《是问题，但问题不在自杀》>>>周嘉惠
近来我国接二连三发生自杀事件，引起大家议论纷纷。这么多人自寻短见确实是个值得关注的社会问题，但我个人认为问题并不在自杀本身。
人一降生，摆在眼前唯一可以确定的道路，就是直达死亡之路。可是基于各种各样的原因，有些人在自然死亡之前，选择了非自然手段结束自己的生命，也就是所谓自杀了。
对于基督文化来说，自杀相当于否定了对上帝安排的信任，那是罪大恶极的。华人的传统概念中没有这种负担，所以自杀行为还是留有商量的余地。例如“杀身成仁，舍身取义”这种儒家传统下的道德标准，就很有鼓励自杀的味道。我们可以就此简单地断言华人有轻生的思维吗？当然不行。
司马迁说过：“人固有一死，或重于泰山，或轻于鸿毛。”老早就点明了华人对死亡存在着一种“价值观”。太史公在受了奇耻大辱的宫刑后，选择“断鸟求存”，为的是完成《史记》。个人荣辱与《史记》相权衡之下，把个人尊严暂时放在一边，以成就一个具有更高价值的事，这是受到普遍认可的决定。因此，太史公虽然断了而不了断，就中华民族的价值取向来说，大家还是十分钦佩的。
元世祖忽必烈以高官厚禄劝降文天祥，不算是在施舍喈来之食、趁机侮辱败将，但“忠于君国”显然高于个人的荣华富贵，文天祥最后的从容就义其实不就是选择自杀吗？
古希腊苏格拉底宁死不愿破坏雅典的法律制度，结果求仁得仁。军人战至最后一兵一卒，留下最后一颗子弹自尽殉国，和楚霸王因“无颜见江东父老”而自刎，同是出自一种负责任的“职业道德”（根据电视纪录片所述，二战时自尽殉国的军官人数，中国排世界第一）。这种情操是很符合我们的传统价值观的。
中华传统向来重视的实际上是事物的价值；生该有价值，死也该有价值，什么事最好都拿到天平上秤一秤。该活的时候，忍辱负重；该死的时候，宁死不屈，反正十八年后又一条好汉。其实想通了也没什么复杂的。
回到今天发生的自杀事件。死者并没有表现太多的价值观，根据报道，许多死者是因为患上忧郁症。忧郁症是心理病，卫生部也拿出一堆统计数字证实确有其事。有病而医不好，这需要卫生部加把劲寻求对策。
另有殉情者，他们的爱情观在一般人看来实在有点少不更事。他们的问题来自一时的情绪，而非生命不能承受之重，但他们不选择处理自己的情绪，而以生命来替代处理一切。情绪管理跟教育有关，教育部应该想想办法，华小校长也请别把辅导老师当专职代课老师使唤。
孔子说过“未知生，焉知死”的话，表示他更在意如何生活，而不想多谈死后世界。然而，假如不正视“死”，我们能够活得好吗？我们今天活着，是不是纯粹因为“不死”而已？这难道还不算是行尸走肉吗？想一想，为什么我们还不自杀？列出原因仔细看，那正是我们活下来的理由。
《南洋商报》2006年4月份的《人文》版，讨论了一整个月的“死亡”。值得大家去翻翻旧报纸，温故知新。假如找不到旧报纸，随时跟我打个招呼，我有。
27/02/2011 《南洋商报》《言论》版
附：编辑把题目改短了，不过我还是比较喜欢这个题目。
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
《人生如戏》>>20/02/2011《我国是一个法治国家》周嘉惠
《我国是一个法治国家》>>>周嘉惠
在我国华人圈子经常可以听到“XXX注册了，但是还没有结婚”的怪话。这话似乎显示对某些人而言，传统习俗高于法律约束，喜筵一天不开席就不算正式结婚。也不能因此就说华人在婚姻上不把法律当一回事，多数人毕竟还是按照法律要求进行婚姻注册了，但是不可否认我们的法治观念确实有点与众不同。
不知是否跟这样的氛围有关，“我国是一个法治国家”是一句伟大人物经常提醒我们的温馨提示，最近的一次是出自旅游部长黄燕燕之口。根据报道，部长大人针对回青团长伟论说的整句话是：“我国是一个法治国家，拥有制度与法律，有执法单位会执行，根本就不须要他们（指回教党）来执法。”（《南洋商报》，12/2/2011）
回青团长发表伟论是否因为一时头疯不得而知，但是旅游部长就此课题对记者侃侃而谈，思维清楚且前后呼应，显然并非一时头疯。既然如此，我们应该可以合理的推断，部长大人的那一句话是要表达以下三点：1.我国是一个法治国家，2.我国拥有制度与法律（完善与否姑且不论），3.执法单位会执行任务（执法时是否合乎人权也姑且不论）。
不清楚是否因为“职责所在”之故，以致部长大人说起此事显得竟是如此的理直气壮，似乎连一点点心虚也没有。
虽然在野党曾讽刺旅游部长花太多时间在国外，但部长大人这几天终究还是留在国内欢度华人新年的（本人支持张木钦先生的看法，是新年，不是春节）。当许多人在感叹新年的气氛越来越淡薄时，我却反而觉得越来越热闹了。
喊得再大声的贺年声，也绝强不过燃放炮竹、烟花的声响。先前有华团向政府陈请，希望解除对炮竹、烟花的禁令，有关当局答应考虑，不过没听说有什么结果。其实政府禁不禁都好，请问过去有哪一年的华人新年没听到鞭炮声？大概经济真的表现良好，今年的烟花特别多，夜空确实格外灿烂。部长大人不是海伦女士，想必也听见、看见了。
禁令解除了吗？没有。见到执法单位执行他们该执行的任务了吗？没有。那么我国是不是一个法治国家？当然是。肯定有些人会认为这是“人性处理”、“法律不外人情”，并不影响我们作为一个法治国家的地位。当然！当然！大过年的，我们怎可以阻止人家放炮、赌博呢？这跟“不该”在情人节阻碍情人做爱做的事情同样道理，煞风景呐！
