Clare Street wishes readers Happy New Year

Clare Street would like to wish all its friends and readers, particularly pakcik-pakcik and makcik-makcik as well as their dear families living along the Malaysian-Thai border, a happy and also peaceful New Year.

Happy New Year greeting from CPM veterans

Reading more Bernard Lewis writings in 2009

I have planned to read more books and writings of Dr. Bernard Lewis next year. Like Samuel Huntington, Bernard Lewis is controversial as well as influential, and the phrase "clash of civilisations" was actually first used by Lewis, who is a well-known historian of the Middle East.

American scholar Samuel Huntington departs

In memory of true patriot Dr. M.K. Rajakumar

A multi-ethnic memorial service will be held for People's Intellectual and also a forerunner of people's democracy of Malaya/Malaysia, Dr. M.K. Rajakumar on 4 Jan (Sun) at 2.00pm at Dewan Tunku Canselor in Universiti Malaya. It is open to all irrespective of gender and age.

Spirit & ideals of Dr. M.K. Rajakumar lives on

Chinese naval force to sail into Indian Ocean

Sailing through the Strait of Malacca, China's anti-piracy naval group is entering the Indian Ocean. The destination is the Somalian waters. China has reportedly begun to consider producing its aircraft carriers.

Last torch bearer of Beijing' s Olympic Games

American scholar Samuel Huntington departs

Prominent American scholar and also influential political scientist, Dr. Samuel P. Huntington has passed away at 81. Although I do not agree with some of his worldviews, I must also say that many of his Realist insights into international relations and world affairs are productively thoughts-provoking. As a fairly fervent and critical reader of many of his books and other writings in the past two decades, I must place on public record my gratitude to a teacher who was honest in his beliefs.

Reorganising bookshelves in my reading room

Jesus always sided with poor & downtrodden

After reading the report about the Christmas debate between Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his Western critics upon Jesus' political inclination, Xiao Qing asked me ths morning who is right and I told her that I reserve my opinion on this current and specific issue. But, as I also told her, if we have read and studied the Gospel with a heart, it becomes abundantly clear to us that Jesus always sided with the poor and downtrodden. It is also my firm belief that Christ would not have approved any state-backed 'free trade' of opiate and slaves.

Jesus' birth celebrated in peace across China

Happy New Year greeting from CPM veterans

CPM's veteran Suriani Abdullah called this afternoon as she wished to greet, on behalf of her husband Abdullah CD and family as well as the other pakcik-pakcik and makcik-makcik, relatives and friends Happy New Year. Suriani also told me that everybody in her area is still fine.

Legend of Rashid Maidin (1917-2006) lives on

Jesus' birth celebrated in peace across China

Christians in Mainland China reportedly celebrated Christmas today in peace. Dr. Sun Yat Sen (1866 -1925), the Father of Modern China and well-respected forerunner of the Chinese Revolution, was a Christian, but, his vision for the revitalised Chinese nation is a secular republic.

Christmas preserves good old Western values

PM Abdullah right on shoes-throwing incident

PM Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is certainly right in saying that 'a head of government should not be humiliated, like by throwing shoes at him'. In my own opinion, Muntazer al-Zaidi has breached journalists' ethics.

FM Rais wrong in praising Iraqi shoes-thrower

Christmas preserves good old Western values

Christmas is not merely a religious festival for Christians of all races and nationalities, but also a cultural medium for many in the West to preserve as well as reaffirm good old values, like respect for parents. Above all, Christmas is a blessed season for peace and reconciliation.

Preparing hearts & minds for joyful Christmas

FM Rais wrong in praising Iraqi shoes-thrower

Whatever the public sentiments in the streets on the shoes-throwing reporter in Iraq, I really do not think Malaysia's Foreign Minister Rais Yatim is proper in praising him. There are more refined expressions in modern diplomacy for conveying even the most strongly-held view.

In solidarity with Teresa, Hoon Cheng & RPK

Preparing hearts & minds for joyful Christmas

I really can't resist the 'temptation' of blogging to share again with my friends in the Christian community two more good songs in Charlotte Church's very 'angelic' voice, namely Ave Maria and The Lord's Prayer. Meanwhile, my blogging activity would slow down as the Christmas is approaching fast and I need times to visit some old Christian friends.

