NOTE: I was interviewed by “The Melkite”, a quarterly magazine chronicling the happenings in the Melkite Eparchy of St. Michael, Australia. This interview took place last year and I was interviewed by Dr. Roda Kanawati of Macquarie University. To note, as of Holy Week 2009, I was granted permission to transfer over to the Melkite Catholic Church. - Collin

Q: You are neither a Melkite nor from the Middle East; could you give us a brief synopsis of your background?

A: I arrived here in Perth in July 2008 from Malaysia. I am currently completing my undergraduate degree in Software Engineering at Edith Cowan University in Perth. I am a Eurasian of Portuguese-descent on my father’s side while my mother is Chinese. I was raised Latin Catholic as my family and I are cradle Catholics. My interests include Eastern Christian theology, liturgy, ecumenism, comedies, music, guitars, pianos, swimming, cooking, socialising, exploring new cultures and reading.

Q: What attracted you to the Melkite church in the first place? How did this experience fulfil your expectations and aspirations?

A: 4 things I must make mention of before I go in depth:

i) I first got to know of the Melkite Church through the remarkable story of St. Edith Stein and the miracle attributed to her canonization. While she is definitely a saint of the Latin-Rite Catholic Church, the child who was cured through St. Edith Stein’s intercession is a Melkite Catholic and is the daughter of a Melkite priest (Fr. Emmanuel Charles McCarthy).

ii) My second encounter with the Melkite Church was a recording of the Easter Sunday Divine Liturgy posted on the Internet. It was a collaborative recording between the Antiochian Orthodox and Catholics, celebrated by the late Bishop (then Fr.) Sleiman Hajjar. Listening to the whole Liturgy was just breathtaking, as it really brought me to a new level in my quest to deepen my understanding and relationship with God. The use of Arabic and Greek was helpful, but meditation on the texts revealed new things to me as well.

iii) Reading more about the Melkite Church, I realised that the Melkite Church and myself have something in common – we are “bridges” or “connecting points”. Just as the The Melkite Church is a “bridge” between Eastern and Western Christianity, a bridge between Catholicism & Orthodoxy, I am too a “bridge” – between the Melkite Church, Eastern Christianity & the Catholic Church, and lastly, between Christians and non-Christians. This may sound both prophetic and delusional, depending on how one might view it, but I would like to believe that my Christian faith leads me to build bridges. The common vocation that I share with the Melkite Church would then justify my intentions to be a part of the Melkite Church.

Q: What do you particularly like about the Melkite Holy Liturgy?

A: There is nothing that I don’t like about the Divine Liturgy. In fact, it is I look forward to every time I attend one. In fact, the love that I confess for the Divine Liturgy is probably bordering near obsession as I love talking about it. The the tunes from Liturgy just keep resonating in my ears, and while it may be irreverent, I end up doing Byzantine chant in the showers (laughs).

However, if I must say, the element which really takes the cake in my book is the vibrant yet dramatic and soul-stirring music (Byzantine chant), sung only with the human voice that prays. The sung Liturgy really moves the soul to “approach with fear of God, with faith and with love”. On a more serious not however, there are a few things that I can talk about, namely:- The timelessness of the Divine Liturgy i.e. it is ancient-future in praxis (grounded in the Apostolic Faith, but equips saints for both the present and the future), and that it is catechesis in a unique way.

Furthermore, the Liturgy reaffirms my firm belief of St. Evagrius’ teaching that “a theologian is one who prays” and vice-versa. Through a prayerful participation in the liturgy, we are catechised and nourished by God, through God, and with God. The journey of the Christian way is incomplete without the Liturgy as the Christian’s soul is without fulfillment unless reminded of God’s glory, grace, might, mercy, radiance, and love.

Q: How can our church serve the Malaysian people in Australia, if not in your homeland?

A: Malaysia shares something in common with the Middle East – a large population of Christians and Muslims and a constant interaction with one another. By virtue of the Melkite Church being “the Church of Islam” (H.B. Patriarch Gregory III Laham), the Melkite Church can share on the finer aspects of Christian-Muslim relations with Malaysians and others. Through a cooperation or partnership with Malaysian associations/student associations, we can perform this prophetic vocation of experience-sharing via forums, discussions, iftar sessions, and Eid-ul-Fitr / Nativity celebrations. I am aware that the Melkite Church has done it before and her good work must continue.

