When I look at my blog, I knew that I’ve been away for quite a long time. I knew that I have to write something or otherwise it will be decorated by mundanity and becomes boring. But, writing is not easy. Writing, per se, is different than writing something that could be taken away to be reflected upon. That is my problem.
However, on this post, I put up 6 summarized events that took place last month. These events have had their own significance in contributing to what I dubbed as the most fulfilling month in my life. I don’t know if you feel the same or not but here the list goes…
First and foremost, we had Idris Tawfiq in town. He is just an ordinary chap from UK, witty and talented with an ability to give eloquent, riveting speeches. He was brought to Ireland as an initiative by FOSIS to deliver a series of talks and workshops aiming at reviving the spirit of Islam in this country.
Idris Tawfiq with my fellow Classmate
In a tin can, FOSIS was very lucky to have him as a speaker for two reasons. Firstly, it is because he has his own unique style in delivering the message of Islam. Unlike most other reverted ‘preachers’ whom talk largely focused on pointing out the contradictions of their former faith, Idris Tawfiq is completely different. He held the temptation of criticizing the church. Instead, he used his experience as a former Rome-made priest to explain to the audience that what matter most is to have a faith in your life.
Secondly, he is a simple man. There wasn’t any major problem in handling him throughout his tour. He just accepted everything that was provided to him without too much complaining. He made everyone easy, happy and left a deep mark of respect to us.
Then, few days after concluding the Idris Tawfiq’s tour I was at the city center to witness a rare protest march led and organized by the Irish student. Okay, I lied. I didn’t just witness it. I joined it.
Indeed, it was a truly unique experience in my life. I can’t describe the moment when I was at the middle of a sea of 20,000 or so angry students shouting and hollering their grievances. I also lost the word to depict the true situation of when they rampantly start to flock the city main streets towards the government head offices.
Maybe MASSIVE and CRACKING are the only words that can best described the event.
Unfortunately, shortly after that, came the dreaded period in a student’s life. The exam period. Precisely 3 days after I was drowned in a sea of angry students I was saved just to be dragged to come to term with the books and notes again. I need to restart my revision regime back and put aside all the leisure for a while.
The exam itself, albeit moderate in difficulty, was tightly scheduled . You have to sit, at least, 2 papers a week. It doesn’t seems too much for someone but, having to strike a balance between classes in the morning and the exam afterward, it was all sufficient to tie me up to the study desk for the whole night throughout the period.
Then, just a few day ago, exactly on Monday, an unknown female student came to my house. She is an art student and with her was a huge flat bag, carrying a collection of painting which, I guess, was done by her for sale. Shortly after introducing herself, she showed me all the painting.
Honestly, the painting were gorgeous and beautifully crafted. I praised her for that and she was just smiling all the time. I knew, however, that she expect something from me more than just a praise.
Regrettably, I’m not into buying mood at that time. My budget was already strict and the price of the painting, which lies between 80-100 euro didn’t help out much either.
I refused her mannerly but somehow our conversation started to change direction when she mentioned that she is a Jew. I was flabbergasted. I hope that she won’t use it as an excuse, begging for sympathy. Nope, she didn’t. The conversation turned out to be a sort of discussion about our beliefs.
Actually, we don’t talk much about it. I mean we try to avoid bringing up more sensitive issues that could make matters worse. We just had a chat on typical topics like what is happening in the middle east right now and how being a Jew affects her entire life.
She did, however, expressed her grievance of being refused entry to Malaysia when she was studying in Thailand a few years back. She asked me why is that so. My reply was…….to keep the lips tight. I spared my comment on that particular query because I’m not REALLY sure the reason behind it.
The meeting ended up just like that with she thanked me for giving her some time to discuss about her painting and beliefs.
“Nice to meet you.” she greeted me before disappearing.
On the next night, I found myself at the arts building for another religious thing. The UCD LAWSOC were organizing a debate concerning Islam. The motion for the debate was whether the sharia law is compatible with the current century or not. You can read the summary of the debate by following this link.
For me the debate was a total mess. I don’t think everyone benefits anything from the debate on that night. Both sides were firing salvo of hatred towards each other while neglecting the main theme of the debate. I even feel dislike to one of the muslim speakers who, instead of explaining the structure of the sharia law and arguing the needs for it, kept popping out data on the reported rape cases and other crimes happening in Ireland in the last few years. He just not flaming the rage of the Irish audience but also scratched a scar of shame to my face and also perhaps to the other muslims.
What a waste of time.
Finally, we got the US Presidential election running on wednesday. Prior to that, everyone seems to be taking full interest on it. The news channels were covering the building up to the election 24 hours non-stop while most of the local papers were condensed with articles written by prominent authors who inked their thoughts about the election.
The day itself was so nervous as everyone anxiously speculating on the repercussions of the outcome of the election. Many, not surprisingly within the Malaysian camp, would like Obama to win this election.
This might be rooted from the fact that Obama had a muslim stepfather and had once enrolled in a pesantren in Jakarta when he was a little boy. Thus, theoretically,it gives a glimmer of hope that the relationship between the great rivals of this century, West and Islam, could be better by him winning the election.
Fortunately, he won the election. Nevertheless, it is still early to anticipate a positie outcome in term of that relationship. We have to bear in mind that the United States is not run by a single person. Indeed, it was the influence of the shadowy characters, clasping mysteriously on the white house, that really determine its action. I might just wait and see, though, it is interesting to see the first black people on that throne for the first time in history in a country predominates by the white people.