Delhi vows to ensure safe Christmas in Orissa

Sequel to Red Cliff going to be released soon

According to Ah May, Part II of Red Cliff is going to be released soon. As the Battle for Red Cliff is but one of the many episodes of the epic Romance of Three Kingdoms, it can be expected that a lot more films based on the doubtlessly evergreen magnum opus of classical Chinese literature would be made for popular appreciation and entertainment. Three other masterpieces are Water Margin, Journey to the West and Dream of Red Chamber, which have also been enjoyed in books, oral storytellings, operas and many other art-forms for hundreds of years.

Chinese-language movies for Christmas break

Ah May visited my house last evening and she gave me free of charge five Chinese-language movie DVDs for my Christmas break. Red Cliff attracts me particularly because I have heard about it from friends in Hong Kong some months ago. The movie is based upon an episode of The Romance Of Three Kingdoms. The Battle for Red Cliff is itself an historically as well as archaeologically verified event in ancient China.

Classic Chinese literature in English language

Peace between India & Pakistan fairly fragile

The earlier 'hoax' telephone call and now the accusation and denial of Indian violation of Pakistani airspace have shown, like it or not, that the peace between the two nuclear-armed neighbours is fairly fragile.

India insists Pakistan hands over wanted men

India insists Pakistan hands over wanted men

In spite of Pakistan's official and categorical refusal, the government of India is insistent that its neighbor hand over some wanted persons implicated in the Mumbai rampage. It also disputes Pakistan's official characterisation of the gunmen and their groups as 'non-state actors'.

Pakistan won't hand over India' s wanted men

Pakistan won't hand over India' s wanted men

According to Dawn newspaper, authorities in Pakistan " will not hand over any Pakistani wanted in the Mumbai attacks to India". Pakistani president Asif Zardari wrote earlier in the New York Times cautioning India against "hasty judgements" and also "inflammatory statements" in its reactions to the 60-hour bloody rampage of gunmen in Mumbai. Anti-Indian sentiment is also reportedly still strong among Pakistanis whose country once fought three conventional wars with India, and is now armed with nuclearised weapons just like its traditional nemesis.

India rules out war as option against Pakistan

India rules out war as option against Pakistan

India is definitely wise in ruling out military attacks against Pakistan as an option, and concentrating instead on a comprehensive revamp of its internal security system to overcome a range of vulnerabilities. Prudence and patience are hallmarks of great countries such as India.

India admits faults in domestic security setup

Delhi vows to ensure safe Christmas in Orissa

India's new Home Minister P. Chidambaram has just been reported as saying that the the central government in Delhi will ensure the safety of Christians in Orissa in the upcoming celebration of Jesus' birthday. Christians constitute about 2.3 % of India' s huge population, and the number is reportedly growing fast among the dalits and tribal people.

Hope for peaceful & secure Christmas in India

Hope for peaceful & secure Christmas in India

All men and women of goodwill in the world, east and west, certainly hope that Christians in Orissa and all other parts of India are able to celebrate their Christmas in peace and security and without any fear. The greatness of the modern Indian nation roots in its inclusiveness.

Bing Crosby' s unforgettable Christmas carols

Besides the really unforgettable White Christmas, Bing Crosby (1903-1977) also sang other traditional English Christmas carols, like Silent Night and God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen. We loved to enjoy listening good old carols in Bing Crosby's rendition in The Cold Storage at No.1, Clare Street from mid-December onward till the Boxing Day was over.

White Christmas as my father' s favorite song

White Christmas as my father' s favorite song

My father used to enjoy Bing Crosby's White Christmas and I am sure he would have also liked Sissel's rendition of the very Anglo-American festive classic had he still been around. I have certainly not forgotten my father always bought slices of roast turkey from The Cold Storage for the traditional Cantonese-style family dinners on Christmas' eves.

Christmas carols with Church' s angelic voice

Christmas carols with Church' s angelic voice

Charlotte Church can really sing traditional Christmas carols, such as O Holy Night and What Child Is This ? with stirring passion as well as 'angelic' voice that deliver the essential Christmas message faithfully.

Celebrating Christmas in economic downturn

Gunmen of Mumbai may be "non-state actors"

American Secretary of State Dr. Condoleezza Rice has been quoted as saying that "there's no doubt" that the sixty-hour rampage in Mumbai was planned inside Pakistan but that "Pakistani territory was used by probably non-state actors". Earlier, America's President-elect Obama was reported as saying that India possesses "a right to defend itself".