Secondly, the Melkite Church should also take advantage of its role as a bridge between the East and the West of the Christian Church. Whether through networking with churches and parishes in Australia, or dioceses in Malaysia, the Melkite Church can spearhead sessions on the Church Fathers, Church History, the Byzantine Liturgy, Eastern Spirituality, Prayer of the Heart, and Iconography, among many others. Through this, Christians and in this case, Malaysian Christians will become more aware of Christendom’s best kept secret – Eastern Christianity. There are many Malaysian Christians who are not aware of the Eastern churches and this will prove to be helpful.

Finally, while this response is totally off tangent, I would like to raise the issue of pastoral provision for the Greek Catholic community in Singapore. Small but well-networked and established, they only have Divine Liturgy anytime whenever a priest stops by in Singapore, which does not happen often. God has been gracious to them thus far, however, with one Divine Liturgy last year and one Divine Liturgy this year. It is therefore my fervent hope and prayer that Sayedna will take them under his care and shepherd them; the way he shepherds you and me in the Melkite Church.

Q: Do you have any message you would like to convey to our readers?

A: The Melkite Church has a proud and well-rooted past in the Middle East, and rightfully, must cherish and affirm its past. However, as it is now present in all parts of the world, it must now remember that it is more than just an Eastern Church it is a Church that “preaches Christ, crucified” (Galatians 1:16), for the life of the world. It now has to see itself as a Church of, for, to and within their present community. It must now speaks in the language of its present society, and attune itself to the cultural norms of the present society, without compromising on its Eastern values. It is a tough challenge, but I have faith that the Melkite Church will achieve its goals as a “visionary” Church, and that it will overcome the hurdles.

Perhaps I can repeat the words of the late Archbishop Joseph Tawil of blessed memory (with a minor change):

“In a ghetto, life is closed in upon itself, operating only within itself, with its own ethnic and social clichés. And the parish lives upon the ethnic character of the community; when that character disappears, the community dies and the parish dies with it. One day all our ethnic traits – language, folklore, customs – will have disappeared. Time itself is seeing to this. And so we cannot think of our communities as ethnic parishes, primarily for the service of the immigrant or the ethnically oriented, unless we wish to assure the death of our community. Our Churches are not only for our own people but are also for any of our fellow Australians who are attracted to our traditions which show forth the beauty of the universal Church and the variety of its riches.”

(The Courage to be Ourselves, Archbishop Joseph Tawil, 1970)

Christian voices from the Middle East. A Christmas hymn from the Byzantine Rite, sung in Arabic… with subtitles. Haunting but beautiful. Titled “Paramon of the Nativity”.

Adam and I share a special relationship and this song from my favourite TV show rightly expresses it. Listen properly and enjoy.

Describe yourself in one word.
Random.

Who would you pick, someone who really loves you, or the one you love?
Hard to pick. I’m a hard person. So, for a start, the best bet would be the person who really loves me.

Have you ever loved someone before but never had the courage to tell him/her?
Yeah… Doesn’t always end well.

How would you deal with a face to face rejection?
Act like I never told her in the first place. Things won’t be fine and dandy but honestly, rejection would be the least of my worries in my life.

God is giving you just 5 more minutes before going back to Heaven. IF you love someone special, what will you say to that person?
“HURRY UP!!!”

What would you say to a person who doesn’t want to believe you?
“Fine. Whatever tickles your fancy.”

Was ever a time that you tried to learn to love someone?
I think so. Can’t remember.

What’s your opinion about someone who’s jealous?
People get jealous. I know I do.

Do you have something special with you all the time?
Blues music, random comedy skits, and my penchant for being the uptight mature dude. Note, the last one was bullshit.

Best place to cry?
It’s gotta be my room. Although I did cry in the open once… My American galpal had to console me… OH WHAT A MOMENT!

Who do you love the most?
Mostly the family, and friends who’ve been there for me since day one (they’re my world). I’ve got a dream girl on my head but that can be a complete waste of time so let’s not go there.

Tell us of your dream last night?
I dreamt that I slept so well last night… In other words, sleep was so good that I didn’t even dream. Makes sense? Who cares.

Ever hated someone so bad?
Nah, hate’s bad.

The biggest and most hurtful lie you’ve heard?
Can’t remember. I do lie but it always is a win-win situation.

The last person you had a beer with?
Mesanka and Cheran, two dear Malaysian friends who are now in Perth with me.

The last person you went to the movies with?
Regina and Jillian… they’re sisters… lovely girls by the way.

The last person you talked on the cell phone with?
Michael Gottschalk, daddy’s friend and my guardian here in Perth.

