The Final Countdown

This is it, people.

The last step in this whirlwind journey. The day of reckoning. Showtime.

The rain came down hard and fast last Saturday (Aug 25), and it dampened everything but the spirits of the Merdeka 50 performers. The harder the going gets, the more brilliant their smiles become.

Beind each person is a story of struggle, sometimes immense struggles. I'm sure everybody who have a part of this journey has their story to tell. Take Vivian Tai for example. Vivian is a beautician (with flawless skin), who owns two beauty parlours.

In participating in this Merdeka 50 performance, she had to endure scorn from people around her. "Why are you doing all this? It's not like you're getting paid!" Despite being taunted, she decided that, "What I'm doing is the right thing, and I'm going ahead." In this age where people have no stand of their own and are easily swayed by "public opninion", Vivian's conviction is admirable indeed. In an age where people only look out for their own interests and are too busy lining their own pockets, Vivian's selflessness stands out.

Her experience shows that strength of character does not come from titles, positions or power. It comes from the heart.

SGM's performance is really one of a kind, and will surely stand out on the Big Day.

Thousands of people other than those from SGM have worked hard to put this Merdeka 50 celebration together. We too should appreciate their efforts in making this entire event a success. I was particularly impressed by the discipline and harmony shown by the secondary schools' brass band.

Also, to the "fanatical" members of the SGM fanclub, your presence really left an impression on the audience during the rehearsal. "Who are those crazy people shouting, cheering and clapping, even from the side of the field?"

Yep, we have a further 80 members of the Cultural Division performing under the umbrella of Istana Budaya, who also doubled up as the fanclub as well. Can't help but notice a bunch of crazy people screaming their lungs out when everyone else is so quiet. Even when they were at the side of the field, waiting for the finale, the applause and cheers didn't stop. What will we do without you?

Of course, not forgetting the efforts of other SGM members in Kl and around the country who are contributing to the country's Merdeka celebration. Your contribution is invaluable too.

Thanks a lot guys, for joining us on this wonderful journey. Hope that you guys will still maintain your links with SGM long after this event.

All right then, just a little over 30 hours to go from the moment of truth. The whole nation, and foreign guests who will there, will be looking forward to a fantastic show from you guys.

In the words of captain Jean-Luc Picard of Star Trek: The Next Generation, "Make it so."

"Youth is a truly wonderful thing. Unfortunately though, this is something that's hard to appreciate when we're young. Life passes by quickly. before we know it, we are old. That's why in our youth we should live as active as we possibly can. Rather than a life of blank pages, live a life crammed full of well-fought and wonderfully diverse experiences. Not to leave behind any history, to grow old and die, is a sad way to live"

- SGI President Daisaku Ikeda

I would like to disagree...

"I disagree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - Voltaire

Over 500 votes has been cast so far for the "Should we publish a pictorial" poll. At the beginning, after about 100 votes cast, it seems like nearly everybody wanted to have this pictorial. As time went on, the "NO" votes increased, and right now, they make up about 20% of the votes.

I've also read the comments posted in this blog regarding the publication of this pictorial. I was impressed by everyone, who commented rationally, without resorting to name-calling and verbal sniping, or to insulting and discrediting the other party.

In the world today, those in power will not hesitate to condemn those who with dissenting views with the strongest, harshest terms possible. If those in power think you have "insulted" them, or cast suspicions on possible wrongdoings, they will not hesitate to call you "traitor", or "sell-out", or "threat".

I once read that you can disagree without being disagreeable. The comments posted on this blog rightly reflects this statement. If we feel afraid to speak our mind, always under the shadow of being branded as "traitors", then what does our freedom mean? That being said, we should take action responsibly, not for the sake of starting a fire. We should not feel afraid to disagree, as long as it is done responsibly. As ancient Chinese philosophers said, "Think thrice before acting" (san si er hou xing).

