Japanese Earthquake & Aftermath

I want to say that the situation in Japan is really sad. It infuriates me to no end that people make idiotic comments about Godzilla, had the audacity to create a stupid BBC text scam and waste their time with other idiocies when their efforts can be used in a more meaningful manner. Come on people, show some class please. I sincerely wish that the situation improves and that those with their hearts broken will find the courage to carry on strongly.

Cheaper Lives

I finally finished Chinese Whispers: The true story behind Britain's hidden army of labour by Hsiao-Hung Pai. That one book essentially culminates my holiday reading. I had originally planned on reading at least 3 books, but I guess that'll have to hold off until the end of the school year. Argh, it's only the first week back but I'm already swamped. Granted, it's mostly because of review work that has been backed up from last semester for my virology course.... and if only forgetting about it would actually make it disappear.

Back to the book. It's perhaps my first full novel by a Chinese author. But then again, I don't read as much as I would like so that's not saying much. Trust me, I will read The Rape of Nanking by Iris Chang one of these days. I did pick up the book over the holidays and had even read the first few pages. I know, I know, I'm making lame excuses. Hopefully by the end of this year?

Seriously, no more tangents. I hope I didn't give off the sense that this is a book of irrelevant material because it certainly isn't. It's a disheartening collection of real life stories about the day-to-day struggles of illegal immigrants in Britain. These so-called 'illegal' immigrants are the shoulders we stand on to enjoy our affluence and luxuries while they toil in dehumanizing conditions. They are the ones who are painted as invading aliens stealing local jobs when the fact of the matter is that they are the ones who are putting their health at risk to work 72 hour a week in order to earn half if not less than what the minimum wage should be. Without status and without a voice, they are the ones living a hellish existence. And this will continue on for as long as the greed stays green and they remain illegal.

While it no longer comes as a surprise for me that there are sufferings in this world caused by the greed of people, it doesn't make the stories any less tragic. I feel like my mere mentioning of the book is an insult to their true sufferings. It's a sad world we live in when stories like these have loss their shock value, so to speak. It's especially sad when those of us who are aware of them doesn't really take much action aside from simply finger typing. This is really selfish of me.

How not to be an obvious racist

There are two excuses that are often thrown around for justifying an obviously obtuse racist remark. They go along the lines of "Well, I'm so-and-so ethnic group so I can say that" or "Only the truly racists take offense to that." And to those I say Puuuuuuhleeeeeeeaze.

Towards the first excuse, I ask, do you have no pride? Rather than raising your voice against your fellow human beings' habits and customs, maybe you can improve upon your own ignorance and learn about a culture different from the pop variety. The world is an infinitely grand place and it is only natural that there should be differences. Aside from the rules of survival itself, in which each species thrive in their separate niche, the variety adds sugar and spice to an otherwise mundane existence. Please, open your mind.

As for the second pathetic excuse, is that what you really believe in? That is, only non-racists make racist jokes and expect everyone to chime in with glee, and those who object are simply being unforgivably racist. Nice logic you have going there. FYI, your insecurity is the only thing fueling that argument. It's equivalent to dismissing the accusation of a victim and siding with the offender. Please, I implore you, grow a spine, a brain and a heart.