Monday, November 01, 2004
So Hard

It's so hard,nigh on impossible,to write anything on a light note because of some of the things or news that had filtered through over the weekend.I still do find it hard to write about anything but there are a couple of things that bothers me and if I didn't write them out,they'd just keep circling around my head.Thoughts that wouldn't come out.Things I'd like to have access to answers to.This post will be very short compared to everything else that i've written for the past few...well,months.So there wouldn't be a lot of scrolling to do.That must be a consolation for people who read this blog.Ok,onto the main points now.For once,I won't be taking detours.

The tragic demise of Huang Na has jolted me as much as the school massacre at Beslan a couple of months back.I have to admit that I had feared for the worst because the period for which the little girl had gone missing is too inexplicably long for someone who's described to be very smart.My thoughts were always that eitehr she was held captive in a place devoid of access to all communiactions,that she was being brougth far beyond these shores already or that she was dead.I had always hoped that it wasn't the last scenario.But if it was,I wished for a more dignified death.But the killer would not even afford that little dignity to a little girl.Stripped naked and stuffed into a box half her size.What kind of a person would do something like that?

I think that,like many others,I would like to know what truly happened.As I watched the news last night and today,I saw many of the TV interviewees,who were being asked about thier thoughts on this latest development,close to crying or unable to hold back their tears.I could hardly blame them.Yesterday was the first time I almost felt like crying myself.But more than anything,I'd like to have answers.Answers that can provide a closure to such a terrible episode.

And questions have to be asked of certain parties,especially certain law enforcement units and what can only be described as farcical loopholes.How did the Malaysian Took get out of Singapore despite having his passport impounded?I had speculated that maybe he shunned the official entry points and had employed discreet methods to sneak out of Singapore.But apparently,the guy simply used a fake passport.Are our entry points so porous that anyone using a fake passport can easily get in or out of the country?What kind of border enforcement is this?If a simple joe like Took can fool the system,what more sophisticated terrorists who would have done ample research on potential weaknesses of our entry checkpoints?Are we still supposed to feel safe in Singapore then?Even if the Malaysian had used discreet methods to sneak out,what's out coast guards doing,allowing a person to slip through like this?Either way,I think the ICA or PCG has a lot to answer for.If anyone is willing to raise the question.

The investigations also take on a turn that I felt is too sudden.One minute Took was simply assisting in investigations,the next he's charged with murder.I must be missing something here or don't know better but the about-turn is surprising.Is there evidence to back these charges?If there were,why was he allowed to go in the first place?Granted,if he had done nothing wrong,why should he flee...but the investigations just don't seem to have thrown up anything concrete to prove anything...yet.I await further developments.

The second thing was bothered me...but far less...was the re-emergence of Osama Bin Laden.He had of course chosen a wonderful time to come up with a new home video,three days before the US Elections.But his speech smacks of the same tired pitch that's being thrown at us since the beginning of all this Al Qaeda mayhem.

He says that Kerry or Bush can't guarantee the US safety.True.That the safety of the US lies in the hands of the American people.That's rhetorical crap.He says he only attacks countries that threaten the security of Muslims...he didn't attack Sweden,he only attacked the US and other countries which followed in their lead.That's crap as well.I think there is nothing to indicate that these murderers wouldn't keep doing what they're doing even if certain things are reversed.The war in Iraq,the Israeli-Palestinian conflicts,US "control" on Arab oil,whatever...what has Al Qaeda done that has helped the Palestinians in any way?And when they talked about other countries threatening the security of Muslims...I thought it was a little ironic.After all, the bombings carried out in Iraq and Indonesia probably killed as many Muslims as they did non-Muslims or Western bombs.

Osama's genius...as some say,is his ability to stay on ths message,his elusiveness and now possibly his attempt to pass off as a Muslim elder statesmen.But leaders don't hide behind videos.Only cowards do.If he truly wants to lead,then he should show himself in the flesh and fight the "good fight" which he is so fond of saying he does.Otherwise,he is little better than a cartoon...because he only exists on the screen.

On this note,I'd end this post.Don't think I'd be able to write anymore at the moment.And it has nothing to do with Monday Blues.