I personally feel that this Merdeka 50 performance is a once in a lifetime opportunity for everyone. When Merdeka 100 comes, I'll probably be in a wheelchair or an urn. It is up to us to create an accurate history of what really happened. The story of Merdeka 50 is the story of the common people's triumph. I told a dear friend that if we don't do this pictorial, we will be letting the performers, crew and our members down.

That being said, it is not up to me to decide if this pictorial will be published. I'm just expressing some of my views. Feel free to disagree with me.

Holding hands, joining hearts

“In the mountains, there is friendship. Nothing joins people together like mountains do. On the most perilous paths, we join hand in hand and converse heart to heart…So, let us solve the world’s problems in the mountains. Let Krushchev, Johnson, Nehru and Mao come here to talk.”

“

(from "Unforgettable Friends", a collection of SGI President Ikeda's impressions on his dialogues with world leaders)

Who said these sagacious words? This was Tenzing Norgay, an ordinary Sherpa guide, who, with Edmund Hillary became the first people to reach the summit of Mount Everest. Much of history lauded Edmund Hillary’s achievement, but he couldn’t have done it without Tenzing Norgay. It was an ordinary mountain guide who made the conquest of Everest possible.

The pictures of the flower formation and the human mini-towers alone remind me of what Norgay had said. In doing these physically demanding moves, the youthful participants of the Merdeka 50 performance had to trust each other completely and join hands and hearts. Here, complete strangers come and put aside their fears and worries and learn to trust each other and work together towards a greater goal. Here, they put aside whatever personal issues and come to join hands with friends.

Leaders of the world! Put aside your lesser self, and come and see true friendship in action! Come here, join hands and link hearts. Leave your masks behind and come as you are. Come here to talk and to end the conflicts plaguing the world!

Come here to Stadium Merdeka and open the golden door to world peace!

We are not alone

Yes. It's confirmed.

Our sources have confirmed the existence of groups north and east of Kuala Lumpur... with similar characteristics and behavioural tendencies like our 1,500 performers.

Who can they be?

They are... our brothers and sisters from Penang and Pahang. A few hundred of them are also practising weekly for the state level August 31 celebrations!

Here is the bloglink for the SGM Penang @ Merdeka site:
http://2007merdekadaygymrama.blogspot.com/

So, visit the site for some excellent photos and show your support!!

Next step of development

“We mustn’t become robots. Mechanical performances are of no value. We mustn’t become complacent and always be reaching for the next stage of our development. Isn't that the meaning of soka – to ‘create value?’”

This was the declaration of acclaimed Brazilian pianist and composer, Amaral Vieira, in his dialogue with SGI President Daisaku Ikeda.

He also said, “I relish each concert as an opportunity to reach my audience – people whom I may never see again. Some may come to my performances searching for hope. That’s why I take my concerts so seriously.”

In many ways, Malaysia is part of a world searching for hope in these turbulent times. Hope lies in the passionate effort of youth striving to break through difficulties in their lives.

For the participants of the Merdeka 50 celebrations, they have moved from the SGM culture centres to Stadium Negara, a further step in the development of the performance. In spite of the stifling heat and lack of ventilation, the performers were in extremely high spirits, and their exuberance seems to give the aged stadium a new lease of life.

They learnt more new steps today, including the challenging human formations. Most of them are doing these formations for the first time in their lives. The tension and trepidation was tingling in the air, as they strive to scale yet another mountain.

To the end, the members encouraged each other, and congratulated their team mates whenever they were successful. When they were not successful, all they would say is, “Let’s try again!” You cannot help but be moved by their earnest endeavours. No matter how hard the practice became, they always stayed bright and cheerful.

Feeling human

“During the two hours of game time, I live in another world. I forget about the car bombs and feel human again, and what is more beautiful is that the team includes all sects. They are all Iraqis to us and they make me feel we are united again.”

These were the words of Nawfal Hameed, an ordinary Iraqi, which was carried in a report published in the New Straits Times on July 23. He was talking about the Iraqi national team’s progress in the Asian Cup.

