The boy was caressing his partner's breasts, arms and legs. Each stroke was a delicate one, making sure she remained aroused. Their lips locked as they simulated the whole sexual scene. The Ahhhhs and the Ohhhhhs reverberated from the love bubble and floated inside the bus. And then suddenly...
'SHUT UP!' wailed an old women who was seated across the other side of the bus.
That was exactly what I observed in an incident about four years ago in a SBS bus. The couple, who probably felt so embarrassed after being scolded in public, alighted from the bus at the next stop. It was shocking but funny at the same time. The couple might have the 'courage' to showcase their affections in public without a single tinge of shame hanging over them, but all that 'courage' seemed superficial when they were chided by an old harmless women.
So is it acceptable for teenagers to smooch in public? Or is it just too much? In my opinion, I believe such public displays of affection are a bit too much. Firstly, we must understand that Singapore is a relatively conservative society founded by Asian traditions and values. Kissing or caressing in public is like a taboo in our society. We should respect our cultural values and not let Western imperialism overwhelm it. Singapore must not lose its identity as an Asian nation to foreign influence. It is never too late to preserve our culture for future generations.
Secondly, giving the green light to public sexual exhibitions could worsen the moral degradation among Singapore youths today. If the elderly woman did not stop the couple from kissing in the bus, they may develop the mentality that such activities are widely accepted. From there, our teenagers become more daring to experiment more 'ambitious' things such as oral sex in public. In fact, sex in public is experiencing a rising trend among youngsters today, as highlighted in a Berita Harian report recently. If the trend is perpetuated, then conservative teenagers may find it hard or even abnormal to stick to their traditional or religious values in the future.
Finally, it is also important to take note that we are living in a multi-cultural society. What our teenagers do represents how much their communities have matured, let it be Chinese, Malay or Indian. Nobody can deny the fact that racial stereotypes are still prevalent in today's society. And since Singapore consists of small minority groups, this provides little or no excuse for the respective groups to be experiencing social problems among their youths. Racial stereotypes such as the Malay teenagers being more sexually active (due to newspaper reports showing Malay youths having the highest rate of teenage pregnancies) may cause unnecessary tensions to arise. (Another example is how the African-American teenagers are stereotyped as more likely to commit crimes in their country.) Thus, witnessing a young Malay couple kissing in public may further deepen the stereotype.
Public displays of affection among teenagers are not acceptable at all. The multi-cultural Singapore society is not ready to accept them due to our conservative beliefs. We are Asians and we must be proud of our traditional values and beliefs.
Teenage Couples Smooching In Public: Acceptable Or A Bit TOO Much?
Addicted To Sex
I first learnt about the sex addiction phenomenon in a report by Berita Harian on David Duchovny's public confession about his obsession with sex. What caught my attention was that the article claimed it was a mental illness. I began to wonder if he was simply mentally ill or sexually hyperactive?
And so I did a research and found interesting information related to the illness. Firstly, there is a scientific explanation to this newly-found 'media pet'. It is a mental illness caused by uncontrollable and excessive production of dopamine (a hormone) by the brain when the patient is engaging in sex. Patients are addicted to the pleasure of having sex and are unable to avoid it. They may even engage in fetishes with objects to satisfy their insatiable lust (spot the paradox?).
Recently, a 25-year-old British woman, Terri Hunter, broke news to the world regarding her sexual addiction. She told News Of The World that she had slept with over a thousand men, most of whom she met from the Internet. She is currently taking anti-depressants to control her addiction.
The question now is this: what could have caused such a mental illness? I believe the mass media has played a huge role in the development of sex addiction. Pornographic videos boast the high level of sexual pleasure enjoyed by the casts. The images are then played in the mind over and over again, gratifying his virtual desires. From here, curiosity kills his control for sexual pleasure; like how curiosity killed the cat.
Like the famous Pringles logo, 'Once you pop, you can't stop' - the same thing applies once he begins to imitate whatever that plays in his mind. Once you ahh, you just can't stop...
Muslims To Embrace Fasting Month Tomorrow
The holy month of Ramadhan meets more than a billion Muslims tomorrow. Ramadhan is the month when Muslims seek Allah's blessings and forgiveness. It is the month when the gates of mercy are open and evil spirits are chained. The next thirty days will test Muslims all over the world as they abstain from food, water and any other activities or behaviour that could nullify the fast, during the period of time when the sun rises till it sets. Fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam and every Muslim is obliged to fast during Ramadhan unless they are unable to do so due to medical reasons.