回青团长宣布民联州政府可能在情人节展开取缔不道德行为的行动，据部长所言，已经对我国的旅游业造成影响。为了抵消这种负面影响，我建议旅游部长提倡外国游客到我国来体验华人新年的热闹。根据路边社传闻，彭亨州某盛产姜的新村今年简直热闹到爆灯，鞭炮从入口牌坊接到警察局门口，放了整整两个小时！这么长的鞭炮哪里买？这还用说？当然是警察局啦！全村参与的盛事，多开心啊！
除了感受新年期间不分族群、大家共庆的“一个马来西亚”精神，还可见识具有我国特色的法治风情，外国游客一定很满意！
20/02/2011 《南洋商报》《言论》版
在我国华人圈子经常可以听到“XXX注册了，但是还没有结婚”的怪话。这话似乎显示对某些人而言，传统习俗高于法律约束，喜筵一天不开席就不算正式结婚。也不能因此就说华人在婚姻上不把法律当一回事，多数人毕竟还是按照法律要求进行婚姻注册了，但是不可否认我们的法治观念确实有点与众不同。
不知是否跟这样的氛围有关，“我国是一个法治国家”是一句伟大人物经常提醒我们的温馨提示，最近的一次是出自旅游部长黄燕燕之口。根据报道，部长大人针对回青团长伟论说的整句话是：“我国是一个法治国家，拥有制度与法律，有执法单位会执行，根本就不须要他们（指回教党）来执法。”（《南洋商报》，12/2/2011）
回青团长发表伟论是否因为一时头疯不得而知，但是旅游部长就此课题对记者侃侃而谈，思维清楚且前后呼应，显然并非一时头疯。既然如此，我们应该可以合理的推断，部长大人的那一句话是要表达以下三点：1.我国是一个法治国家，2.我国拥有制度与法律（完善与否姑且不论），3.执法单位会执行任务（执法时是否合乎人权也姑且不论）。
不清楚是否因为“职责所在”之故，以致部长大人说起此事显得竟是如此的理直气壮，似乎连一点点心虚也没有。
虽然在野党曾讽刺旅游部长花太多时间在国外，但部长大人这几天终究还是留在国内欢度华人新年的（本人支持张木钦先生的看法，是新年，不是春节）。当许多人在感叹新年的气氛越来越淡薄时，我却反而觉得越来越热闹了。
喊得再大声的贺年声，也绝强不过燃放炮竹、烟花的声响。先前有华团向政府陈请，希望解除对炮竹、烟花的禁令，有关当局答应考虑，不过没听说有什么结果。其实政府禁不禁都好，请问过去有哪一年的华人新年没听到鞭炮声？大概经济真的表现良好，今年的烟花特别多，夜空确实格外灿烂。部长大人不是海伦女士，想必也听见、看见了。
禁令解除了吗？没有。见到执法单位执行他们该执行的任务了吗？没有。那么我国是不是一个法治国家？当然是。肯定有些人会认为这是“人性处理”、“法律不外人情”，并不影响我们作为一个法治国家的地位。当然！当然！大过年的，我们怎可以阻止人家放炮、赌博呢？这跟“不该”在情人节阻碍情人做爱做的事情同样道理，煞风景呐！
回青团长宣布民联州政府可能在情人节展开取缔不道德行为的行动，据部长所言，已经对我国的旅游业造成影响。为了抵消这种负面影响，我建议旅游部长提倡外国游客到我国来体验华人新年的热闹。根据路边社传闻，彭亨州某盛产姜的新村今年简直热闹到爆灯，鞭炮从入口牌坊接到警察局门口，放了整整两个小时！这么长的鞭炮哪里买？这还用说？当然是警察局啦！全村参与的盛事，多开心啊！
除了感受新年期间不分族群、大家共庆的“一个马来西亚”精神，还可见识具有我国特色的法治风情，外国游客一定很满意！
20/02/2011 《南洋商报》《言论》版
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
我国政府...，Niamah!
从Patrick Teoh的博客Niamah抄来的：
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2011
Stuck in Cairo, with NO help from the M'sian govt
OK, so my bro and his wife and 3 kids went to Cairo last week for a long-awaited holiday. They had a great time the first few days. Then, on Friday 28th Jan, the whole city 'blew' up. Their Egyptian guide (a Coptic Christian), and the Egyptian hotel staff were incredibly helpful to all of them. Their guide, who had taken them out sight-seeing that morning, KNEW that the situation was going to blow up after the Friday noon prayers, so he made sure he had them back at the hotel by then. The staff at the hotel kept the hotel doors locked, and made sure all their guests were safe.
