Saffron Sunday : A light of love, hope and solidarity
December 3, 2007
UPDATE : Check out - Meesh’s Saffron Sunday
We were at Blog House.
About 40 of us.
Family. Old friends. New acquaintances.
Started late and ended about 12.15am this morning.
To those who took the time to come light a candle, I really want thank you for the frank, honest, heart-to-heart discussion that we had.
I learned much from it.
Have had phone chats this morning with some who were there last night.
There are suggestions that we continue with those discussions with a widened audience.
I am game.
Would like to hear from others.
__________________
Moses Foo sent these in, saying that these are his ’small contribution to build a better Malaysia, a
just and fairer Malaysia, a Malaysia Negaraku’.
Moses added : I am tire to hear of so many tired and troublesome news. All this come from the heart of man, the very depth of mankind. Though at the very core reside goodness, that is where the Divine Love resides.
Thanks Moses.
December 3, 2007 at 3:57 pm
[...] you all for coming. And for those who couldn’t make it due to other obligations, never fear, plenty of candles were lit for you and your loved ones. To those that took the time to light it alone, or with friends, we [...]
December 3, 2007 at 5:20 pm
Hi Haris,
Very disappointed that my work was a bit in vain. I see only photos of lighted candles in the BlogHouse, an event I didn’t even know about. You asked contacts to make their contributions and email you. I and I am sure many others must have responded but see nothing here.
I also joined your People’s Parliament PJ Utara group and when no one did anything, I made arrangement for an appointment with YB Datin Chew Mei Fun (completed) and have now got an undertaking from the likely opposition candidate for PJ Utara, posted an announcement in the group plus emailed you, but didn’t get a single response. I will go ahead, but I do not know if it is going to be a People’s PJ Utara project or a DIY project.
Peter Blog*Star
Blogger for Dummies
(proud to be the only Malaysian Blog*Star among a small handful, most in US and 2 in Canada)
Peter,
I’ve only received photos from Moses.
Have linked your posting in your blog on your Saffron Sunday.
Peter, would join you in the PJ Utara meet, but dates clash.
I, too, like you, am disappointed in the group’s response.
December 3, 2007 at 6:11 pm
[...] http://harismibrahim.wordpress.com/2007/12/03/saffron-sunday-a-light-of-love-hope-and-solidarity [...]
December 3, 2007 at 7:21 pm
If you are a humanitarian, can you please also support 85 million Indians who are suffering from the impacts of hindu caste system, which prevails in India for a long time?
http://escapefromindia.wordpress.com/about/
December 3, 2007 at 7:49 pm
Hi all
These photos touched me at the very core of my being and it spoke volumes. THANK YOU all who participated wherever you may be. My family and i said a prayer for our leaders and nation at 8.30pm last night.
We decided to make it a point to say a special prayer for the country every Sunday night at 8.30pm and of course continue to wear yellow t-shirts on Saturday. I hope everyone reading this joins me.
Haris, I’m posting here again for those who missed the thread at A Princely Call to Nation Building…
Just to share my 2-sen what the raykat can do together…
Just to share my 2-sen what we can do together…
Wear a yellow T-shirt every Saturday
Till our nation is back on its feet.
Time to Walk The Talk,
time to stop the blame,
time to stop the rot,
time to heal,
time to rebuild the nation.
For our future and our children’s future
for We are all ONE.
When One is harmed, all are harmed.
When One is helped, all are healed.
Time to show we care
Time to literally Walk the Talk
Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia!
Time to stand up and be counted.
“How?,” you may ask.
“I just small fry (ikan bilis) lah,”
in frustration you add.
Bravely you declare…
“Never mind the water cannons,
it’s monsoon season anyway!”
But on second thoughts, you cry…
“Tear gas I scared; I get beaten up how?”
“I still have parents depending on me!”
“Gotta think of my children!”;
“Gotta put food on the table!”
OK, OK, i hear you.
Here’s something you CAN DO…
Wear a yellow T-shirt every Saturday
Your entire family members too
Show your solidarity.
“Saya Anak Malaysia”; “Malaysia Truly Asia”
Demonstrated and expressed by you and me
The simple folks on the street.
In the park, shopping mall or pasar malam
When you see another in yellow
Don’t be shy; smile, nod your head,
Bersalam, our Malaysian custom
– by placing your palms to your chest
or just one palm, Salam means peace.
Wear a yellow T-shirt every Saturday
Till our nation is back on its feet.
Pat Lu
Pahlawan Volunteer
http://www.pahlawan.com.my
P.S. Feel free to circulate, publish on your blog or post at other forums you participate in.