The last person you hugged?
Nyssa Mcadie. She has a cute smile.

The last person you yelled at?
Shannon McDougall… because the club was too loud?

In the last week, have you kissed someone?
Nope.

Danced crazy?
I am crazy… sometimes.

Think of the last time you were angry, why were you angry?
I can’t really remember. I rarely get angry anyways.

If you could do anything, or wish anything, what would it be?
I’d wish for a good and comfortable life.

If you could have an all expense paid trip, where will you go?
Europe & the Middle East.

Would you or have you ever blackmailed someone?
Definitely.

Are you old fashioned?
Old-fashioned is so Collin.

What would be harder for you, to tell someone you love them or that you do not love them back?
To tell them I love them. Isn’t there a better way to tell them? Like actions… I don’t know. Man, I’m so naive.

What would be the hardest thing for you to give up on?
The people I love, guitar, music… and possibly drinking.

Five facts about me:-

• I love cultural parties.
• I’m the best when it comes to old-school music. You never fight the C-Dogg on that.
• My mind is a framework. Everything works within this framework. I allow loopholes but we’ve got to work around the system.
• I try to be loose and colourful at times.
• I love looking at beautiful women pass by in a non-stalkerish way.

Five things that scare me:-

• The aftermath of a “oh (insert expletive here)” situation.
• Northbridge.
• Hoons (Australia’s equivalent of rempits).
• Adam Dewind.
• Northbridge.

Two songs playing in my head lately:-

• Sex on Fire – Kings of Leon
• Diner – Martin Sexton

Five things I treasure in my life:-

• The ones I care about.
• The life I lead here on my own in Perth.
• My role in my local parish church.
• My ability to converse in basic Greek.
• My ability to keep a straight face in the midst of shit.

Number 10: Because You want meaning in life.
In the hustle of today’s busy lifestyles, lots of people suddenly realize that their lives have lost a sense of meaning or purpose. They begin to ask themselves, “What is my life all about?” Why do I do what I do?” There is widespread confusion in our culture with regard to morality and truth. The Byzantine Catholic Church offers a beacon of light that gives meaning to our existence and leads to eternal life if we persevere.

Number 9: Because you want to experience a church that speaks to contemporary society while worshipping as the earliest Christians did, discovering more about the early Church, and being firmly centered on the teachings of Jesus Christ.
The Byzantine Catholic Church traces its foundation to the 12 Apostles of Christ who were the companions of Jesus as he walked on this earth some 2000 years ago. The spiritual heritage of the Byzantine Catholic Church is the same given to us by the Apostles and which matured in the Christian East, during the period of the Byzantine Empire. This heritage includes the doctrines, liturgical practices and underlying theology and spirituality which come to us from the Christian Church of the Byzantine Empire. This heritage is shared among all of the Christian peoples, regardless of ethnicity or nationality, who trace their spiritual roots to the Great Church of Constantinople, and the Byzantine religious culture which grew from that Church. From the First Millennium, Christians of the Byzantine tradition have referred to themselves as “Orthodox Christians”. Byzantine Catholics are Orthodox Christians who embrace full communion with the Church of Rome and its primate, Pope Benedict XVI, the successor of St. Peter, the first among the Apostles.

Number 8: You are looking for a Christian path to God more mystical than legalistic.
The mysticism of Byzantine Catholicism consists in the union between man and God through faith and love. This mysticism tends toward a lasting – though a constantly growing – state of inner sanctification. Byzantines, in proportion to their spiritual development, share in the life of Our Lord, of the Most Holy Theotokos and the Saints. The Byzantine services are based on this mystical realism. This concept of mysticism has nothing of the “ecstasy” by which later mysticism, in both East and West, is dominated. The mysticism of the Byzantine Catholic is based on the underlying urge of the human soul to escape its profane confines and dwell in another world befitting its non material nature.

Regarding theology and doctrine: Early Christianity did not like to analyze revealed truths by means of scholastic methods, nor did it make use of philosophy for the explanation and exposition of particular mysteries. Therefore, the Byzantine Catholic humbly inclines himself before the mystery. Refusing the effort to penetrate it, he safeguards himself from serious errors. His theology is a singing of “hymns” before God, hidden in mysteries, rather than an attempt to solve the mysteries, which attempt inevitably brings its own punishment.

