Syyyd-niii, here I come!!

Very excited about going to Sydney - though I am not looking forward to having to wake up super early to catch my 6.40am flight. Main reason for going is for a friend's wedding. And I get to spend about 2 days with her before most of the guests arrive. Haven't seen Adrene for about 3 years, so am looking forward to catching up. Plus of course, I need a holiday! So hopefully I can unwind, relax and be a tourist for a week (I'm not even bringing my laptop!). And also catch some sun. Its real windy today, and raining heavily so can't say I'm not glad to escape this weather!

So hopefully the next week will consist of good food, quality time with a good and old friend before she gets hitched, more good food, lots of walking around (hopefully in the sun), new and interesting experiences (I've already done some tourist stuff there), scintillating conversations (my workmate Val will holidaying with me) and again, more good food!

Crash

A complex and intense movie looking at a day in the life of various characters set in post 9-11 LA. The movie explores racial attitudes and prejudices through the eyes of the characters who are all from different ethnicities - black, hispanic, white, persian, chinese. Although it features a number of Hollywood stars, the movie is so refreshingly un-Hollywood (thank goodness!).

Stereotypes, generalisations, arrogance. These are some of the factors that lead to prejudice. [Prejudice is a subject that has been on my mind - though more of gender prejudices and class (rich-poor) prejudices.] Its amazing what stereotyping a person based on the colour of skin can lead to. Its amazing how those at the top of the pile can get away with so much. How easy it is to accuse someone else because of their prejudiced views, and yet we can walk away with our own set of prejudiced views.

"So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples." John 13:34,35

Jesus' command has no room for prejudices, yet those who call themselves disciples of Jesus can be filled with prejudice. But isn't it interesting, that the mark of a follower is not how much they sing, or pray, or donate, but in their love for one another.

"Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is born of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God - for God is love." 1 John 4:7,8

What would the world be like, if we could show this kind of love. Even if a quarter of the world actively lives out this kind of love, the world would be a better place. Its tough challenge. But I hope that one day, people will know I am a follower of Jesus because I have shown for others, as as Jesus did.

Omagh

Intense drama based on a true story surrounding the Omagh bombing by the real IRA in 1998. The IRA had declared a ceasefire and the the breakaway group who called themselves the 'real' IRA were not happy. The bomb was their statement of protest. This drama depicts the struggle of a father who tries to look for justice following his son's death in the bombing. The movie gives time for you to get to know the family and the glimpse of the relationships within the family before and after the bombing. The father, a quiet, unassuming man became a spokeperson for the families affected the the Omagh bomb.

They uncover the shroud of secrecy surrounding the case and why the perpetrators were not brought to justice - all for the sake of the peace agreement. It raised questions of what trade-offs do we make. Who has to suffer? Who determines what is the greater good? Who determines what sacrifices have to be made? The bomb killed 29 people. The authorities gave them empty promises of justice. Eventually, the families raised support to pay for a private prosecution of the terrorists. Is that justice? Does the means (dropping the investigation) support the end (the Peace agreement)?

Made me wonder. According to various theories, US intelligence had clues about a major terrorist attack which was to be Sept 11 incidents. Did they let it happen so that the 'War on Terror' could be declared? Or perhaps I'm just too cynical...

Kuching

Its now been almost 3 weeks since I have returned from Kuching, to rush to my grandmother's bedside and her subsequent funeral. Most of the time I had a strange feeling - like I belonged (I did grow up and live there for almost 18 years), and yet like I didn't belong. I have been away for a long time, and since then (despite sporadic visits back) there have been lots of changes - new roads, new buildings. Enough to make it quite disorienting. I had a sense of nostalgia there. Most of the places I wanted to eat at were places that I remember from my childhood, or shops that I frequented before I left. Maybe the nostalgia was due to the fact that I realised that I wasn't sure when I would ever return. Because of that, one afternoon I decided to walk around town taking some photos of which to remember it by (photo: looking down the river to the city centre).

My grandmother was the last real link to my hometown. My family lives here in NZ, and frankly, there is no one that I am really close to, that I would want to visit. I have some relatives, but none of which I would want to make the time and effort to go and visit. Anyway, they can come over to visit. Relationships with most of my friends have changed. Actually, I would much rather spend the money visiting new places and explanding my horizons. I wonder if Kuching has now become a place of memories and sentimental value.

Although at times, I feel like I don't know where I belong, I guess I feel an affinity towards New Zealand. While I was in Kuching, I was longing to hear about how things were back here. At that time the tri-nations were on, so I wanted to be updated with rugby results! And also, to find out if England was beating Aussie in the Ashes! I guess those are sure signs of where I have now planted roots.