Good to see more responses on The Micah Mandate. Feel free to go there and offer a comment or two 🙂
25. yapsir (05/31/2008 01:06:10)
Awake my soul!If we don’t do it now,
we may not able to anything later.
The chances are here for us to give a chance for our children to be just "Malaysian".
Walls have tobe put down,if it require our hands(that might hert and bleed).by the end the day,I can boldly tell my child,I have done Justice for your future.24. potts (05/28/2008 20:27:25)
Transforming SocietyNot sure if your subtitle meant to talk about a society that transforms or a church that transforms society. But reading your article, I get the impression that it is a lot of words to skirt around the observation that the churches of today, like any other organizations, exist to serve their clientele: their members, rather than their God. We are afraid to criticize the "christian-on-the-street", and are quick to praise their small, earnest efforts to do something that is other-serving. Better than nothing, right? Pastors craft their sermons carefully, like speaking to little children, lest their flock get discouraged or critical. The fact remains that largely, it will be difficult to find true Christian heroes like Bonhoeffer or Paul today to be our models, because the Church cares more about how people feel, rather than how God feels. And consequently there is little backbone to the Christianity we practise today.
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23. Sivin Kit (05/28/2008 20:22:40)
Beyond Challenges …what concrete Action Plans do we have to implement these noble aspirations?
I think Tan Sri Ramon has focused the question rightly. We have been challenged again and again. But what is needed now, is providing bridges for those who want to be involved to start. And I see this ranging from Marketplace ministries to support for those engaged in civil society organizations like NGOs.
This may also mean that church leaders or pastors reorganize our time so that we can be present and even participate in wider common issues of concern with others outside the church.
And I think, this surely means we as a church from the leaders to the lay re-imagine what is the role and priority of the church in Malaysian society, and free our resources towards that end. If self-preservation is not the goal of our institutions, and partnering with others for the transformation of society, then we can no longer do what we do in the same way we have done so for all these years.
"What’s next?" is the right question. What’s the next action we can take is the next step for all of us. And let’s just do it…3 total posts | view profile
23. Sivin Kit (05/26/2008 23:05:46)
We were once Aliens too!Thank you Peter for surfacing to our attention passages from the Bible which confronts our ignorance or hidden prejudices.
I was driving past my "home town" (or "kampung") and in a conversation with the passenger in my car was reminded of my great grandmother who came as a migrant worker. And when we all sit down and think about it, is that not part of our history. Now, with that focus, we can re-look at the "Alien" situation in our country with new eyes. It doesn’t solve all the problems immediately, but it’s a better start than just to label people who are humans as illegal!2 total posts | view profile
22. Allen Tan (05/22/2008 05:53:53)
You were commissioned by GodDear Elder Goh K P, I really thank God for your choice to be vocal. I am proud that you have worked very hard to visit Anwar Ibrahim and subsequently God had transformed and promoted him.
I myself also write a lot speaking against the hegemony of any politicians.4 total posts | view profile
21. bebas2lawat (05/19/2008 02:53:57)
Thumbs up to you Andrew for yr. comments. We have a ghetto mentality and its time we break away from that.We need to learn to engage with people from all persuations which is the only way i think we will be the salt and light of the earth
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20. bebas2lawat (05/19/2008 02:40:54)
Exactly. For too long we christains have been sitting in our comfortable armchairs and letting injustice go by. It is time we stand up and makeour voices heard. be involved and be acquainted with issues so when the time comes to act we do so
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19. bebas2lawat (05/19/2008 02:32:50)
i guess certain communities feel threatened by a Malaysian Malaysia. it was indeed a sad day when we decided to revert the whole education system from teaching in English to teaching in bahasa Malaysia.Nothing wrong with that if islamisation was left out.
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18. bebas2lawat (05/19/2008 02:27:19)
While I agree with the idea of racial integration,the whole idea of national Service bears relooking into. If Im not mistaken not enough research was put in to see what model was appropriate. The board of visitors need to take a more active part in supervising the camps under their purview.
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17. Allen Tan (05/17/2008 02:34:55)
Lucrative NSNo termination of NS. No other reason, since it is the most lucrative means of pocketing money. Each year it cost the treasury 500 to 600 over million ringgits.
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16. Tang Hock Men (05/16/2008 23:23:37)
Speaking upI think it was God who directed me to this website. Thru human agencies but no less a work of the ONE who is sovereign. I have some opinions that some people find unacceptable. They are not very original because I stood on the shoulders of others who thought alot more and deeper than me. So I am able to see a little further I hope.
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15. splim (05/16/2008 09:23:12)
Civil DisobedienceThey can send me to jail but I’m not going to compromise the safety of my children. If NS is not going to be abolished just boycott it.
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14. knotts (05/15/2008 22:55:55)
ParticipationWhat is good about this website is that it allows for the public to participate. This way we can have a gauge of what people "out there" think. While the quality of thought is important, what is more important at this point is the integrity of these points of view. I hope that more people will write and comment, rather than keep their thoughts to themselves and share them in the coffee shops.
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13. Alwyn (05/15/2008 09:23:18)
Hi Bob,
Thanks for the piece. I’m one of those who was born six years after the tragedy.
I think voices like yours, which’ve resounded through those days, are most helpful. On the other hand, I find myself seriously asking if the following statement serves a good purpose: "There still exist in our midst racists screaming blue murder to the adulation of their blood thirsty mobs…only the ungodly would endanger such lives by their continued racist outbursts."
In my view, I think we have more than enough reminders of the ethno-preferential treatment meted out in our country, of the (as u said) racist tensions…what I suspect we DON’T have nearly enough of is the sort of ‘transformative kindness’ demonstrated TOWARDS people who say such things.1 total posts | view profile
12. mengyee (05/14/2008 23:37:53)
Say NO to PLKNWe must create more momentum in calling for the abolishment of this ill planned program which have claimed the lifes of 20 of our young!.
We must pressure our MPs to bring this cause to Parliament!1 total posts | view profile
11. echo41 (05/14/2008 06:42:52)
SCThese are OUR MALAYSIAN CHILDREN, somebody’s child, somebody’s brother, sister or best friend. These are the 9 trainees that died while serving Khidmat Negara (National Service). These are lives wasted and parents are crying negligence and murder! Please write about it, and let there be more OUTCRY!