Number 7: You are looking for a style of worship service that reflects the presence of the risen Christ among you in glory and joy.
Byzantine Catholic use all the senses to express this glory visually through icons, vestments, candles; by scent with incense and perfumes; by sound through continual singing; by taste with blessed foods and by physical gestures such as bowing, prostrating and crossing ourselves to express wonder at the glory of God. Our Divine Liturgy is a bridge between earth and heaven which draws us closer to God not out of obligation, but by a genuine desire to be made worthy.

Number 6: Because you are looking for a challenging Faith, a Faith that expects more from you than just attending service on Sunday.
Byzantine Catholicism is not a way of life, it is life itself, it is not a superficial feel good religion. Byzantine Catholics are expected to take an active role in public worship, fellowship and service. Byzantine Catholics are expected to have a private life of prayer, fasting, and sharing. The road to Byzantine Catholicism can be bumpy, since most of us in the United States were born and raised quite differently. The sights, sounds, scent, and even the vocabulary of the Byzantine Catholic Church is much different than that most of us have experienced in our upbringing.

Number 5: Because you need to forgive others.
Some times people hold on to anger and resentment toward individuals who have hurt them deeply. Maybe it was a family member or friend. Maybe it was someone: a sister, priest or something, in the Church.

“Will God ever forgive me?”

Our modern culture condones and encourages anger and revenge. But hatred and bitterness are spiritual cancers that eat at the heart of a person. The Byzantine Catholic Church provides the opportunity to seek God’s help in forgiving others, even when the other person does not ask for forgiveness or does not deserve it. The ability to forgive is a gift that opens a person’s heart more fully to God’s love and peace.

Number 4: Because you want to be healed.
You may carry deep spiritual wounds. You may struggle with anger at God over bad things that happen — a terminal illness, a debilitating injury, a broken relationship, mental or emotional problems, an act of violence against an innocent person, an unexplainable accident, some natural disaster, the death of a loved one or some other deep disappointment. The Byzantine Catholic Church cannot change these situations or explain why they happened. But there are people in the Church who can assist in the process of spiritual healing and help you get on with your life.

Number 3: Because you want your children to have a faith foundation.
You may want to join the Byzantine Catholic Church because you recognize that raising children in a culture that promotes “doing your own thing” can lead to disaster. Children need to experience the spiritual dimensions of life. They need a structured system of belief and a firm moral foundation that goes beyond human logic and reasoning. You may want to join because you want a solid foundation upon which your children can build their lives.

Number 2: Because you want to be part of a faith community.
You may be seeking a sense of belonging. But community is more than just friendly people, good sermons, and interesting activities. A Byzantine Catholic Christian community is a group of people who gather around the person of Jesus Christ to worship God and live in the light of the Holy Spirit. Byzantine Catholics come together at Divine Liturgy, in the Holy Mysteries, and in parish activities to pray, to celebrate joys,, to mourn losses, to serve others, to provide support, and to receive strength for daily life. A Byzantine Catholic parish offers all of this – and much more – to people who recognize the importance of walking with others toward union with God.

Number 1: Because you want to experience Jesus Christ’s Presence in the Holy Mysteries especially in the Eucharist.
The Byzantine Catholic Church celebrates seven Holy Mysteries, known as Sacraments in Western Christianity, which confer God’s Grace through the presence of Christ. They Holy Mysteries are: Baptism, Eucharist, Holy Chismation, Holy Penance, Matrimony, Holy Orders, and Holy Unction. It is the Mystery of the Eucharist that people will experience most often. The Byzantine Catholic Church believes in the Real Presence of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Bread and Wine. This Mystery was instituted by Jesus at the Last Supper. Through the Eucharist we receive the Lord’s body into our physical body that we may become him whom we receive!

What would make you top 10 list?

Excerpts were taken from:
Lorene Hanley of Our Sunday Visitor
Basil Shereghy – Author of “The Byzantine Catholics”

Some points to consider:

i) Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Shahrir Samad recently said that the oil subsidy was RM56 billion.

ii) Second Finance Minister Nor Mohamad Yakcop stated that the amount is RM28 billion.

iii) The Federal Government’s 2007 financial report marks it at RM12 billion.

Estimations would put the subsidy figure to around RM8-10 billion. If that’s not eye-opening enough, see this:-

How now? Don’t you think we really got cheated?

Ong Kian Ming and Oon Yeoh

Previously, we talked about how PKR

MCPX

de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim has not admitted to – and probably will never admit to – previous mistakes while he was part of the Barisan Nasional government. And as such, he would never apologise for them.

In today’s piece, we want to deal with another important and somewhat related matter, which is can he be trusted?

