Invictus

Hello all,

I couldn't pick a better day to finish reading Invictus, for many of you know that today is the International Human Rights Day. On this day in December 10, 1948, the UN adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. While today, you and I, living in America and other free societies are embracing freedom, do know, in places like Darfur, Sudan, Cuba, China and Vietnam, people are still striving and fighting for these basic human rights. Which is why, the story of South Africans (blacks) fight to end the apartheid couldn't have exemplified this any better.

Despite years under the apartheid, the people of South African proved that the values and principles written in creed of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights cannot be extinguished. There are so many things remarkable about this story from the political prisoners that never gave up hope to the invincible, destructive ruby team that was no match for the spirits of 42 million.

I never looked much into Nelson Mandela’s life, but for South Africa, he would be compared to the Lincoln of America. Nelson Mandela’s political craftsmanship of using rugby was made with precision that ultimately, in my opinion, catapulted him to the threshold of political career/life. A nation coming together in "One Team, One Country", the slogan and event that rejoiced the nation and transformed foes into friends, strangers to neighbors and fear to understanding was just exhilarating to read, so I can't even fathom the idea of being at the epic center.

Where were you in June 24, 1995? It is amazing but who could have predicted that this date would change a course of a nation? While I’m still inspired by the story, I couldn't stop my mind from wondering off and envision such thing for the country of Vietnam. With each passing page, I tried to envision how this day would be like for Vietnam. A day where we will not fight over what political system is better and what government has the legitimacy because this day would be defined by freely, elected society.

I hold a lot of hope that this day will come because if the blacks and whites can mend differences after years of atrocity and war, then our circumstances and situations are far better off. Because if a man, wanted dead and lived in jail for 27 years by this enemy could extinguish them with a couple of speeches and pen strokes but chose nation building, then we as Vietnamese should be able to more than capability to set things aside and work together in a fair system for the sake of nation building. Don’t get me wrong, I am not naïve about the complicated matter of this, but the case of South Africa and United States are hard evident that people of that nation understand that power comes from the people, not from a barrow of a gun.

In many ways, reading this story has given me much hope for brighter Vietnam because elsewhere, in countries like South Africa, Poland and Chile, the situations were tougher and gruesome. Unfortunately today, our enemy is not more than a handful of our own people and its political system that is hindering our capacity. Like in those countries, where the people have decided to change, we too can make this happen. We can, if we chose to impose our will of a more justified life upon our oppressor. We can, if we are not withered by their harassment and brutality. We can, if we seek to end a repetitive life of repression and domination. We are close yet far because change does not happen on its own. We must ask for it. We me seek for it so we will pave the way for the next generation to define our people and place in world history.

Invictus, is not only an inspiring story of a nation, but a lesson of humanity and the human endurance to be free. On to my next book!

Go see and support the movie.

L3

Reading mission

To all that is reading my blog:

I has been a while since I visited this blog. Lately, I have spending too much time browsing Facebook and working activism stuff which I enjoy dearly and very little time for myself. So today, I made finally made a decision to get into the swing of blogging again and I hope, this time around, I will spend more time blogging than surfing nonsense stuff on the internet.

I don't like to talk much about my personal life, especially online, but for this blog I guess I cannot avoid it because it involves someone. And no, I don't plan on writing stuff about my personal life to the detail that you don't care for. I cannot get those people that poor their hearts and souls on public blogs. Personal stuff in its meaning should be personal. So I will respect my one or two readers and will not write personal stuff and if I do, trust me, it will metaphoric.

Anyhow, back to why I am blogging again. Yes. I made a challenge to myself and someone that we will make a commitment make the time to read more books moving forward. The very reason is simple, we need to read more. Aside from what you can learn, there are some fascinating stories that exist just waiting to be discovered by YOU.

So, I am embarking on this journey to start a book collection. Already on my list of things to do is, one get a bigger bookshelf and two, finish up all the 1/2 books that lying around in my room.
Which ones? Lets see, The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell, The Audacity of Hope by Our President, Perfect Hostage by Justin Wintle and couple more. I will get to you, I promise.

Today, however, I picked up another book called Invictus by John Carlin. I have started on it and it is a very inspiring story. I can't tell you much that's going yet, other than the fact that it is story about Nelson Mandela and The Ruby Soccer Team of South Africa. I guess when I finish the book and I WILL, I will write a blog about it.

So there you have folks, I am on a mission to read books. I hope I get a lot of support from my one or two readers and come back to find out what is next.

Let the GAMES BEGIN!

L3