Just Another Derailed Post

Well, earlier planned things seem to have derailed but life goes on, of course,with  relatively tight budget (particularly just found out that even my final part-time pay being further delayed). My real main concern is not so much about myself but my children. Sometimes I do feel that they deserve to have a better father so that they get better support. 

Anyway, I woke up today recalling the economic hard times when I was a BSc student. I was send to Adelaide under Ministry of Education scholarship. My parents are not rich to send me abroad and without the scholarship, I would probably be studying locally like my other brothers and sister. Recalling how my parents must have struggled to make sure that I have enough cash to study will make me go teary. During the matriculation year, I did try to get some side income (together with my housemates) to work removing rubbish but the (Malay) employer decided I was too physically weak. I tend to joke around about this - not good enough to be a rubbish remover. I remember an incident where we were scolded by the bus driver for paying fares in copper coins (one cent and two cents usually collected from change after buying something). Another memory of when we fall short of cash is cooking for the housemates with frying onions with turmeric just to eat with our rice. I also tried keeping long hair with the excuse of not having enough money.

Those were the days but now I would want to provide enough for my children so that they won't go hungry. Coming up this weekend, my youngest will go to UiTM Jasin for his BSc degree. Got to make sure he has enough money for meals and stuff like fees. 

Last Friday, we did solatul-hajat after Friday prayers for the Global Sumud Flotilla which has Malaysian participants in it, so that they have safe journey and their humanitarian aid that they carry will be safely received by the Ghazzans there. I am aware also that some might raise a different narrative even among the locals. I also saw Islamophobic posts on social media but really, it doesn't matter for us Muslims, just recalling the hadith of Ghuraba. Maybe those uninitiated locals who harbour such feelings will better listen from a fair-skinned Westerner (see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVtgaIzPkes). Also from a surgeon who has seen all the horrors (see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5csAOVUIpUw)

Recently I shared a post about John Searle in which I initially was unaware about the controversy about it. Note that there are many other scientific personalities with controversies, for instance the following on this quantum legend. The intent of this sharing is mainly awareness about what is already known in public. In some way, I tend to compartmentalize the scientific life from the personal life when one can. In areas where one can't, one just distance away or beware of cultural trappings.

Inner feelings of sailing away ....