A very ALCOHOLic day...

Assalammualaikum wbt

Today is Monday... a new day after a great weekend... arghh~ just finished killing zombies in Resident Evil 5 with Muhaimin and went cycling from my home to central to paddy's and back home with Ratap.

Well, today like any other Monday... so lazy to go to lecture... woke up late... came to lecture late like at 9.30am (lecture start at 9.00am)


Little did I suspect, today was going to be a very alcoholic day... jeng jeng jeng...


LECTURE: Alcohol Plenary

It's the first day of a new plenary.. last plenary was about Obesity. I came late to the lecture but the lecturer suddenly said something about Malaysia. Malaysia? He said something about he went there to do some research and all...

Then he said:
"The chinese in Malaysia drink alcohol, but not until they get drunk, or only during occasions such as Chinese New Year
The malays in Malaysia do not drink alcohol, as they are muslims
But.. the malays said the indians are very bad..." he said. Then the audience laugh, and he moved on..

I was like... did he met some racists malay or what... and he just made a conclusion based on that comment? Well, if he asked me I would say the indians are not really that bad when it comes to alcohol comsumption, personal experience, I never have any indian friends that is an alcoholic... so which malay made that comment and for that lecturer to take that comment and to make a conclusion and presenting it to the lecture hall.... somehow pissed me off.

It's as if he dont want to accept the fact that Malaysian (not just malays) has lower alcohol consumption then them. Okay okay, malaysian do drinks and even some muslims (sadly) drinks too... but I'm sure its not as bad as the western country (even for the non-muslims).

Then he moved on... into prevention of alcohol...

He listed 10 things about how to reduce alcohol consumption... such as taxes, age limits etc... but then he said something that I will not let go easily... he said educations and campaigns are proven not effective and its just a waste of money! Educations and campaigns are not even in the top 10 lists.. he said...

Well, I beg to differ... In Malaysia we dont have laws that prohibits alcohol consumption and selling. Muslims can get access to alcohol 24/7 through 7/11 and no policeman will come and catch you. Although undeniably some Muslims do buy and drink alcohol, most of us dont... and what differs? Education... not just school education.. but education from parents, teachers, friends and scholars.. Education if done the right way.. is really2 effective... and for that lecturer to just say.. education and campaigns is a waste of money... I dont know what research in Malaysia he has done...

Well, I managed to get some of the dissatisfaction out during my Scenario Group session with my group members... then we get to see a very informative, sad and mind-opening video about aboriginal health regarding alcohol abuse

LONELY BOY RICHARD

It's a story mainly about Richard Wanambi, who lived in the northern territory, where his problem reflected the problem of alcohol abuse in the aborigines society. Alcohol was not introduced to them until the 1970 when a mining site was created at their territory, even though they fought against that. The elders at that time went to court to fight for their land, and to demand that pub (where alcohol will be sold) not to be established there. Well, they lost that case and as a result alcohol was made readily available for the people there. The elders knew at that time that alcohol will destroy their communnity, as so they were right.

It shows how richard's life was ruined by alcohol, how the society, the young ones, fathers, all getting drunk at night lost in the streets, how the community members have to work hard to help them, how the school principle is worried that the number of people going to school is dropping, how the policemen have to work night shift to help these people who got drunk at night... its all very very sad to see how a community sunk to the bottom of life values because of alcohol... How those elders who fought the establishment of the pub was right...

Richard went to Darwin for a court case about his marriage I think, but 2 days before his trial, in Darwin, he drunk so much and sexually assaulted a teenage girl there... making him facing the possibility of life sentence... the whole room was like... quiet for a while there... "damn..."

After the trial, the judge decided to give him 8 and a half year of prison, after taking into consideration the alcohol influence on his community... his lawyer asked him:
"How did you feel about going into prison?"
"good"
"why?"
"Because I did bad things" Richard replied... at that time I knew... I knew that if is it not because of alcohol influence... Richard is a very good guy... very good guy who believed in God...

Then they show this scene where his grandson (or is it his son, or his niece) saying goodbye to him, he wanted to touch his hand... and after that Richard cried... its the first time I see him cry... and that was a very touching scene...

What had happened at the community of these people because of alcohol is very very sad... If only the elders had won the case to prevent the establishment of the pub, if only people at the 1970's knew this would happened... I pray that Allah will help those people, give them a light of hope, and guide them towards the right path.

The one important message I get from watching that documentary is..

Alhamdulillah, Thank you Allah for not making me, my family, my close friend and a large portion of my community not addicted to alcohol... it is indeed a very very precious blessings that we all should be grateful off.

Hanging around with my Australian friend here talking about alcohol, I knew that they become addicted to alcohol mainly because of the social and peer pressure... which we (the Malaysians) is very fortunate not to have that kind of social pressure.

But now, our own community if falling down that path.. slowly more and more malaysian muslim is drinking alcohol, and we must make sure that we play our role to help reduce that... Do not turn our community into what happen to the Indigenous community in that video...

Lastly.. to all my Malaysian friends in Australia...

I realized one other thing from watching that video... that Australian Aborigines are just as human as us... we (perhaps not all) like to generalize them as dangerous and all... and I know at least one of us nearly (or has) become a victim from their assault... but why they act that way... probably because of those in the documentary.. maybe alcohol and other stuff... we must understand that they as a community is aware of that, and they have members of their community trying hard to change that... which is very very inspiring...

So one question I want to leave to you my brothers...

As a muslim, is it right for us to generalize them as a group of people on a level lower then us?

I am guilty of that... and I hope Allah will cleanse my heart of such thoughts... we have Islam... the solution.. show it to them.. dont hate them...


Everything written here is my personal opinion, in no way am I trying to offend anyone... Apologizes if anyone is offended~

Salam~