city, when compared with our current decade.   The iconic Mardi Gras began as a protest march on the streets of Sydney.

Grease, the dance movie starring Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta, was released in June to a raptious audience.

Robert Menzies passed on, marking an end to a significant political era.

Refugee boats from Vietnam floundered off the eastern coast of Peninsular Malaysia, which had a government towing them back to the sea. Many were put in camps in Thailand and on Pulau Bidong off the Trengganu coast. Under the auspices of the UNHCR, those who survived their ordeal migrated to Western countries, when it was obvious the neighbouring ASEAN nations did not want to accept them.

Ten years ago, Beijing hosted its first Olympics, marking a significant rite of passage. The Prime Ministers of Canada and Australia made formal apologies in their respective Parliaments to their indigenous peoples. 

Stirrings of the internet only began 30 years ago. 1988 also witnessed the opening of an impressive long tunnel between the Japanese islands of Hokkaido and Honshu. The Phantom of the Opera debuted on stage, Home & Away began on Aussie TV. The Estonians began their unique Singing Revolution, which eventually culminated in the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Twenty years ago, anti-Chinese riots broke out in Jakarta, with reportedly a thousand people killed. The first Euro coins were minted in France. Titanic became the first movie to gross over a billion US dollars. The Good Friday Agreement was signed between the Irish and British Governments in Belfast.

In 1998, both Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur opened their then spanking new airports. Dictator General Augusto Pinochet was arrested and indicted of crimes in Chile.

Fifty years ago, the Battle of Khe Sanh raged on in what is called the American War in Vietnam. The Tet Offensive witnessed the Vietcong roaming downtown on the streets of Saigon, a forerunner of the eventual collapse in 1975. Extensive anti-Vietnam War protests break out in Western cities and the My Lai village massacre occurred in April of 1968.

1968 also witnessed the creation of the United Methodist Church, the assassinations of Martin Luther King and Robert F. Kennedy, the appointment of Pierre Elliot Tredeau ( father to Justin) as Canadian Prime Minister and the opening of the hit musical Hair!, the TV classic Hawaii Five-O, the CBS news program of 60 Minutes and the cult cinema series, The Planet of the Apes.

Czechoslovakia was invaded by the Warsaw Pact countries. Yale University announced the admission of female students. Mexico City hosted the Summer Olympics. The Malayan Communist Party launched a second insurgency emergency. Thames TV began transmission in London.

Where Christmas Can Be Not A Holiday

The other day I wanted to Facetime with a nephew in Bangkok, but I did not realise that Christmas is not a public holiday in Thailand, the only Asian nation not occupied by foreign powers in the 19th and 20th centuries.

I then checked that Christmas is a public holiday, still, in all the Asian nations which were colonised by the British a century or more ago, apart from Brunei, which has recently banned any celebrations of Christmas, and Pakistan, which was a nation created for Indian Muslims in 1947 when the British colonials left. 

China, Vietnam, Laos, Kampuchea and Burma had varying degrees of Western colonial rule, either in parts of or the whole of their country, but do not recognise Christmas as a official holiday, except in the SARs of Macau and Hong Kong.

You may have noticed the much more impressive commercially sponsored lights for Christmas in places such as Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok, Saigon, Seoul, Taipei, Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur when compared with Australian cities.

Most Asian nations also do not have a significant Christian majority like the Phillippines and Papua New Guinea.

Indonesia, a Muslim majority country, however offers two public holidays for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

North Korea does not recognise a holiday for Christmas whilst South Korea does.

Christmas in Australia is marked by hot temperatures and excesses of a relatively rich society. 

There are public messages by the reps of the Catholic and Anglican Churches, by the Queen of the United Kingdom and Head of State of 15 Commonwealth nations - and through overwhelming advertisements on screen media. 

There is over eating, intense shopping, over consumption of sea food, increased demerit points for traffic offences, superb alcohol sales, airport over crowding, electronic system failure of one kind or another and over exposure to the strong sun. Someone said to me do not blame the festive season, it does happen on other days as well.