THEN the "fun" started. No internet (since the Egyptian govt took the whole country off the internet), so my bro tried to call the embassy to find out what was happening - three days of calling, and the phone never got picked up! Very helpful... NOT!!! When they eventually managed to get through on Monday, they asked what the situation at the airport was like, as they were supposed to fly out on Monday night, at 00:15 hours (ie, early Tuesday 1st Feb morning). So, guess what the so-called situation room tells them? "Don't know. When you get to the airport and find out the situation, you call us."... !!!! I mean..... WHAT? What can anyone say to such idiocy? So, as you can see, the situation room had ZERO handle on the situation!
Their wonderful EGYPTIAN guide made sure he picked them up early on Monday and took them to the airport - it should have been just a 1 hour journey, but took far longer than that due to the riots and the craziness! They get to the airport and the guide stays with them, to help them try and get checked into their flights, etc. And the airport was an absolute mad-house. ALL Egypt Air flights were cancelled - and, unfortunately, it meant that their M'sian airlines flight, code share with Egypt Air, was also cancelled!! My bro kept trying to call the Embassy, and the phone was either NEVER picked up, or was engaged. OK, so, forget any possible help from that side. Totally, absolutely, USELESS!! Mind you, all other airlines, apart from EgyptAir, were still flying though with major re-scheduling, and the governments of other countries (US, UK, India, China, Japan, NZ, the Arab countries, EVEN CROATIA) were sending in planes to get their people out of Cairo. But, as of yesterday, no news from our "action-oriented, on the ball" govt about sending in planes to get OUR citizens out of the country! And TODAY they start sending planes? TODAY? What the hell took them so long? Question about LANDING RIGHTS? Hello, how come the OTHER countries did not have that problem? Only Malaysia?????
Embassy personnel from other countries, with jackets emblazoned with their country names, were going round and round the airport, trying to find their citizens... they even approached my bro and his family to see if they needed help..... and where were the so-called "People First, Performance Now" M'sian embassy personnel???? NOWHERE TO BE FOUND!! Not hide, nor hair.
