BABY DUMPING: HEAVIER PUNISHMENT SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED

Have you heard of the case of an ex-student of Mara University of Technology (UiTM) who recently admitted her crime of dumping her baby at a dumpster?

Lately, the news of babies being dumped recklessly is intensifying. However, this is not a new thing in Malaysia. We had been shocked by this news some time ago but, it had resurfaced again recently out of the increasing number of baby being found in a pitiful state. But, what worries the most is the act of dumping babies carelessly is becoming more like a trend than a crime. The offenders are becoming more daring in doing this deplorable offend!

In Malaysia itself, we do have a sentence for those who commit this awful crime. The offenders will be indicted according to the 1997 Federal Territories Syariah Criminal Offences Act under Section 23 and in Selangor, they will be charged through 1995 Syariah Criminal Enactment (Selangor) and in accordance with Section 318 of the Penal Code, if found guilty.

Even so, we think that this punishment is not enough to really teach them a lesson and thus educate and warned others to not commit the same offense. Besides that, don’t you think that by carelessly dumping the babies in dumpster, in the river or by cruelly set the bay on fire in order to cover their sin; their act is in accordance to murder? They have the intention of committing murder and the act is just like committing a first degree murder. They should be penalized justifiably according to the felony they did.

That is why we agree if the government gives heavier punishment to those who commit this appalling crime. The government should be stricter in this situation to evict this dreadful ‘trend’. Would be sentenced to two years in jail and fined is enough to teach them a lesson and to make them realize that what they did was really unacceptable? No, it would not. For them, the risk of getting caught is not too high and if they do got caught; the punishment is not that serious. Just pay some fine and stay in jail for two years. What’s the big deal?

We think the offenders should be punished with the same sentenced as murder; indicted according to Section 302 of the Penal Code which carries a mandatory death sentence if convicted. In addition to that, as a Muslim country, we felt that Malaysian government should punish people who commit this offense according to Hudud law because it is the best punishment to be implemented and it is based on the Law of Islam.

There is a lot of wisdom if we apply Hudud law in our society both from the religious and science perspective. In Hudud law, the person who is caught doing adultery will be punished by two categories; if the offender is married or not. The married offender will be punished by being thrown stone to death. If the offender is not yet married, the punishment is one hundred of whipping.

From the science viewpoint, using the punishment from Hudud law, Acquired Immunologic Deficiency Syndrome or is commonly known as AIDS, the person affected by this disease can be cured; but, only if they are not married yet. In the human body, there is a defense system called immunity system. White blood cell plays the most important role in producing immune system. When the offender is affected by AIDS, the immune system will be weak due to less reproduction of white blood cells. By whipping, the body will have extensive cell damage that will stimulate bone marrow to produce new antibody.

But, if the offenders are married, when they are affected by AIDS, they cannot be cured because their bone marrow focus more on generate seeds to produce sperms. Their cells are weaker than the unmarried offenders. Thus, being thrown stone to death is the best solution to avoid the contamination and spread the disease while at the same time giving other people a lesson to not repeat the same mistake.

In conclusion, we believe that this immoral act should be severed from the early stage; that is, government and the authorities should monitor social activities that can lead to free sex, thus leading to babies being dumped carelessly. What is the point of having a sentence when it could not restore the lives that were lost and fail to give awareness among the society?

MUSIC: THE ART OF STORYTELLING

Groan. Grunt. Whine. Can you believe that those three were the first sound of music? It all started when an early caveman started to make those sounds and was later followed by the hitting of rocks and logs. It wasn’t long before the sound was polished to resemble the music that we have today.

Music has been around since the dawn of time. It is something that everyone could count on for entertainment. In the earliest year, man used music to celebrate natural phenomena and one of such event is to celebrate rain. Music had been used to sell, to soothe, to give a message, but it has also been used to show the differences between the cultures of each genre of music.

As it continues to evolve during the years, music has always told us a story. Music has told stories of wars, loves, relationships, hardships, happiness, frustrations, celebrations, but most importantly, music has told stories of life. Some music tells its stories through lyrics, but some music did not even use a single word to express its stories, just using melody is enough to bring it to life.

‘Always’ tells a story of a man in deep repentance. He was a playboy and took his girlfriend for granted. So, when one day, she left him, that was when he realized that he loved her but it was too late. She already had another man. He can only wish that she would give him another chance. Songs like this show the love and hurt that can come from it.

However, in contrast, in ‘Dazed and Confused’, the singer claims to be dazed and confused by the woman, but it is actually his state of mind, which is in denial and indulgence, that leads him to this state of confusion, and keeps a woman who is being abused also is in a state of extreme emotional and physical dazed confusion. A lot of people don’t realize that this song gives abusers a powerful context in which to inflict their abuse. Songs like this tells the story of real happenings that affect life today.

Music can be a very powerful tool. Through music, it can unite people from around the world; however, it can be as deadly as it is good. Some songs has lyrics contains violence that can effects especially young listeners. They would think that being shot at is cool, which in reality, is not. However, there are songs that can unite people from around the globe to work together and help each other, such as the song ‘We are the World’ that brings together 16 various artiste to help the Haitian after the earthquake.