A Muslim who satisfies the following conditions must fast during Ramadhan:
1) Sane, normal, and not mentally ill
2) Reached puberty
3) Is able to do so, not badly sick or weak
A Muslim is excused from fasting during Ramadhan only if:
1) he or she is sick
2) he or she is travelling (musafir)
3) he or she is old and very weak
4) she is pregnant and/or breast-feeding the baby
Besides abstaining oneself from eating or drinking, a Muslim is also not allowed to do certain activities which could nullify the fast (from the period of time after the sun rises till it sets) such as:
1) Sexual intercourse
2) Engaging in activities that could cause the ejaculation, such as masturbation and watching pornographic videos
3) Taking injections or abusing drugs
4) Smoking
5) Menses
My non-Muslim friends often ask me if fasting affects our ability to study or revise our work as we may be hungry and thirsty. Well, we Muslims actually treat the fasting month as the perfect opportunity to revise our work. We will use our breaks or recess time to study instead of eating ot drinking in the canteen. Besides that, we usually stay at home during the day instead of going out. We spend the time at home completing out revision. In fact, Ramadhan is perhaps the best time I can fully focus on my studies while returning to Allah in repentance. I believe spirituality can affect the effectiveness of our revision sessions.
So have I ever skipped a day of fasting? Well, I guess I did so a couple of times when I was still a child:
TPJCian Magazine will cool down this September. There will be less posts. Read the full update tomorrow.
Why Singapore Needs More Babies
Bigger baby bonus, longer maternity leave and higher tax relief. These are some of the new and improved measures designed by the Singapore government to tackle the plunging birth rate. The issue received extensive media coverage and Singaporeans gave mixed opinions regarding the solutions proposed. So why the huge fuss? I will explain two critical reasons in this post - economic and social.
Singapore is facing an ageing population now. In about ten to twenty years time, many workers will reach the retirement age. A fresh group of workers are needed to occupy the vacant job positions. Furthermore, companies and factories located in Singapore rely heavily on the country's manpower. The economy will slow down if there is a shortage of skilled labour supply in the future. Since the population is mainly made up the white-haired (in the future) who depend on their Central Provident Fund (CPF) balance, the demand for goods will start to decline. They are most likely to save for the future, then use it to purchase goods. An economic slowdown begins.
Besides this, Singapore is also an export-driven economy. This means that the country depends on foreign countries to exports its locally-produced goods to drive the economy. Many companies outsource to Singapore due its pro-business environment and skilled workforce. Without the next generation of young workers, the factories in Singapore may suffer a low productivity rate. The older workers are not skilled enough to use the new and advanced technologies invented in order to increase productivity. The producers need fresh graduates who are ready for work. Retraining can help solve this problem, but the costs incurred are just too costly for small or private firms. With low birth rates, a shortage of skilled labour emerges and factories may start looking elsewhere for the better and more productive workers. Producers are not able to enjoy economies of scale and cut costs, leading to high prices. Singapore will find it more difficult to compete in the global market. If this situation do happen, the country's export-driven economy suffers and the balance of trade continues to deteriorate.
Social reasons are also contributing factors that push the government to solve the low birth rate problem fast. Singapore's population may fall tremendously if the birth rate continues to go south. However, the economy needs to be continuously fuelled with productive workers. Thus, the government may have to turn their heads to immigration. So what is the problem with immigration? The government struggled to maintain racial harmony during its first years of independence with the presence of racial riots and more. It is still improving its legislation to suit the cultures and beliefs of the three main races here - Chinese, Malay and Indian. Our leaders consistently remind us not to take the current racial harmony for granted; instead, we must put every effort to strengthen it.
An exodus of foreign workers to Singapore may complicate things here. For example, the Westerners are generally more open to racism. Racism is widespread in many Western countries which still practice complete freedom of speech and expression. They may bring along the culture into Singapore and perhaps challenge the legislation here. For example, anti-Muslim sentiments are still prevalent in Australia, especially among the youngsters. If the foreigners come with their families into Singapore, the intolerant behaviours may also be imported into the island. Preserving racial harmony may get more complicated than ever.
A Nude Beach In Singapore?
Nude beaches, also known as clothing-optional beaches, are common in European countries especially in Norway and Denmark. One of the earliest nude beaches made was the Montalivet Beach, located in France. Built in the 1950s, the beach offers a tranquil environment for naturists all over the world. In Montalivet, nudism is accepted as part of the community's culture; it is also practiced in the micro level among family members there.
Clothing-optional beaches are isolated from the non-nude areas to accommodate to people who are gymnophobia (fear of nudity) and to respect tourists who are not used to the cultural movement. There are many reasons why people visit nude beaches - pleasure from being nude, enjoyment from viewing the nude bodies and even health.