Those who have observed Anwar over the years would probably agree to the following adjectives to describe him – slick, shrewd, cunning. These words do not necessarily have positive connotations and for good reason.

Anwar has often been accused of being a political chameleon – capable of adjusting his messages depending on the audience he’s addressing. He’s great at massaging his messages in such a way that you feel he’s telling you exactly what you want to hear. A smooth operator.

That doesn’t mean that he is inconsistent or hypocritical – Dr Mahathir Mohamad has that market cornered. In fact, he’s been very consistent in his policies since his release from prison. Take for example, his stance that the New Economic Policy (NEP) needs to be dismantled and replaced with something more inclusive. Even though he has been criticised by Umno over this matter, he has not relented once.

Two questions are relevant in regard to whether Anwar can be trusted. Firstly, is he a changed man? Secondly, does this even matter?

Is Anwar the Reformasi Man the same political animal as the Anwar the deputy prime minister? We think that having gone through what he has, it would be difficult for him not to have changed as a result.

Anwar went from the pinnacle of political power to the depths of political humiliation. He was charged with abuse of power and committing sodomy. He was beaten up by the then-chief of police. And his name – as well as those around him – was dragged through the mud by the mainstream media. Never before had a Malaysian politician of his stature felt the heavy hand of the state against him in the way Anwar did.

When he was locked up, he didn’t wallow in self-pity. He used his time productively to read and to do copious amounts of soul searching. It’s hard to imagine that the six years he spent in that cold jail cell failed to change him in some very profound and fundamental ways.

He will not renege on his promises

But even if one is cynical and believes that he has not changed, does it matter provided he carries out all the reforms he has promised?

There is little doubt in our minds that he would free up the media, abolish the Internal Security Act and reform the Universities and University Colleges Act if he becomes the next PM. He would also dismantle the NEP and replace it with something better. You can also throw in a Freedom of Information Act to boot. In other words, he would implement all the things that civil society expects him to.

Why are we so confident about that?

Quite simply, because it would be to his strategic advantage to carry out such reforms. In fact, there is only upside and no downside for him to do so. He would be seen as the man who was responsible for ‘freeing’ up Malaysia and for turning it into a real democracy. He would become the greatest PM Malaysia ever had.

And what if he reneges on his promises – promises that have been widely-publicised domestically and internationally? Think of it this way. If Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi could suffer so badly politically in such a short span of time because of his failure to keep his promises of reform, imagine how much more Anwar would suffer if he didn’t live up to expectations.

Many of the young and idealistic people who have joined PKR have done so precisely because they’ve bought into his progressive vision for the future. These very same people would leave his party in droves if he starts reneging on his promises. His popular support amongst the masses would dry up and Pakatan Rakyat would disintegrate as his coalition partners desert him.

So, not only do we think he will do all that he has promised to do, we think he will do them in lightning quick fashion. In that sense, he is the antithesis of Abdullah – a glacially slow reformer if there ever was one. Everything about Anwar shows that he can’t wait to implement reforms. What is his campaign about, if not reforms?

Now, is this because he truly believes in all these reforms? Or would he implement them for vainglorious reasons – because they are politically popular things to do and he wants a permanent place in the history book?

There’s no way to read the hearts of men. We don’t know, for example, whether he’s absolutely sincere or not when he says that he believes in a free press. But we do know that he has said this on far too many occasions for him to backtrack on it once he comes to power.

At the end of the day, the proof of the pudding is in the tasting. If Anwar does deliver on all his reform promises, does it even matter whether he’s sincere or trustworthy in the eyes of his critics? What’s important is that he implements reforms. And we have every reason to believe he will do that. [Malaysiakini]

MCPXIn a recent interview in The Star, Haris Ibrahim, the initiator behind the People’s Parliament, made an intriguing observation. He said that he would like to hear PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim apologise for all his actions (and inactions) during his 16 years in govern

by Ong Kian Ming and Oon Yeoh

MCPX

In a recent interview in The Star, Haris Ibrahim, the initiator behind the People’s Parliament, made an intriguing observation. He said that he would like to hear PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim apologise for all his actions (and inactions) during his 16 years in government.

“My contention is very simple,” he says. “Tell this nation, ‘I was wrong. I am sorry and I want to work with you’, and I think we can move forward.”

Haris added that he had been tracking Anwar’s public statements for the last few years and he has yet to see him make an unqualified apology to the nation.

The question of whether Anwar should admit and apologise for certain mistakes or wrongdoings is all the more relevant now that there is a serious possibility he might become the next prime minister if his Pakatan Rakyat coalition takes over power.

