Saturday 28 March 2015

#3 | Things I Learnt This Week (That I Want To Share) #3

1. SCIENCE | TEACHING
Teaching Evolution to Students Who Tell Me They’ll Pray for My Soul

2. CITIZENSHIP | MILITARY
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: U.S. Territories (HBO)

3. FUNNY
What If Superman Was Adopted By The Waynes

Curated by,
Jason Kay
Melaka
28 March 2015

Saturday 21 March 2015

#2 | Things I Learnt This Week (That I Want To Share) #2

spent last Saturday at the Malaysian Bar AGM 2015 - http://jasonkaykl.blogspot.com/2015/03/thoughts-post-malaysian-bar-69th-agm-in.html
So, here's the second edition of #tiltwtiwts

1. POLITICS | ISIL | USA | SAUDI ARABIA 
"I find it remarkable that Saudi Arabia, which borders Iraq and is controlled by a multi-billion dollar family, is demanding that U.S. combat troops have ‘boots on the ground’ against ISIS. Where are the Saudi troops? With the third largest military budget in the world and an army far larger than ISIS, the Saudi government must accept its full responsibility for stability in their own region of the world. Ultimately, this is a profound struggle for the soul of Islam, and the anti-ISIS Muslim nations must lead that fight. While the United States and other western nations should be supportive, the Muslim nations must lead."
- Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont (Independent senator), 06 March 2015

[One of the biggest lessons from George W. Bush’s follies in Iraq was that outsiders can’t remake the Middle East. ... The United States is not going to fight the Saudis battles for them. The days of the Bush cowboy diplomacy are long gone. ... the leaders of the region must take responsibility for their own problems. There is no good reason for American men and women to fight and die in a war with ISIS. ... the Saudis have more than enough military capacity to take on ISIS if they wanted to. ... If the Saudis want a ground war, they should be the ones who lead the fight against ISIS.]

Bernie Sanders Blasts Saudis For Demanding U.S. Troops On The Ground To Fight ISIS

2. LAW | DEATH PENALTY
“Nowadays the death penalty is inadmissible, no matter how serious the crime committed. It is an offence against the inviolability of life and the dignity of the human person, which contradicts God's plan for man and society, and his merciful justice, and impedes the penalty from fulfilling any just objective. It does not render justice to the victims, but rather fosters vengeance. For the rule of law, the death penalty represents a failure, as it obliges the state to kill in the name of justice.”
- Pope Francis, 20 March 2015


3. CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (CSR)

How Ricoh Returned 90,000 Photos to Victims of the 2011 Tsunami in Japan

4. CONFLICT RESOLUTION - commentary

To "bury the hatchet" is an American Indian custom at the cessation of rivalry. Malaysians should consider creating a new custom by having roti jala (a type of pancake) with curry over drinks and a smile after an argument. We are, first and foremost, a people in love with good diverse food. 

Curated by,
Jason Kay
Melaka
21 March 2015

Sunday 15 March 2015

Thoughts post-Malaysian Bar 69th AGM in 2015

I spent yesterday in a room full of highly opinionated lawyers. Not because I'm a masochist, but democracy needs to be exercised.

It entailed travelling to KL with the Melaka group (we left at 7:50am), 8 hours plus at the AGM, 1 breakfast, a light lunch at 3:45pm, and dinner at 7pm before the journey back; and reaching home just before 10pm. 

Was it worth it? 
Yes. 

Dissatisfaction needs an outlet. What I witnessed yesterday was ample opportunity given to those who disagreed - specifically those who disagreed with the stand (course of action) taken by the President - to air them in a civilised manner. And this was repeated for all the other motions, save for the-one-that-could-not-be-discussed. Except during a few instances of rambling or needless repetition, everyone who wanted to speak had a chance to speak. 

In the end, it came down to for, against, or abstention. I have been at the Malaysian and Malacca Bar long enough to know that the debate/comments during these meetings can be frank and piercing. The wheat will be separated from the chaff. It's like cross-examination times two, with a healthy dose of humour.

I am proud of the traditions I saw being honoured yesterday. 
And I am glad the Malaysian Bar is what it is: cantankerous, idealistic, and meticulous. 

Jason Kay
Melaka 
15 March 2015
#MBarAGM

Friday 6 March 2015

Things I Learnt This Week (That I Want To Share) #1

Oversharing has become a curse with social media available 24/7. This realisation hit me hard over the CNY 2015 break. Our minds are stretched and moulded by reacting, rather than contemplating; by sound bytes instead of reflecting in context. 

So I embark on this project: One post, at the end of each week, of the things that caught my eye, and engaged my mind, curated, for your consideration because I think they are worth your time. 

It is not altruism. It's me disciplining myself to look for the wheat and let go the chaff. Since I'm already benefitting from it, there is no harm sharing my discoveries with you. And so I do. Do drop by once a week, and hopefully, you won't be disappointed. 

=============

Things I Learnt This Week (That I Want To Share) #1
#tiltwtiwts

1. SCIENCE

"experiments show that when people’s beliefs are threatened, they often take flight to a land where facts do not matter. In scientific terms, their beliefs become less “falsifiable” because they can no longer be tested scientifically for verification or refutation.
...
With the disease of bias, then, societal immunity is better achieved when we encourage people to accept ambiguity, engage in critical thinking, and reject strict ideology."

Why People "Fly from Facts"


2. LAW

I've always been fascinated with Qisas (http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qisas) and Diyya (http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diyya) in the death penalty discussion. I am generally anti death penalty, but I still don't have the answer to this excellent pro death penalty point: "If you oppose the death penalty, you are really just saying that no matter what horrible things a man does to another/other human beings, you guarantee him the most precious thing he has, his life." [If you can identity the source of this point, please let me know so I can credit it accordingly.]

Even the late Karpal Singh, a staunch anti death penalty lawyer, did have a different view in cases of child rape - http://www.thesundaily.my/node/140082

We may not have the stomach for an eye for an eye taken literally - http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/mar/05/eye-for-an-eye-iran-blinds-man-who-carried-out-acid-attack

But the slap on the wrist sentence given to Anders Breivik http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anders_Behring_Breivik offends me greatly. 


3. FUNNY | SOCIETY | LAW

Jim Jefferies - gun control


Curated by,
Jason Kay
Melaka
06 March 2015