Laws - Oppress or Protect You ?

Everyone knows and everyone had been told that laws are necessary for society to be peaceful and stable.

No reasonable person will deny that some sort of rules, regulations and laws are necessary to determine "the rules of the game" for everyone. These rules will make it clear what some or all can do and what others or all cannot do.Undeniably, there are unreasonable people among us, the age old fight between "good and evil" will forever exists so long as human beings exists. Laws protect and empower the "good" and punish, deter or eliminate the evil.

Laws therefore are very powerful tools to control human beings.

But what if the the laws are in the hands of the evil and they want to use the rules to oppress the people so that they can exist and survive. History has shown many rulers, politicians and governments that pass evil laws to oppress the people just to perpetuate the interest of the wealthy and powerful.

The people or the masses, generally are unaware of evil laws that are being passed until it affects them individually and personally by which time it is always too late.

The middle, lower income and poor people are usually too busy trying to sustain themselves in life to notice what the wealthy and powerful are doing.

What if the laws that oppress the people are further passed in the name of God or religion?

How many ordinary people will even understand that even such laws can be oppressive for they may feel ignorantly guilty if they oppose such laws? They may think or may have been indoctrinated to think that any law mentioned in the name of God must never be objected.

Through out history all governments and rulers, whether evil or good, have always passed laws in the name of the people or in the name of religion.

Can normal, ordinary, struggling people monitor and oppose bad laws?

Would they dare? Can they afford the sacrifice involved?

How many honourable and brave citizens are there to support and advocate good laws?

At the end of the day, whatever our individual circumstance, it is us and us alone that condone or object to evil laws by evil men,

The other citizens may either support us or stay far away merely hoping we will succeed. And there are other ignoble citizens who wish us to fail so that they can maintain thier status quo and income from the bad laws by the evil men.

And a Rapera's choice is just too clear.

Peace !

Rest in Peace Nelson Mandela

A great leader has walked on earth and has passed away on 5th December 2013 at age 95. Without doubt he is an excellent personification of a Rapera.

CNN writes:

"(CNN) -- Freedom fighter, prisoner, moral compass and South Africa's symbol of the struggle against racial oppression.

That was Nelson Mandela, who emerged from prison after 27 years to lead his country out of decades of apartheid.

He died Thursday night at age 95.

His message of reconciliation, not vengeance, inspired the world after he negotiated a peaceful end to segregation and urged forgiveness for the white government that imprisoned him.

"As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn't leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I'd still be in prison," Mandela said after he was freed in 1990".

Peace !

‘Gandhi’s first non-violent movement had Chinese link’

'The idea of non-violence as an alternative to armed uprising which formed the core of Mahatma Gandhi’s movement had a China connection as hundreds of Chinese took part in his first peaceful protest in Zanzibar in 1906, a noted Indian historian said.

Highlighting this much-forgotten Chinese link to the birth of Gandhi’s non-violent movement, veteran Indian historian Ramachandra Guha told a meeting here that 1,100 Chinese along with 8,000 Indians took part in the agitation against Asiatic ordinance of the then Zanzibar racist government in East Africa in 1906.

This was Gandhi’s first movement after the idea of non-violence as an alternative to armed violence to bring about political change was formulated on September 11, 1906 at Johannesburg in South Africa, which Guha described as the world’s first 9/11.

The Asiatic ordinance barred Asians from owning property, made it mandatory to carry identity cards and imposed restrictions on their trade bringing about system of exclusion.

Subsequently the first non-violent movement was launched by Gandhi in Zanzibar when the racist government in which Chinese took part shoulder-to-shoulder along with Indians, Mr. Guha said at a literary festival.

Significantly, the first truce agreement with Zanzibar government was signed by Gandhi, Thambi Naidoo, on behalf of Tamils and Leon Qin who represented the Chinese.

Piqued by Indian-Chinese solidarity in 1906-1909 the Zanzibar government brought about more stringent ordinance resulting in the deportation of both Indians and Chinese to Madras, now Chennai, he said.

After the deportation Qin talked about how their movement in Zanzibar was given birth to Asian solidarity movement, Mr. Guha said referring to a newspaper clipping of that time'. 

You can continue reading here.

History has many accounts of significant cooperation between the two great civilisations - Indian and Chinese and also documents much Indian influence   on Chinese civilisation. I predict history is going to repeat itself.

Peace.

Chris Goslow Comments on Rapera

Incidentally I found something which was written on Chris Goslow's website in 2009 yesterday. Chris Goslow is a pianist, composer and song writer from Sacramento USA. By a strange coincidence, he also produced a musical called "Rapera"in 2009!

He wrote the following on his website:

"The Coincidental Meaning of “Rapera”

Rapera Latest Updates:

(February 8, 2009) MALAYSIAN LAW LECTURER’S UNCANNY “RAPERA” DEFINITION
I was astounded to find a blog by a Malaysian law lecturer, in which he defines the term “rapera” as a “savior citizen…[who makes] a positive impact in the betterment of society.” His ideas bear an uncanny resemblance to the spirit ofRapera and especially to the character of the youth. Read Jahaberdeen Mohamed Yunoos’s blog here!"

This only proves that when its time is right, ideas become universal.

Peace.