Restaurants and cafes tend to close from Christmas Day. Fruits are a plenty Down Under unlike in the northern climes. Tradies go on long holidays. Neighbours disappear for their annual trips, or get more than their usual share of visitors. The beaches, cricket grounds and parks are inundated with people. Incidents of accidental drownings, bush fires, vehicle crashes and domestic violence are highlighted by the media more during this holiday season, when more people, especially families, gather and travel than at any other time of the Australian year, except perhaps for Easter.

The Australian government maintains a military presence in several areas overseas - and no matter what our political leanings are, our thoughts and prayers especially go to the individuals who cannot be with family during Christmas.

Matters that are Still A Bother

So I sit with a group of mates overlooking the beach, somewhere on the South Coast of NSW. It seems to me a most familiar scene, its peacefulness taken for granted, with the fresh breeze much appreciated after another rather humid summer's day.

What has not changed can be something we can be much grateful for. At the same time, there are less desired aspects of matters that remain the same, or have grown worse.

Venezuelans remain trapped in economic despair as a country rich in petroleum resources continue to spiral in negativity under the dictatorship that seems to be a South American affliction.

An infectious disease like Ebola resurfaces in central Africa, adding to a heady mix of socio-political issues.

An African swine disease out break is being managed in southern China, with the dry winter air increasing health risks. 

Guns under personal ownership and military weapons of bigger destruction continue to wreck havoc, grief and damage.

Individuals continue to have a strong urge to migrate in illegal ways to seek a better life, whether to escape from political or religious persecution, economic malaise or discrimination.

The use of trade wars or extreme tariffs is escalated to appease heartland support groups. This inceases the likelihood of escalating into military conflict between nations. History has many examples of this.

Excessive spend on fireworks, extreme hotel prices, lots of alcohol, huge street gatherings, fancy restaurant prices and a heightened sense of crowd control highlight the ritual of a change in the annual calendar. Local governments, commercial parties and the media cash in.

The gap between the very rich and the poorest in any society continues to widen.

Addiction to technology marches on, no matter what is discussed about the erosion of privacy, manipulation of data, increasing reliance on a few super duper companies and the effects of excessive screen time.

The usefulness of increased revenue for governments does not change from high consumption levels, gambling activities, over construction of apartment blocks and outsourcing of management of vital assets to private parties.

There remains too much talk and lack of action by politicians who prioritise their own self interests way above the needs of the voter populace.

There is a surge of illicit drugs that still comes in to damage the brain, health capacity and personalities of the vehicle driver, colleague at work and family member.

The increased loss of common sense, accompanied by the manipulation of law and policy, to obtain over the top financial benefits by knowledgable claimants who have selective causes.

Decreased personal communication is happening despite the increased channels available to do so.

The loss of press freedoms is evident in a more politically restrictive world. Even when media appears relatively more free, behind the scenes, such media are owned and controlled by powerful owners with their own cultural and political agendas.

There is increased use of our skies for passenger, commercial and cargo traffic.

Personal identification, monitoring and data storage have increased in leaps and bounds.

And the beer continues to taste good, which may not be a bad thing.

To be Grateful For

When we have it, it is easy to take many things for granted.

Take a moment to think about it. The level of prosperity and quality of life has reached more individuals than ever in the history of the planet Earth. Give a thought to those who have less, and not just in terms of material things. Give a thought to those caught up in the materialistic warp, do they have true wealth?

For 2018, do give a thanks of prayer for the following in your life.

To have access to fresh air, clean water, beautiful sunrises and sunsets and what seems to be complimentary from Nature.

To get an honest smile and hello from a neighbour or stranger.

To feel safe in your neighbourhood or workplace.

To have the ability to responsibly express your opinion.

To experience the adrenalin rush that comes from exercise and mobility of travel.

To have an unexpected hello, because the caller is thinking of you, even if both parties have been busy.

To work towards truly meaningful goals with benefits that last instead of being trapped in temporary delusion.