The nude phenomenon is not popular in Asia yet, but its influence is growing. This is due to the rising naturist action movements all over the world who believe in the concept and philosophy of returning back to nature and human equality. The culture is largely intertwined with the Western form of liberalization which grants complete freedom of the mind, body and soul. With the aid of globalization, the clothing-optional beaches can now be found in Asia such as in Philippines, Thailand and even India! The latest addition to the list is located in Sanya, China.
As Singapore continue to globalize at a fast rate, foreign ideas are getting infused in our conventional Asian culture and values. The construction of the Integrated Resorts which will stage casino games showed how Singapore had to circumvent Asian values to remain competitive and attract tourism in the island.
The issue was much debated in Singapore as citizens disapproved of the idea due to moral and social reasons. Nevertheless, on the other side of the table, another group of people supported the construction of the Integrated Resorts, citing economic benefits as the main reason for their stance. This group also argued that it is up to the individual to decide if he or she wants to step in the casinos at the first place.
If what the 'for group' said is true, then a nude beach in Singapore may be the next thing the government may want to develop in the future. The clothing-optional beaches will be a strong tourist attraction for Singapore. Foreigners visiting our beaches need not worry of being nude in the public, something considered normal in their native countries. As long as the nude beach is segregated from the non-nude areas, no 'harm' is inflicted to the public. Singaporeans have a choice to visit them, depending on their individual beliefs.
What do you think?
Parents, Time To Bring Your Sexy Back
Written by azhar.
Gone were days when oops-i-did-it-again and billie-jean-is-not-my-lover used to hit the airwaves. Now, there is a new set of catchy lyrics which are flowing through our eardrums. We have the i'm-bringing-sexy-back and don't-cha-wish-your girlfriend-was-RAW-like-me phrases and of course my personal 'favourite', under-my-umbrella-ella-ella-eh-eh-eh. These catchy phrases, besides the beats, form the ingredients which make a song attractive and sometimes addictive.
When my 4-year-old female cousin approached me and did the dance routine by the Pussycat Dolls for their hit song 'Don't Cha', I was taken aback by how well she was able to imitate the movements. However, what made me more appalled was when she asked at the end, 'Sexy tak?' (Is is sexy? in Malay). I laughed in the end of course, but deep in thought I was actually worried what kind of influence that is getting into her mind. She might be just imitating the moves now at this very young age, but what will happen when she starts to become curious of what it feels like to dance with such exposing clothes when puberty begins to crawl into her life. If being sexy means that you have to reveal at least 60 per cent of your body to the world, then it looks like we may lose our Asian values in the near future.
Suggestive dance moves and revealing clothes are not just the two factors which are poisoning the minds of the impressionable youngsters today. The song lyrics are getting more and more crude and sometimes absurd. The English language used is of course far from what we learn in our educational institutions - it is in hip hop slang. Let's just look at the lyrics of the hit song 'Low' by Flo Rida. Many adults do not understand what most of the lyrics mean, so I am here to help you in a way or two.
[Chorus:]
Apple Bottom Jeans [Jeans]
Boots with the fur [With the fur]
The whole club was lookin at her
She hit the flo [She hit the flo]
Next thing you know
Shawty got low low low low low low low low
The word 'flo' means floor while the word 'shawty' basically means girl. The chorus describes a scene where a girl was enjoying herself on the dance floor of a club. Now here comes another set of the lyrics which has streamed through the ears of 13 million listeners in Youtube:
[Verse 1:]
I ain't never seen nuthin that'll make me go,
This crazy all night spendin my dough
Had a million dollar vibe and a bottle to go
Dem birthday cakes, they stole the show
So sexual, she was flexible
Professional, drinkin X and ooo
Hold up wait a minute, do I see what I think I
Whoa
Did I think I seen shorty get low
Ain't the same when it's up that close
Make it rain, I'm makin it snow
Work the pole, I got the bank roll
Imma say that I prefer them no clothes
I'm into that, I love women exposed
She threw it back at me, I gave her more
Cash ain't a problem, I know where it goes
Pretty complicated huh? The verse is also describing about a scene in a club where girls are enjoying themselves on the dance floor with the men around them. The 'dough' here means money. The 'birthday cakes' referred to here do not literally mean birthday cakes! A birthday cake in hip hop slang is a butt. You can listen or view a lot of negative influences such as drinking and nudity. And if you think you have just seen the worst, check out the next verse:
[Verse 2:]
Hey
Shawty what I gotta do to get you home
My jeans full of gwap
And they ready for Shones
Cadillacs Maybachs for the sexy grown
Patrone on the rocks that'll make you moan
The word 'gwap' means money. My jeans is full of money. Shones are girls who love to have sex with a lot of people. Therefore, the guy is trying to use money to have sex with sluttish women. A grown is simply an adult. Cardillacs Maybachs (a car) for the sexy adult. Patrone is an alcoholic drink. So yeah, there you go. It's all about sex, money and drinking. Many of the terms used are actually in slang. I think this is enough to make you realize what kind of 'garbage' teenagers are exposed to in this modern age.
