Retrospect, Prospectively

…many roads we take
Some to joy, some to heartache
Anyone can lose the way
And if I said we could turn it back
Right back to the start
Would you take the chance and make the change?

- Kate Winslet, What If

Too often we reflect our past mistakes with regrets and resentment. It would be easy to say we regretted them but what does it really mean when we had no choice for our actions were bound by the conditions that existed at that time. This nevertheless does not imply that past actions or the consequences of such actions are morally justified as they are volitional or deliberate undertakings and therefore, cannot be reversed. Conversely it also does not imply we have remote locus of control over the future which is often constraint by conditional factors and external forces. Simply it manifests the need to contemplate the past for a review of performance and to build on existing paradigm for the betterment without over-projecting future capabilities or creating expectation beyond current capacity. This neither suggests one to be pessimist nor optimist, but a realist to foresee and anticipate the uncertainty of the future with an open heart coupled with reasonable amount of skepticism.

The note above contains essence of and is inspired by the teachings of Jewish Mysticism which I personally find it relevant in today's context of dynamic environment where self-help through rationalization is paramount in our pursuit of happiness. Rationalization is nevertheless subject to our cognitive bias on perceived facts and bound understanding of the nature. Therefore it does not in whole validate pragmatism as an ethically justifiable approach especially when it compromises religious and individual moral stance. In conclusion, adopting an eclectic approach or the middle path is perhaps the best guide to life. Welcoming 2010 and beyond! Wishing you all the best, and good luck!

Coklat

This is my personal interpretation on 'Chocolate', Yasmin Ahmad's final, and perhaps most controversial feature to date made exclusively for the 15Malaysia art direction.

The short film started off with the mother scolding the son for letting go an opportunity to study abroad. A typical scenario that highlights the mentality well-established among the minorities who realize such opportunities are scarce and a deemed windfall. Projecting from the current standing, the mother firmly believes that their future position will be challenged and constrained as there will be minimal if any, room for progress and prosperity. By making themselves seen inherently hunger for opportunities, the minorities soon learn to be opportunist and advantage seeker. The son who nevertheless opposes by turning down the offer signifies his strong feelings against such labels placed on them. Perhaps hopeful still for a pleasant future here, the following incidents provide further evidence on the clashes in attitude and approaches among the senior and younger generation.

Then comes a Malay girl. The implicit intent of buying battery represents her denial to the common belief that the majorities are always surrendering or at comfort of being ‘fed’. It therefore expresses her attempt to seek empowerment and independence, while the mistaken milk bottle may be interpreted as a cynical act to demonstrate the said common perception. His initial hostile mistreatment is then taken by a second gentler approach, indicating a sense of guilt and vulnerability, or perhaps charmed by her beauty of youth and simple modesty. In the very second, a subtle but evolving connection is established between the two and close observation could tell that the conversation leads to a split moment where racial-conscious is absent; no impediment of racial bias whatsoever but a mere honest and mutual attraction.

The continual racial discrimination in the society is nevertheless too chronic, that it outweighs any possibility of creating a common understanding, agreement and sharing. Thusly the intolerance to accept a lower price than what is offered manifests that the prejudice created is too ‘heavy’ to be lifted as the minorities are so conditioned to merely accept what is fair and just. The deemed insignificant five cents clearly portrays this. The yelling mother and her disapproval of him conversing with the Malay girl reminded the boy of how they are treated as such. Consequently, being denied from exercising an independent judgment or discretion of his own, he turns down the sale and succumbs to the influence of his mother. Letting go the chance of creating a friendship, he slams the chocolate with regrets and frustration.

To recap, the milk bottle signifies dependency and biasness of the government in favouring the majority, while the scholarship represents an opportunity to be released from such injustice. A growing sense of prejudice and hatred is thus created towards those who are given unjustified privileges at the expense of others being marginalized. Such strong prejudice ingrained since early ages leads to selfish pursuant being ethically justified in a climate of unequal distribution of wealth and opportunity. This may also portrays how those who have benefited but now seeking for independence are disabled in their attempts as the environment is neither supportive nor conducive of such.

Chocolate may, as the name suggest, characterize the skin colour. It also manifests the taste of happiness we could all cherish if not of the asymmetric and dubious government policies in their attempt to be populous and to secure political position. In the end, the chocolate which was supposedly shared, failed its purpose. This simple yet profound portrayal of two ordinary souls in a setting most common explains how when different ethnic groups meet the prejudice embedded within the consciousness will manifest inherently through their responses. A lack of sincere and genuine sharing is thusly resulted.

Perhaps conceptually-bound and naive as it may sound, the long-desired and shared taste of equality can only be realized if the misalignment and conflicting interests among Malaysians are harmonized, the legitimate claims of the society at large are taken into consideration and the distribution of fairness is made with greater transparency and integrity. Chocolate is definitely another signature piece of hers, and in my humble opinion, the most abstract and defined work of art.