Anwar is no angel nor is he a saint. During his time in the upper echelons of the Umno leadership, and especially as deputy prime minister, he was guilty of doing many of the things he now criticises.

His maneuverings to control the media is well-known in journalism circles. He also allowed for undeserved appointments to top positions in public universities. And he also had his fair share of corporate cronies, details of which can be found in KS Jomo’s book ‘Malaysia’s Political Economy’.

While Anwar has, on occasion, bucked the Umno way, for example when he spoke up for Lim Guan Eng over his sedition trial and subsequent prosecution, these instances were few and far between and are vastly outnumbered by the times when he made use of the system rather than go against it.

Anwar has been questioned on his role within the administration time and again after his release from prison. In many of these interviews, most notably on BBC’s ‘Hardtalk’, he was evasive rather than frank and never once did he own up to his mistakes. As long as he refuses to come to terms with his Umno past, this matter will keep cropping up.

An admission and apology will get this monkey off his back and enable him to start off on a clean slate. In the United States, it’s not uncommon for politicians to apologise for their actions in the past. For example, many political and even religious leaders have apologised for their actions (and non-actions) during the tumultuous and historic civil rights movement in the 1960s.

Anwar can do the same but we don’t think he will. There are two possible reasons for this. Firstly, he might have the ‘George W Bush Syndrome’ of not wanting to ever admit to any mistakes, much less wrongdoings. Secondly, he might not want to give ammunition to his enemies in Umno.

Love means not having to say you’re sorry

Casting himself as a victim of the system (which he certainly was) rather than someone who was complicit in its actions for a long period of time (which he also was) has not harmed his international reputation. But there are enough people in this country who have a knee-jerk distrust of – and in some cases, disdain for – him. For that reason, he should own up and apologise.

The ‘George W Bush Syndrome’ – he has to grapple with on his own. We can’t help him there. But if he’s afraid that Umno will be able to exploit any mea culpa about past mistakes, we believe it’s totally possible for him to apologise in such a way that gives nothing to his enemies.

Anwar could say that he was misled, that he was sucked into the system, that it was a shortcoming on his part to succumb to Umno’s ways. He could then say that after suffering through six years of jail and experiencing firsthand just how unfair the system is, he is now a truly changed man. He can then vow never to do such things again. Such a move would warm the hearts of the people who still don’t trust him, including Haris Ibrahim.

Perhaps the best opportunity for him to do this would be when (or rather, if) he manages to take over the government. It would make sense for him to do so from a position of strength. An admission of guilt, a heartfelt apology, and then the unveiling of a grand vision for the future would be an excellent start for an Anwar administration.

While we believe he probably can topple the current government in due time, we don’t think he will ever apologise for past mistakes. Nothing in his public statements or demeanor suggests he will. For Anwar, sorry seems to be the hardest word.

He probably believes that if he makes all the key reforms he has promised – such as dismantling the Internal Security Act, freeing up the media, replacing the New Economic Policy with something more inclusive – it would be enough to secure his legacy. It’s said that love means not ever having to say you’re sorry. Anwar probably thinks this applies to politics as well.

Anwar may suffer from the ‘George W Bush Syndrome’ but he also has a ‘Nelson Mandela Complex’. If he wants to be seen as the great leader that he potentially could be, it would do well for him to be big-hearted enough to admit that he was wrong in the past and to apologise for his mistakes. [Malaysiakini]

Part 2 tomorrow: Can he be trusted?

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ONG KIAN MING is a PhD candidate in political science at Duke University and OON YEOH is a writer and new media analyst. You can listen to both of them discuss this topic in their Realpolitik podcast.

“The Way of a Pilgrim” is a beautiful little book I picked up last Friday afternoon at Xavier Hall. It  highlights the journey of a hermit who is seeking the meaning of St. Paul’s “pray without ceasing”. I have only read the First Narrative (which is basically the First Chapter) so far and I am already touched by the simple depth of this book. A great book if you’re into spirituality.

Here is an excerpt from it:-

“Find a quiet place to sit alone and in silence; bow your head and shut your eyes. Breathe softly, look with your mind into your heart; recollect your mind – that is, all is thoughts – and bring them down from your mind into your heart.

As you breathe, repeat: “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me,” either quietly with your lips, or only in your mind. Make an effort to banish all thoughts; be calm and patient, and repeat this exercise frequently.” – St. Symeon the New Theologian (949 – 1022)