Malaysian students, including lone female students, with no money, no food, no tickets, no nothing, stuck in the airport, not knowing what to do!! At least my bro and his family had the means (and the credit card availability) to get themselves on another flight (Emirates, to Dubai) out of Egypt late on Monday night/Tuesday morning... but what about those who had nothing? Where were our "caring" Embassy personnel? NOWHERE IN SIGHT! Not hide, not hair.
Oh, side story... when my bro called to tell me that their flight out of Cairo was cancelled, I called MAS here in KL, and they tell me the flight is leaving as scheduled!! Obviously news of the rioting, and the Egypt Air flight cancellation did not seep into MAS consciousness!! And they obviously never watched the news! When I told them that my brother and his family are IN CAIRO, and have been TOLD FIRST HAND that the flight is cancelled, the staff here are still insisting that the flight is leaving as scheduled. I mean, don't get me wrong - I absolutely LOVE MAS flight crew - but, MAN, their ground staff and procedures leave a LOT to be desired!
I am saddened, and horribly embarrassed, by the shoddy show put up by our govt and our embassy personnel in Cairo. I am so ashamed at this time to be called a Malaysian. I am also deeply grateful to the people in EGYPT, the EGYPTIANS, who helped my brother and his family so much, and deeply thankful that they made it home safe on Wednesday morning after 2 days stuck in Cairo airport and Dubai airport. My prayers go to all those who went through so much fear and shock, with no help from our govt, in Cairo, and I just hope and pray that they will ALL get home safe, with or without govt help.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2011
Stuck in Cairo, with NO help from the M'sian govt
OK, so my bro and his wife and 3 kids went to Cairo last week for a long-awaited holiday. They had a great time the first few days. Then, on Friday 28th Jan, the whole city 'blew' up. Their Egyptian guide (a Coptic Christian), and the Egyptian hotel staff were incredibly helpful to all of them. Their guide, who had taken them out sight-seeing that morning, KNEW that the situation was going to blow up after the Friday noon prayers, so he made sure he had them back at the hotel by then. The staff at the hotel kept the hotel doors locked, and made sure all their guests were safe.
THEN the "fun" started. No internet (since the Egyptian govt took the whole country off the internet), so my bro tried to call the embassy to find out what was happening - three days of calling, and the phone never got picked up! Very helpful... NOT!!! When they eventually managed to get through on Monday, they asked what the situation at the airport was like, as they were supposed to fly out on Monday night, at 00:15 hours (ie, early Tuesday 1st Feb morning). So, guess what the so-called situation room tells them? "Don't know. When you get to the airport and find out the situation, you call us."... !!!! I mean..... WHAT? What can anyone say to such idiocy? So, as you can see, the situation room had ZERO handle on the situation!
Their wonderful EGYPTIAN guide made sure he picked them up early on Monday and took them to the airport - it should have been just a 1 hour journey, but took far longer than that due to the riots and the craziness! They get to the airport and the guide stays with them, to help them try and get checked into their flights, etc. And the airport was an absolute mad-house. ALL Egypt Air flights were cancelled - and, unfortunately, it meant that their M'sian airlines flight, code share with Egypt Air, was also cancelled!! My bro kept trying to call the Embassy, and the phone was either NEVER picked up, or was engaged. OK, so, forget any possible help from that side. Totally, absolutely, USELESS!! Mind you, all other airlines, apart from EgyptAir, were still flying though with major re-scheduling, and the governments of other countries (US, UK, India, China, Japan, NZ, the Arab countries, EVEN CROATIA) were sending in planes to get their people out of Cairo. But, as of yesterday, no news from our "action-oriented, on the ball" govt about sending in planes to get OUR citizens out of the country! And TODAY they start sending planes? TODAY? What the hell took them so long? Question about LANDING RIGHTS? Hello, how come the OTHER countries did not have that problem? Only Malaysia?????
Embassy personnel from other countries, with jackets emblazoned with their country names, were going round and round the airport, trying to find their citizens... they even approached my bro and his family to see if they needed help..... and where were the so-called "People First, Performance Now" M'sian embassy personnel???? NOWHERE TO BE FOUND!! Not hide, nor hair.