Songs, while changing over time to style and genre, still do the same thing as they did when music was first discovered. Songs tell us a story to entertain us in some way, as they were always meant to. Can you imagine living in a world without music?

PRODUCT REVIEW - Thanks for the Memories by Cecelia Ahern

How can you know someone you've never met? Joyce Conway remembers things she shouldn't. She knows about tiny cobbled streets in Paris, which she has never visited. And every night she dreams about an unknown little girl with blonde hair.

After falling and suffering a miscarriage, Joyce moves back in with her aging father when her marriage falls apart. Suddenly, she starts having the strangest daydreams, finds herself able to speak Italian, and spouts academic facts regarding architecture and Irish history. It’s like some sort of déjà vu and it overwhelms her.

Justin Hitchcock is divorced, lonely and restless, but a very good father. He moves from Chicago, leaving his work and safety net behind just to be near his daughter, Bea, who now lives at London. He arrives in Dublin to give a lecture on art and meets attractive doctor Sarah, who persuades him to donate blood. It's the first thing to come straight from his heart in a long time.

After that, he keeps running into a mysterious woman wherever he goes and can’t understand why he’s attracted to her. Turns out, his donation went to Joyce during her hospital stay (no shock there), and now the two are inexplicably linked. Over time, the two bumps into each other at a hair salon; he sees her on television; he sees her riding a tour bus in London; she sees him at the ballet. At each sighting and ensuing missed opportunity, they feel an inexplicable connection, a kind of love at first sight.

That is a gist of what Thanks For The Memories is all about. It is from the same author that gave us the heart-wrenching story of P/S I Love You, Cecelia Ahern. Both the novel and the movie are truly great. But, I have to say I love the novel more than the movie, no offense to Ms Swank and Mr Butler who did a very superb job on the portrayal of the roles of Holly and Gerry respectively.

Gerard Butler & Hilary Swank

Thanks for the Memories, for me, is a very unique novel. Unlike other stories, the two main characters never met or have the chance to speak to each other, not until almost at the end of the story. It's like a chasing game, or like magic. Now you see her/him, now you don't. Every time their almost-encounter happens, I have to literally restraints myself from flipping to the next pages to see if they actually meet or not (luckily, I did manage from doing it). When it doesn't happen, I was quite frustrated, but that's what makes this book different from others; and that's what I like about this book. You will not want to put this book down once you started reading it (and that's what I did).

But, this book is more about the relationship between Joyce and her father. How they cope with what had happened while her father forgetfulness and sense of humour add a touch of liveliness to the story. This is what sets it apart from other cliché chick-lit. Chick lit is genre fiction within women's fiction which addresses issues of modern women often humorously and light-heartedly. Although sometimes it includes romantic elements, women's fiction (including chick lit) is generally not considered a direct subcategory of the romance novel genre, because in chick lit the heroine's relationship with her family or friends may be just as important as her romantic relationships.

However, for me, there is one part that doesn’t quite make sense. It’s the blood transfusion part. Okay, so Justin donated his blood, and Joyce got his blood during her stay at the hospital. And then suddenly, she’s just not quite the same person—she now eats meat (before that, she was a vegetarian), speaks fluent Italian, has a vast knowledge of European art and architecture and, creepiest of all, has someone else’s memories. I’ve heard these kinds of things happen in real life not with blood transfusion, but with heart transplant. When a patient was donated with a person’s heart, the patient would somehow acquire some of the person’s attributes. It seemed a little far-fetched for me. Still, I was so immensely captivated with Justin-Joyce relationship to care about that.

I would really suggest this book for you to read in your leisure time as this is a good read. It’s fun, it’s witty and it’ll definitely makes you laugh so hard you’ll cry. I have to admit, Ms. Ahern, is a very gifted and talented person. She can get plenty of emotions out of me with just her writing.

Cecelia Ahern

It is true when people say that writing is a really powerful tool. This book teaches us a lot of valuables things. It teaches us to be grateful, the value of family, friendship and love. It is suitable for both young and old, man and woman. For guys, don’t worry, you won’t look like a girl if you read it, but if you are painfully shy of reading this openly, you can be a chick-lit closet reader!

You can find it at bookstores, like MPH or Kinokuniya. The price is affordable. You can get it from RM32.90 and above. Or, if you guys are smart, you guys can find it at stores that sell second-hand books you can get a cheaper price with a good-conditioned book, if you know how to find it.

This book is really worth burning the midnight oil for. You have to go and it read yourself to find out more about the story!

something about me

In the black midnight of the 1^st December 1989, as the clock struck 12.32 am, a cute (well, that’s what people said, not me. hehe.) baby girl was born into this world (and made it more crowded). She was named Noor Diyana by her doting parents. As all of you must have guessed, that girl is me (no surprise there)! You guys can call me Dee or Dz. Why did I use the name vermilion for my blog title? Well, I simply love red colour! I love the boldness of the colour as I consider myself as an introvert. Maybe, there’s just a little bit of extrovert quality in me. Or, I like to think that I’m 2/3 introvert and 1/3 extrovert. To me, the red colour gives me some kind of strength to survive in this world. Laugh. Yeah, I know, I’m so over the top. I’ll try to be more modest. Ha.