BTW, if I may add, please read and follow the comments Demolish Statues, Destroy Crosses in Mission Schools said UMNO MP at Malaysians Say The Darndest Things!
Much appreciated if you could help spread the word and sign the PETITION: Respect the Ethos and Character of Mission Schools
http://www.petitiononline.com/assunta/petition.html
I’ve also posted the above at Low Yat Forum http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/583623
December 3, 2007 at 7:58 pm
Dear Peter Chen
Your work was NOT in vain. “It’s better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.”
And remember, as the song goes, “It only takes a spark to get the fire going…”
Remember to pray. “With God by our side, who can be against us” and “With God, nothing is impossible”… errr, somewhere in the Bible. Claim His word. Amen!
December 3, 2007 at 8:05 pm
“I think I did email you…” or maybe I didn’t. Maybe I only emailed my contacts.
December 3, 2007 at 8:14 pm
Quite a friend you have from India, Haris.
December 3, 2007 at 11:50 pm
pat lu
just signed the petition. though i am no believer in god, i respect your faith and each and everyone’s. history and tradition be preserved.
December 4, 2007 at 3:02 am
Dear YH
Thank you for your support by signing the petition.
Erm, my 2-sen on your comment on God…
Whether one believes in God, the answers are within us. What we make of our lives, answerable only to ourselves and our children, and as a collective whole, to the nation; though believers would say, answerable to God. I’ve been taught, as a Catholic, God is within us and to see God in everything… erm, my simple mind says, “so there, answers within us and all around us if we just look beyond our noses”.
I don’t think God created the mess in this country or anywhere else on this planet. It’s all human doing, all ego and false pride-driven, divide and rule, or what people think God wants, in the name of religion.
Here’s a short story I’d like to share with you…
A Native American grandfather talks to his young grandson. He tells the boy that he has two wolves inside of him, struggling with each other.
The first is the wolf of peace, love and kindness. The second is the one of fear, greed and hatred.
“Which wolf will win, Grandfather?” asked the young boy.
Grandfather replies,
“The one I feed.”
Back to this thread, “Saffron Sunday : A light of love, hope and solidarity”…
Salam (peace) and namaste(I respect the divinity in you), every member of The People’s Parliament nationwide.
Continue to Be Love and Light…
that you already are within
expressed and demonstrated
by your gathering.
Now i feel like wearing yellow everyday! LOL!
December 4, 2007 at 5:55 am
I signed the petition too. Hoping for some support myself. I had a photo of a family gathering with lighted candles, but had to created a private blog as I undertook not to make it public until everyone had the chance to see it, make their suggestion (perhaps make the photo smaller so faces harder to see etc. Then when I got everything ready, make it public. But as Haris made the time frame so short and I received notification so late, looks like it definitely will not make it to Saffron Sunday, so decided to make digital vigils myself at Digital Candlelight Vigil. This will be for the whole world. The first one will be for Peaceful Digital Candlelight Vigil for Bangsa Malaysia. The next one for right to self determination which was invaded by China in 1949 as I am in contact with an American managing an activist website in support of Tibet, plus already got an Australian in the Gold Coast. My contacts are international, so maybe we can somehow get a “Bangsa Dunia” to act in concert for suppressed people all over the world. The next photo in there may be my extended family with lighted candles sitting around the table. Hope some of you will join in my initiative.
December 4, 2007 at 11:11 am
we shud organise a run to show our support.will they allow us?
I can’t imagine that this country has reached a point where I need someone’s permission before I can go forth to show my fellow Malaysians solidarity and to offer them love and hope.
Have we reached that point?
If so, is it not time to change those who take it upon themselves to impose such restrictions upon us?
December 4, 2007 at 1:35 pm
Haris,
thank you for having my wife and i for Saffron Sunday at the Blog House. This is the first such gathering we’ve attended and i look forward to more. It was a very “Malaysian Moment” for my wife and i. Now my wife’s going around talking about People’s Parliament and Bangsa Malysia to her colleagues and friends. MIS did a good job breaking the ice. Malaysia was an emotional topic for many who attended. I feel it would be a good idea to widen the audience. More people,more races,more opinions,more bonding,more strategizing.
cheers.
Doc,
I think it is vitally important for us to reach out to a wider Malaysian audience to share this aspiration of ‘One people, one nation’ in which we make as a priority, the emancipation of all marginalised, deprived and neglected Malaysians without exception.
It requires the collective will of all caring Malaysians speaking with one voice.
For me, Saffron Sunday was a small step in the right direction.
My friends and I are ready to move forward with this.
Get your friends and come join us.
December 4, 2007 at 2:16 pm
Hindraf Conspiracy?