Now comes the million-dollar question. It hip hop responsible for the fall in our social ethics? Many adults are blaming rappers for the crude language that they use in their songs. Since the music industry is being fuelled by the mass media, it is almost impossible to prevent the youngsters from listening and viewing them. Censorship by the government limits a individual's freedom and they will most likely search for alternative sources such as the Internet to enjoy the 'filthy' songs. Nonetheless, are the rappers responsible for the decay of our society's morals?
In my opinion, the rappers are not accountable for the poor social behaviours present today. Parenting is key to act as a shield to protect the children from the negative influences of the songs. Parents should educate their children regarding the bad practices shown by the lyrics of the songs. Moreover, they can also play a role in making sure that their children do not listen to songs which carry a negative message by monitoring the songs uploaded in their mp3s or iPods. Teenagers are usually confused when given too much freedom; they do not know which is right or otherwise. Whatever that enters a child's head should be controlled and filtered. If the videos and songs broadcasted by the mass media are getting more appealing and attractive in the eyes and ears of teenagers today, then the parents should start thinking of bringing their sexy back (get the children's attention) and show them what a good role model really is.
Understanding Islam [HALAL OR NOT?]
I have been approached by a few of my non-Muslim friends regarding the Halal issue. The majority of them are curious if it’s sinful and unacceptable for a Muslim to consume food that is not certified Halal. One case study brought forward is the Good News café. A few of my close non-Muslim friends are inquisitive to know why their Muslim friends still consume the food offered by the Good News café even though there are no official Halal certifications placed near the counter. Some questioned if is it all right for Muslims to purchase food from stalls which holds the controversial ‘No Pork, No Lard’ sign.
In order to ensure a reliable and accurate answer to the query, I have forwarded the question to the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) for further clarifications. Below is the answer e-mailed by one of their representative:
___________________________________________________________________
Assalamualaikum wr wb (Peace be upon you)
Dear Bro. Mohd Azhar
Thank you for referring this query to MUIS.
You can also inform your non-Muslim friends that In Islam, the consumption of food is an individual responsibility not MUIS or the food operator. If one is confident on the Halal status in an establishment then he can patronize the eating establishment even though there is no Halal certificate being displayed. On the other hand, if one feels not confident on the Halal status even though the is a valid Halal certificate being displayed, then he must avoid the establishment.
With regard to the sign "No Pork & No Lard", the food cannot be classified as Halal. Because beside pork or lard, other ingredients also have to be considered before one can confirm the food meet Muslim dietary requirements.
Halal certification is optional and not compulsory but it is mandatory for Muslims to eat Halal food.
Wassalam
Mohd Ariff Salleh
__________________________________________________________________
From the e-mail, you will be able to extract a few key points. Nonetheless, before I go into that, I will have to educate you about the meaning of Halal. The word ‘Halal’ in Arabic term means ‘permissible’. It refers any food or drink that is permitted to be consumed under the Islamic law. Many non-Muslims have this misconception that all food is considered Halal when the prayers are recited beforehand while preparing it.
The above statement is only true to a certain extent. In fact, it applies only to the meat of an animal that is not forbidden in the Qur' an for Muslims to eat. For example, Muslims can only eat chicken that has been slaughtered according to a specified Islamic ritual. Chicken meat is generally Halal, but the component that differentiates one which is Halal or otherwise will depend on the way the chicken slaughter. The method of slaughtering must be in such a way that it will result in instantaneous death (without prolong suffering) and with prayers to God recited.
Nevertheless, there are substances or meat in which Muslims cannot consume even with the proper slaughtering method. These types of food include pork and amphibians, such as frogs. So why is pork prohibited in Islam? Pork has been mentioned specifically in the Qur’an as a food that is forbidden to eat for Muslims. There are some reasons why this is so, including the negative health effects which can harm the body.
The utensils or cookware used for cooking are also fundamental to determine if the food can be consumed by a Muslim or not. For example, frying pans that have been used to cook pork cannot be used to cook chicken meat, for example. This is why stall vendors who applied for Halal certifications under MUIS are also prohibited from bringing in any packets of food that may contain alcoholic or pork ingredients to avoid contamination.