I can be a good friend, a wonderful daughter, a great sister, a person people can confide in, and can be deadly when I’m angry (but not so that I have to go to anger management class). Hmm, maybe I have a multiple personality because I can be as quiet as a mouse when I’m around strangers, and as loud as firecrackers when I’m with family and friends. Haha.

In my family, I’m the only person who is a left-handed person. I’ve heard people say that a person who writes with left hand is very artistic but, in all my almost 21 years’ life, I’ve always wondered why it is me the only left-handed without any artistic skills. All of my lefties’ friends are very talented in drawing and are very creative in all their doing. Do you know that I can’t even make a straight line using a ruler? Yeah, I’m such a lost cause. I felt like I’m a letdown to all the lefties in the world! To all lefties, I’m sorry! I’ll try my best to be more artistic and creative. (Wish me all the luck in the world because I’m going to need it badly.)

My area of interest is reading and music, and movies! Lots of them! I cannot free myself from these three. Reading gives me pleasures like no other can. It makes me escape to other places and with each description, I feel like I have been to the places mentioned even though I’ve never been there. Every time I read, I was transported to other dimensions where nobody can reach me, for a while though. Basically, I like to read light materials such as novels especially by Sophie Kinsella, Cecilia Ahern, Nora Roberts, Stephenie Meyers (just to name a few) as I think I’ve had enough with educational or informative reading at class. Hehe. Even so, when the mood strikes me, I like to have a change in my reading materials some times.

I just love Kinsella’s Can You Keep a Secret? It’s full of humour that makes me laugh until my tears fall. The way she writes is very casual and makes you feel like she’s really talking to you. Another favourite author of mine is Cecilia Ahern. Her ‘P/S: I Love You’ novel is the most the all time favourite book of mine alongside Kinsella’s’ Can You Keep a Secret?’ I love the how she writes, the way her storyline is very different from any author that I’ve read. She writes with full of emotions and her stories are about the most common situation in our lives and how the characters deal with the crisis. I think even the coldest hard in the world would melt when reading her books. Stephenie Meyer. I’m sure people know her as the author of the Twilight Saga, and yes, I love really love the series! Because of her, I read another book written by her entitled The Host, which is a science fiction novel. Let me clarify that I’m not a sci-fi fan. But, The Host had really captured my attention and really opened my eyes to a new genre. I’m looking forward for some other great sci-fi novels. If you have any suggestions, feel free to tell me!

Musically, I have a wide range of genres that I like, but, I especially love punk rock and rock. I love Blue October, The All American Rejects, Hoobastank and many more that I better not mention as I’ve already bore you with my babbling about my favourite novelists. Haha. I’m a very shy person, so I’ve always use music to help me face difficulties in my life. Every time I’m feeling sad, or angry I like to plug in my earphone and put the volume on full blast to calm myself down. For me, music is my life. Without it and my beloved mp4, I can’t survive in this world! Haha. Besides that, I love watching movies and television! There are just so many great movies and also talented actors in this world. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that they have cute faces. Hehe.

I’m currently studying at UiTM Shah Alam in BACHELOR IN MASS COMM (HONS) (PUBLISHING). Actually, my first choice is to get into TESL as I really love English! It just fascinates me with its structure, like the grammar, how plural and singular words have to use different verb. But, mostly, the credit is due to my mother who instilled the love of English in me since I was a little girl. But, my command of English is just moderate and I wish to improve it by applying for Teaching English as a Secondary Language (TESL). Right after SPM, I applied for TESL but I didn’t get accepted. I was pretty devastated. So, I went to Kedah Matriculation College when I got an offer. At the Matriculation, once again I applied for TESL, but sadly, TESL can only be applied once.

Then, I stumbled into MassComm. And I thought, “Hmm, it’s probably about communication and the media (at that time, I still didn’t know what MassComm really is, so, DUH!), so there must be English-oriented stuff.” I said to myself, “Why not? There’s no harm in trying.” I blindly chose MassCom without the expectation of getting accepted. So, when I got the letter for the interview, I was shocked and nervous like crazy! Nevertheless, I just went into the audition and tried to answer the questions as confidently as I could. Still, I was very nervous and I flustered a lot and I sure did embarrass myself a lot during the interview. I got the shocked of my lifetime when I made the interview and got accepted! I really didn’t expect it. So, wow! Alhamdulillah.

This is my first attempt in blogging as this is actually a requirement for the Thinking and Writing subject. Before this, when the blogging was, or still is a craze among people, I have no desire to follow them and do one myself. Writing is not exactly my forte. I actually hate writing during my school days, and maybe I still don’t like it but I’m trying to. Writing can be the most powerful tool to get our ideas across. I’ll strive to do the best I can to improve my writing skills so that I can attract people’s attention to be interested in my blog, and take my writing seriously.

I’m still learning about everything there is to learn and I know I will make mistakes along the line but by the mistakes I hope I can learn from it and make it better so that I won’t repeat them again with the help of all of you, hopefully.

Later~