Feel human again. Ordinary Iraqis like Nawfal must live in fear each moment, not knowing when the next car bomb will tear their bodies, or that of their loved ones, into pieces.

In Malaysia, we often take issues of peace and security for granted, while there are many in other parts of the world who do not know if they’ll live to see the next dawn.

“Nothing is more precious than peace,” SGI President Ikeda writes in his epic work (still unfinished), The New Human Revolution. It is only with peace that we can develop our highest potential, when we can be truly human.

I believe that the Merdeka 50 performance can show the nation how important true peace is. All of you performers and support groups are noble angels of peace who can illuminate the path of peace for society. I believe that as we challenge the difficulties that lie ahead, we will all grow in character. We will all grow in stature. Good fortune will adorn our lives.

“Where there is unseen virtue, there will be visible reward.” – Nichiren Daishonin

Captain's log, stardate 210707 - part 2

Humans are perhaps the only creatures in the world who knows how to be selfish. Most of the time, we will not do something unless it promises some kind of gain or mileage. In career terms, we will only do something if it brings incentives (commission, promotion, pay rise), or if not doing it will result in punishment.

In some joint office campaigns during my career, I noticed that some colleagues did not bother to participate in these joint efforts. They just went about doing their work and looking busy. True, they may have been genuinely busy, but I suppose the least they could do was explain. In any case, not participating would not entail any punishment, so what the heck?

So, what’s the incentive for the Merdeka 50 participants? At best, a certificate of participation from the government. And some modest food for each performance. Some airtime on the big day, but with over 1,000 participants, who gets to be seen? Hardly Andy Warhol’s 15 minutes of fame.

But yet, these performers selflessly give up their weekends, and possibly some weekdays as well to participate in this historic event. Their energy and passion are contagious; you could feel their vibe permeating one’s entire being when you’re in there with them. No matter how arduous the practice has been, they always leave with a beaming smile on the face. You can’t help but be inspired and deeply moved.

SGI President Ikeda’s guidance :

“Because you are still young, you, the youth have boundless possibilities; you can do anything you set your mind on. If you let this precious time pass you by, idly frittering your days away or letting fear and insecurity hold you back, you will be the one to lose out in the end. I hope you will lead a youth of undying hope and boldly write the history of kosen-rufu with the heart of a lion king. That is the true path of Soka youth. “

Captain's log, stardate 210707 - part 1

“You can’t always get what you want,
but if you try sometimes,
you might find you get what you need.”

The lines above from a Rolling Stones hit seems to sum up the recruitment drive for this Merdeka 50 performance. In the initial stages, the result was rather worrying. The kick-off for the performers saw only about 300 people attending. By July 10, we still pretty short of people.

But in just a few days after that, we were “oversubscribed”. Thanks to the efforts of the members, especially the MD and WD, we got more than we hoped for. In my chapter alone, the number of performers practically doubled in that few days. After July 15, all recruitment effectively ceased.

Right now, it's crucial that we pray and make efforts to ensure that everyone will stick right until the end, stay in good health and that all our practices, and the actual performance will be a great success.

SGM Participates in the 50th Merdeka Celebrations!

Malaysia commemorates 50 years of nationhood this August 31. Soka Gakkai Malaysia (SGM) is honoured to be invited by the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Heritage to be part of this historic celebration.

SGM will be performing at the Merdeka Celebration on Friday, August 31, 2007 at Merdeka Stadium, the historic venue where our nation's first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman first called out "Merdeka!". A total of 1,500 SGM youth members will be performing a series of formations and calisthenics movements in this colourful celebration. Besides the 1,500 performers, another 400 volunteers from SGM will be working behind the scenes to support the event including meal preparation, medical aid, ushers and security.

Preparations are in full swing for the big show on August 31. Since June, the SGM choreography team have been working non-stop 24/7 to finalise the formations and movements. The secretariat and main committee have been organising the recruitment and setting up the operations for the event. After the two-week recruitment drive in June, practice sessions have started at SGM culture centres in Cheras and Klang on July 1.