Malaysian students, including lone female students, with no money, no food, no tickets, no nothing, stuck in the airport, not knowing what to do!! At least my bro and his family had the means (and the credit card availability) to get themselves on another flight (Emirates, to Dubai) out of Egypt late on Monday night/Tuesday morning... but what about those who had nothing? Where were our "caring" Embassy personnel? NOWHERE IN SIGHT! Not hide, not hair.
Oh, side story... when my bro called to tell me that their flight out of Cairo was cancelled, I called MAS here in KL, and they tell me the flight is leaving as scheduled!! Obviously news of the rioting, and the Egypt Air flight cancellation did not seep into MAS consciousness!! And they obviously never watched the news! When I told them that my brother and his family are IN CAIRO, and have been TOLD FIRST HAND that the flight is cancelled, the staff here are still insisting that the flight is leaving as scheduled. I mean, don't get me wrong - I absolutely LOVE MAS flight crew - but, MAN, their ground staff and procedures leave a LOT to be desired!
I am saddened, and horribly embarrassed, by the shoddy show put up by our govt and our embassy personnel in Cairo. I am so ashamed at this time to be called a Malaysian. I am also deeply grateful to the people in EGYPT, the EGYPTIANS, who helped my brother and his family so much, and deeply thankful that they made it home safe on Wednesday morning after 2 days stuck in Cairo airport and Dubai airport. My prayers go to all those who went through so much fear and shock, with no help from our govt, in Cairo, and I just hope and pray that they will ALL get home safe, with or without govt help.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
《人生如戏》>>13/02/2011《半杯水》周嘉惠
《半杯水》>>>周嘉惠
半杯水在乐观的人眼中，见到的是半满的杯，显现在悲观的人面前的则是半空的杯。这个例子常被人引用，并做出各种各样的联想、诠释。
这半满和半空之间，到底有没有区别？似乎没有，二者之间甚至连“一线之隔”也不存在，那完全是同一条水平线。但似乎还是有区别的，那“一念之差”，却是一道永远无法化解的鸿沟。
假如采用这个半杯水的例子，来理解执政党和在野党看待社会现象的态度，会让我们恍然大悟，何以对于同一件事情，朝野双方竟会得出如此南辕北辙的结论。
执政党显然认为自身半个多世纪以来的政绩起码是杯半满的水。虽然不乏自知之明地承认我国尚是发展中国家，但是今天国民的生活素质比起1957年，难道不是大大提高了吗？以前只有过年过节才有鸡吃，今天随时随地爱吃就吃；以前家里有辆牛车已算是件相当神气的事，如今“有汽车阶级”比比皆是。（有位前同事的祖母早年拥有三辆牛车，替人从安邦地区把货物运往约15公里外的吉隆坡市中心，据说当年被视为运输界女强人！）