India admits faults in domestic security setup

Obama says India has "a right to defend itself"

NDTV in India as well as The New International in Pakistan have just reported American President-elect Obama as saying that India has "a right to defend itself". India-Pakistan relationship is still quite tense.

Indian PM : my nation angry as "never before"

Indian PM on role of science for Indian nation

Indian PM Dr. Manmohan Singh has reportedly remarked that there is "an unacceptable rise of intolerance in India" and he also calls for "an opening of the Indian mind" by means of "the inculcation of scientific temper". India successfully launched its spacecraft Chandrayaan-1 on 22 October to fulfill its highly cherished dream of exploring the moon.

Indian PM : my nation angry as "never before"

Indian PM : my nation angry as "never before"

Indian PM Dr. Manmohan Singh has been reported as expressing that his country is hurt and angry as "never before", by the Mumbai Siege. Anti-Pakistan sentiment is certainly still very widespread and intense in India, but, many Indians are also critical of their own government for several aspects of its crisis management and also security lapses.

India admits faults in domestic security setup

India admits faults in domestic security setup

India's new Home Minister, Palaniappan Chidambaram, has admitted that intelligence and security mistakes were made before the attacks of some well-trained and well-equipped gunmen in Mumbai last week. The well-planned sixty-hour attacks, believed by many Indians as well as their government to be linked to some "Pakistani elements", killed 163 people, including 26 foreigners, and also injured about 300 more.

India on security alert against airport attacks

Celebrating Christmas in economic downturn

Christmas this year will, without doubt, be celebrated throughout the world in more modest ways because of the downturn of the economy. Hopefully, it serves to bring the hearts and minds back to a renewed understanding of the essential and timeless messages of the festival. Merry Christmas greeting from James and family to all who celebrate.

Charles Dickens' writings still good for youths

India on security alert against airport attacks

According to a news report in NDTV (New Delhi TV), India's Bureau of Civil Aviation has issued a hijack warning for airports in three major cities. There is also the fear that some of the highly-trained Mumbai gunmen may have escaped and also 'melted into' the local population.

Balanced management of India-Pakistan crisis

Balanced management of India-Pakistan crisis

I think American State Secretary Dr. Condoleezza Rice's approach of managing the current crisis situations in the India-Pakistan relations is balanced or even-handed so far. Her twin objectives are clearly to (a) prevent an outbreak of the fourth India-Pakistan war and also (b) ensure that Pakistan and India are cooperative on counter-terrorism.

USA to focus security concerns on South Asia

USA to focus security concerns on South Asia

As the result to truly shocking Mumbai rampage, the United States is going to focus its foreign as well as security policies upon South Asia. The Mumbai gunmen's special targetting of Americans, Jews and also Britons indicates the growing influence of the worldview of Al Qaeda, while the incident itself has also re-surfaced the potentially explosive tension between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan. The recent wave of revival of an extremely intolerant and violent expression of Hindu fundamentalism that led to the widespread as well as prolonged anti-Christian pogroms in Orissa as well as some other parts of India also demands more effective attention in the new regional security focus.

Al Qaeda still passionately hostile to America

America forewarned India of potential attack

Amidst the speculation within India itself that the sixty-hour rampage of attackers in Mumbai could have been prevented had there been no intellignce failure, ABC News in the United States reported today that American intelligence agencies had already forewarned of a potential attack "from the sea against hotels and business centers in Mumbai".

Official number of Mumbai attackers in doubt

Official number of Mumbai attackers in doubt

According to an official account in India, there were ten gunmen who rampaged for about sixty hours in Mumbai, and nine were killed while one has been captured alive. However, according to a news report in The Times in London, the number involved in the attacking operation may be higher and some of them may have escaped to menace again. The Mumbai-based Daily News & Analysis (DNA) also quoted Vladimir Klyukinm, who is a Russian expert in counterterrorism , as reasoning that "at least 50 attackers" took parts in various locations in the city. The densely populated Mumbai is certainly not too difficult for Hindi- or Urdu-speaking Pakistanis and any other South Asians to 'melt into'.

India-Pakistan ties from American standpoints