RIP "La Propaganda"

I have decided to retire this website. It will continue to lie on its dormant state (at least till xanga decides to pull the plug on the weblog altogether) for you faithful readers to browse old posts. To be honest, I am a little sad to abandon this website that contains many of my thoughts and struggles throughout my life as a graduate student and a Christian.

While I am abandoning this website, I have started a new weblog through a different provider. I feel that this new one represents a "rebirth" of some sorts as I am now in a different place in my life. I am still very much the same "me" though. But, like a raging rapid, our lives and personalities are always in flux. And so, I straddle between the same me and the new me. Okay bad existential musing there.

Anyway, without further ado, the link to my new blog is:

http://blessedarethecheesemakers.wordpress.com

I hope you will continue to read it even if it is a hassle to switch out of xanga. But if you think that you've had enough of me, I fully understand as well. That being said, I want to thank everyone of you who have visitied, browsed, read, and commented on my weblog throughout its years of existence. Thank you xanga for providing this space for me to express myself. But all good (and bad) things must come to an end.

Goodbye xanga! You will be missed. Hello wordpress! I look forward to new beginnings and hopes.

Peace and blessings!
alias eukitlim (2004-2007)

Currently Listening A Ghost Is Born By Wilco see related

I am Not an Ant

Guess what? I updated. I'm not dead yet, sorry for all you nay-sayers. I thought I should share with you a poem that I wrote based on my vocational understanding as a teacher.

I am Not an Ant

I don't want to be an ant

We go through life

With our antennas

Bouncing off one another

Continuously on autopilot

With nothing really human required of us
Stop
Go
Walk here
Drive there

Read this

Write that

Buy this

Get that

I don’t want to be an ant

I don’t want to be an ant

All communication simply to keep the colony

Droning along in an efficient, polite manner
You look ravishing today

Your hair looks cute

Are those Versaces?

Here’s your change

Find anything you like today?
Paper or plastic?
Credit or debit?
Would you like to supersize that?

I don’t want to be an ant

I should know

I was once an ant

I lived on autopilot

I care only about one thing

And one thing only

Go to school

Get married

Get a job

Retire and die

There’s nothing to it

I should know

I was once an ant

And I don’t want to be an ant

I don’t want to be an ant

Well, I am not an ant!

I am God’s beloved

I have worth

I am unique

I am not isolated

I am in community

I don’t operate on autopilot mode

I have feelings

I have human contacts

I have real human moments

I want to see them

And I want them to see me

I don’t want to be an ant

Well, I am not an ant!

I am God’s beloved

My God is with me

My God loves me

My God liberates

“I have come to give life

And to have life abundantly”

Said our Lord and Savior

I don’t want to be an ant

Well, I am not an ant!

My God is with me

My God cries with the oppressed

My God angers at injustice

Let justice roll down like water

And righteousness like an ever-flowing stream

I don’t want to be an ant

Well, I am not an ant!

I am God’s beloved

I see beyond myself

Beyond my self-indulgent lifestyle

Beyond my autopilot-self

I see evil in the world

I see other humans

Suffering

Crying

Oppressed

Ignored

Hurt

By other humans

They are in need of hope

They are on autopilot mode

Like ants in a colony

I don’t want to be an ant

Well, I am not an ant!

Because I am God’s beloved

I see worth in humans

And the world

I pledge to help my fellow humans

Guide my fellow humans

Give life to my fellow humans

But what can I do?

How can I achieve that?

I will teach

Teachers change the world

Teachers are not ants

And I am not an ant!

I don’t want to be an ant

Well, I am not an ant!

I am a teacher

A teacher of humans

To be God’s beloved

To be dignified people

To be compassionate people

To be soldiers against injustice

To be rebel-rousers!

To be liberated

To have abundant life

To be more than ants

I am not an ant

No, I am a teacher!

I don’t want to be an ant

Well, I am not an ant!

I am a teacher

But the duties of a teacher

Are as difficult as they can be

When what is expected of you

Is to teach others to be law-abiding ants

Graduate with a degree

Get a good job

Buy a big house

Live a good life

Retire in Florida

Ants don’t make good humans

They don’t fight against injustice

And overturn the powers that be

I don’t want to teach my fellow humans

To be ants

I want to teach them

To be humans

I don’t want to be an ant

Well, I am not an ant!

And God does not want more ants

God wants changes

In the way we live for others

In the way we love our enemies

In the way we confront injustice

But I can’t do it alone

Who’s alone?

I am not alone!

God is with me

Guiding me

Holding me

Teaching me

To teach others

God helps me change lives

From drones to individuals

From self-centered to communal-centered

From selfishness to selflessness

From ants to humans

If God is with me

Who can be against me?

I don’t want to be an ant

Well, I am not an ant!

I am God’s beloved

I am a teacher

Letters from Iwo Jima

If Clint Eastwood's movie "Letters from Iwo Jima" is playing at your local theaters, I would definately recommend you watching it. It really goes to show how fucked up war is, and how people can sink into inhumanity, as well as recovering their humanities on both sides of the fence. I think its about time Hollywood starts making movies that look at the war from the perspective of the "losing" side."

I suppose Eastwood's timing release of the movie forces us to evaluate what exactly is going on in Iraq (or any other places where soldiers are deployed), and how we dehumanize our enemies. Perhaps if we take a closer look at things, we might find out that soliders and "terrorists" from both sides of the fence are very much human, which means they are fragile, living breathing creatures. But most importantly, they are ALL beloved by God and are WORTHY to be redeemed and restored.

Oh Baltimore Ravens.... I had so much hope for you. Well, at least I didn't lose any money. Not exactly the gambler type.

Currently Reading Capital: Volume 1: A Critique of Political Economy (Penguin Classics) By Karl Marx see related

The Whiners Called Coloradans When it Comes to Snow (And then Some)

I think Coloradans are a bunch of pansies and whiners. Granted it is a little bit on the cold side today (10 Farenheit is hardly anything to fuss about) I've been through worse. Apparently in Grand Forks (the place where I used to live) it is currently -24 Farenheit. Now that's cold!

I realize that this statement borders on the paternalistic or even elitist side, but hey, after 4 winter storms/snow/blizzards, I think people in Colorado should grow accustomed to it. But no, what did they do? They whine and complain about the snow. Geez people.... its the middle winter, its supposed to SNOW. So shut up already about being "tired of snow." If you don't want snow, maybe migrating to California, or Kuala Lumpur would be a better option.

There is ONE complaint on my part though... and its the crappy snow removal process. CO really sucks at doing that...not that you all want to know. Perhaps the state of Colorado should learn from their northern colleagues from MN, ND, WI, or IL about a thing or two about snow plowing procedures.

In other news, yours truly is seeing somebody these days. 

Also, in other news, I am a confirmed geek/nerd because I actually enjoy reading Karl Marx's "Capital: Vol. I." Very geeky I know. But such is the life of a grad student.

And finally.... also also in other news, 20 bucks says that the Baltimore Ravens wins the Superbowl.