这些难道不算是生活素质提升的“证据”吗？由于把现实看成半满的杯，难免有一些修养不够的政治人物会忍不住以“恩人”的身份自居。幸抑不幸且不论，“恩人”多是执政党成员，倒是有目共睹。在他们心目中，任何有良心的国民都应该对他们的“贡献”心存感激。一旦国家有难，大家都理应争相把床底美禄罐内的金器捐出“救国”，就像泰国人那样。这是一种很自然的感恩表现，不过我们这里的现实情况却远非如此美好。
在野党成员也有因为“曾经为你们坐牢”或付出其他个人代价的种种牺牲，而产生的“受难者”悲情。这跟“恩人”心态相差不远，同样是认为自己付出良多。“受难者”假设有朝一日执政，是否会摇身一变成为“恩人”，主要取决于个人修养与其参与政治活动的真实动机。需知不论抱着受难者或恩人心态，最后总都是期盼“补偿”、“打赏”，或“感恩”的。倘若对这类政客寄予厚望，显示脑袋严重进水，很危险。
在野党与一般国民因为把现实看成半空的杯，以致认为一切都还有太多的进步空间。独立至今国民收入确实是增加了，但物价提升的倍数是多少？政府不愿说明没关系，其实听老人家话当年也会有点感觉。大家拼了老命筹钱买车，上网一看，原来价格比外国的贵，素质比外国的差，教人心理如何平衡？我国是发展中国家没错，但也请别老拿食人部落比较来安慰大家。大家都明白先进国的成就不是一蹴而就，但是今天我们真的没耐性再等两百年。
国民要求更美好生活是天经地义的事，并非贪得无厌。在野党不必自我陶醉人民永远与我同在，执政党也不必视群众为仇敌。
如上述，从半杯水就可以理解朝野两种迥然不同的心态。两者因为观念分歧，所以永远都像是鸡同鸭讲，无从沟通。天真地幻想一下，假如双方同时换个角度，在野党心平气和地以半满的同情眼光看待现实，执政党心甘情愿地以半空的视角谦卑地自我评估政绩，则社会的和谐、进步必然可期。
不过话说回来，我们的政治人物有这样的智慧与肚量吗？哈！哈！哈！你说呢？
13/02/2011 《南洋商报》《言论》版
半杯水在乐观的人眼中，见到的是半满的杯，显现在悲观的人面前的则是半空的杯。这个例子常被人引用，并做出各种各样的联想、诠释。
这半满和半空之间，到底有没有区别？似乎没有，二者之间甚至连“一线之隔”也不存在，那完全是同一条水平线。但似乎还是有区别的，那“一念之差”，却是一道永远无法化解的鸿沟。
假如采用这个半杯水的例子，来理解执政党和在野党看待社会现象的态度，会让我们恍然大悟，何以对于同一件事情，朝野双方竟会得出如此南辕北辙的结论。
执政党显然认为自身半个多世纪以来的政绩起码是杯半满的水。虽然不乏自知之明地承认我国尚是发展中国家，但是今天国民的生活素质比起1957年，难道不是大大提高了吗？以前只有过年过节才有鸡吃，今天随时随地爱吃就吃；以前家里有辆牛车已算是件相当神气的事，如今“有汽车阶级”比比皆是。（有位前同事的祖母早年拥有三辆牛车，替人从安邦地区把货物运往约15公里外的吉隆坡市中心，据说当年被视为运输界女强人！）
这些难道不算是生活素质提升的“证据”吗？由于把现实看成半满的杯，难免有一些修养不够的政治人物会忍不住以“恩人”的身份自居。幸抑不幸且不论，“恩人”多是执政党成员，倒是有目共睹。在他们心目中，任何有良心的国民都应该对他们的“贡献”心存感激。一旦国家有难，大家都理应争相把床底美禄罐内的金器捐出“救国”，就像泰国人那样。这是一种很自然的感恩表现，不过我们这里的现实情况却远非如此美好。
在野党成员也有因为“曾经为你们坐牢”或付出其他个人代价的种种牺牲，而产生的“受难者”悲情。这跟“恩人”心态相差不远，同样是认为自己付出良多。“受难者”假设有朝一日执政，是否会摇身一变成为“恩人”，主要取决于个人修养与其参与政治活动的真实动机。需知不论抱着受难者或恩人心态，最后总都是期盼“补偿”、“打赏”，或“感恩”的。倘若对这类政客寄予厚望，显示脑袋严重进水，很危险。
在野党与一般国民因为把现实看成半空的杯，以致认为一切都还有太多的进步空间。独立至今国民收入确实是增加了，但物价提升的倍数是多少？政府不愿说明没关系，其实听老人家话当年也会有点感觉。大家拼了老命筹钱买车，上网一看，原来价格比外国的贵，素质比外国的差，教人心理如何平衡？我国是发展中国家没错，但也请别老拿食人部落比较来安慰大家。大家都明白先进国的成就不是一蹴而就，但是今天我们真的没耐性再等两百年。
国民要求更美好生活是天经地义的事，并非贪得无厌。在野党不必自我陶醉人民永远与我同在，执政党也不必视群众为仇敌。
如上述，从半杯水就可以理解朝野两种迥然不同的心态。两者因为观念分歧，所以永远都像是鸡同鸭讲，无从沟通。天真地幻想一下，假如双方同时换个角度，在野党心平气和地以半满的同情眼光看待现实，执政党心甘情愿地以半空的视角谦卑地自我评估政绩，则社会的和谐、进步必然可期。
不过话说回来，我们的政治人物有这样的智慧与肚量吗？哈！哈！哈！你说呢？
13/02/2011 《南洋商报》《言论》版
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