To have the capacity to develop and practise your religious or cultural beliefs.

To have the opportunity to integrate with your community and national values.

To be empowered to effectively think for yourself, as we get increasingly diverted, distracted and hoodwinked by things and parties that are not really what they purport to be.

To be able to contact anyone around the world at a minimal cost and with ease.

To witness and experience tolerance.

To maintain the peace despite having gone through the sabre rattling.

To understand each other's view points without bullying each other.

To make use of our five senses in a much more involved manner.

To be not affected by violence, natural diasaster and military conflict.

To sit down with the family for dinner.

To exercise your vote at political elections.

To not suffer discrimination of whatever kind.

To have people who encourage and not discourage.

To have that opportunity to positively surprise the world.

Lunar New Year - Symbolic Meanings and Good Omens

Lunar New Year of the EARTH PIG

5 Feb 2019 to 24 Jan 2020

Note: Lunar New Years usually start any date between the 19th of January and the 19th of February of any Gregorian calendar year.

Rat 2008 – Ox 2009 – Tiger 2010 - Rabbit 2011 – Dragon 2012 – Snake 2013  – Horse 2014 – Goat or Sheep 2015 – Monkey 2016 – Rooster 2017 – Dog 2018 – Pig 2019.   Apply multiples of 12 to identify past and future years.

No sweeping of the broom or cleaning the house or doing laundry for at least the first 3 days of the Lunar New Year, lest good luck is inadvertently lost.   Get a haircut before New Year's Eve and avoid doing so in the first lunar month.

The Yee Sang is a raw fish salad that nurtures the stirring of positive vibes.  Banquet dishes are chosen carefully to be consumed for positive vibes and play on Chinese language pronunciation:

Lively prawns Prawns or Ha sound like laughter!   Steamed fish is served whole, for its connotation is to be well off.    Chicken sounds like luck.   Lettuce, or Sang Choy in Cantonese, refers to growing money.

Dried oyster, or Ho Si, means good things.  Zyu Dau, or pork knuckles in Mandarin, suggests of good things being achieved effortlessly.  Black moss or Fatt Choi alludes to wealth and prosperity.    Pork represents strength, wealth and blessings.    Scallops and clams served encourage the opening of new horizons.

Lotus seeds, pomegranates and duck in the menu wish young couples of fertility and to multiply.

Spring rolls represent gold bars for wealth.     Melons are signs of family unity.   Noodles signify a long and fulfilling life.    Mandarin oranges represent gold and are especially exchanged between relatives and friends. Pomelo gifts signify abundance and prosperity.   Dumplings look like gold ingots.

The tangerine plant or Kat is placed proudly in the front of houses, especially modified miniature shrubs, as its name in Chinese refers to good luck.   The Li or plum blossom stands for hope and renewal.  

  

It is a must to obtain a new wardrobe for the Lunar New Year. New Year means a new start. Maybe commercialism has added pressure to this philosophy.   Avoid buying shoes during the traditional first 15 days of the Lunar New Year. In Cantonese, the word for shoes also suspiciously sounds like having a regretful sigh!

Red packets (Hong Bao or Lai See) are filled with money and given for good luck by married members of a family to younger relatives and children of good friends.

Sweetness is exemplified by the making of a variety of snacks and cakes. The glutinous sticky rice cake or Nin Gou means tall cake, emphasising one getting to higher achievements or growing taller in stature year after year. Tong Jyun or sweet dough balls signify the roundness of a reunion.

It is popular for households to display red cuts of festive designs like lanterns, calligraphy and zodiac animals. Good sayings with Chinese characters are often hung upside down, for such an arrangement also suggests the "arrival" of good luck.

Traditional greetings during the festive period emphasise on good fortune, prosperity, a wonderful and smooth path, excellent luck, family happiness, an achieving career, good business and scoring good results in study.    Avoid using, giving or receiving sharp pointed objects during the first few days of the Lunar New Year.    Lion dances bring good vibes to businesses and households.