Therefore, the key points that needs to be highlighted in the e-mail are that it depends on the individual if he or she wants to consume the food even though there is no official Halal certification (assuming no pork or lard is used). Besides that, Halal certification is not mandatory and it is the stall vendor's responsibility to ensure that every aspect of the stall meets the requirements (meaning using new cookware and others).
Muslims can still buy food or drinks from the Bubble Tea shop even though it is not Halal certified. This is because they believe and is confident that the ingredients used meets the Muslim dietary requirements. They also believe that the cookware used is 'clean' from any of the prohibited food, such as pork.
I hope the information presented in this article helps answer some of your burning questions regarding Halal food. Please do comment or ask any questions, if you wish to. Thank you.
Understanding Islam [The Prayers]
The recent release of the film ‘Fitna’ has caused much turbulence around the world, especially in Muslim-dominated countries. It has concocted the meaning of Islam and has caused a lot of suspicion and confusion among those who have viewed it. Several political figures have also shared their disdain for the short movie.
This series of posts prepared by me with the help of reliable online resources is meant to clear some doubts and educate the general public about the true meaning of Islam.
I will first touch on the prayers. Many non-Muslim tpjcians have approached some of my friends and me about the way we pray. They often walk past the upper level staircase at the 3rd floor and seem curious about what we are actually doing. Here comes the answers:
Who do Muslims pray to?
Muslims pray to One God without associating any partners with Him. They pray facing the Holy Mosque in the city of Makkah. You will notice that the prayer mat, also known as the sejadah, is always facing a particular direction on a particular spot in school. Facing this mosque is simply for uniformity and homogeneity in the prayers of all Muslims around the world and not as an act of worship to the mosque itself.
Muslims perform obligatory prayers five times per day. Muslims will start preparing for the next prayers upon hearing the call for prayers.
What do Muslims say and do?
Muslims stand before their God by making the intention to pray, leaving all other chores and concerns aside.
While standing
While standing, the first chapter of the Quran is recited. This chapter can be translated as follows.“In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds. Most Gracious, Most Merciful. Master of the Day of Judgment. Thee (alone) we worship and Thee (alone) we ask for help. Show us the straight path. The path of those whom Thou hast favoured; Not the (path) of those who earn Thine anger nor of those who go astray.” (1:1-1:7)
After the first chapter, any other passage from the Quran is recited. Following is a translation of one such passage.“Say: He is Allah, the One! Allah is He on Whom all depend. He begetteth not, nor is He begotten. And there is none like unto Him.” (112:1-112:4)
While bowing
Muslims then bow to God and glorify Him. This glorification can be translated as follows.“Glory be to my Lord, the Almighty.”
While Prostrating
To express complete submission and humility before God, Muslims then prostrate and place their foreheads on ground. According to the prophetic traditions, at this moment of humility, the worshipper is closest to his/her Lord. While prostrating, Muslims glorify God as follows.“Glory be to my Lord, the most High.”
Other than glorifying God, it is also a moment for Muslims to ask God for His forgiveness, mercy, blessings and bounties. Muslims then sit for a few seconds and prostrate one more time before standing up again.
Depending on the time of the prayer, Muslims repeat this cycle once, twice or thrice in each prayer.
While sitting
In the end (and also in the middle for some prayers) Muslims sit as shown in the figure. At this point they testify before God that there is none worthy of worship but Him and that Muhammad (peace be upon him) is His slave (meaning creation that is subject to it’s Lord’s commands at all times) and His Messenger. Muslims then ask God to send His peace and blessings on His Messenger Muhammad (peace be upon him) as He did on Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him). The translation is as follows.“All service is for Allah and all acts of worship and good deeds are for Him. Peace and the mercy and blessings of Allah be upon you O Prophet. Peace be upon us and all of Allah’s righteous slaves. I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.O Allah exalt Muhammad and the followers of Muhammad, just as you exalted Abraham and the followers of Abraham. Verily you are full of praise and majesty. O Allah send blessings on Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, just as you sent blessings on Abraham and upon the followers of Abraham. Verily you are full of praise and majesty.”
At the very end, Muslims turn their face to the right and the left, sending God’s Peace on those surrounding them. This greeting of peace can be translated as follows.“Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah”With this greeting, the obligatory prayer ends.We hope that this brochure was beneficial to you in understanding how Muslims pray the obligatory prayers. In addition to the obligatory prayers, Muslims may supplicate and glorify God at any time. It is commendable in Islam to be in a habit of unceasingly glorifying God and supplicating to Him.
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