The Negative Mindedness of some Rural Folks.

Any undertaking, be it carried out singly or corporately, is first envisioned. The processes of crystallizing the vision may be brought through a casual poser presented in a yet casual discussion amongst creative-minded friends, be they family members. Not so long time ago, I posed again in some likewise manner the idea of rearing local mountain goats, kambing boar, and the like, in the under-utilized Tolungan Native and Grazing Reserve on a Registered Co'operative Venture or by any other arrangements to yet another group of known industrious kampung folks. One immediately sprang up a reaction, (translated) "Cannot be done!. Impossible!,". In his own words, "Au milo! Mustahil!". This negative reaction was echoed, as if clamoring for support, by a few others present. When I pressed for reasons as to why they were extremely skeptical about it, then they grouped for justifications for their negativity. Foremost in their minds was to first take pride in registering some negative objections to something new. I sensed that some of these people presumed it was heroic to simply object. Understandably, though, this was one of the few lines of human nature. I shared with them that to some positive-minded groups of individuals, they might already be thinking of munching roasted goat ribs-meat on hearing such a poser. Is it really long ... a span of 1000 years?

Beware! Vandalism has come to our Kampung!

.. Jalan Babagon Indah roadside decorative trees ..

Overnight one night in late October, a few manageable Government road signs were uprooted and thrown down. The heavy and unmanageable ones were spared. Some a dozen or so young, about one to one and a half centimeter width trunks, Government-planted decorative trees along a road were seemingly man-handled and snapped-off from about a foot high from the ground.

.. the replanted road signs .. .. the snapped off young trees ..

The uprooting of the road signs, for sure, was not reported to the Police for further professional police investigations. It was hoped that the ravaging of the young decorative trees was duly reported as it involved damages to Government properties and needing a Government employee, the officer-in-charge, to execute the official reporting duties. The making of Police reports of damages resulting from vandalism is generally hoped made and is thought of very necessary for it is in fact the first step to ethical awareness raising and to the education of the public as a whole. Responsible institutions set up within a kampung could organize Talks and Discussions at kampung level where speakers from outside, e.g. the Police Department, could be invited to present Talks on "How to make Police Reports" or "What could be reported to the Police", among others. This is necessary so that a typical folly, such as, "I can't make a Police report for I don't know who the culprit is!", could not surface from a hoped budding community icon.

ETK@93yrs

Big sister presented father a birthday cake.

Why should she help father blow the candles?

Geni, the hidden wonder maker of some sort, unwittingly reminded me that the old man was turning 93 in a couple of days time. Consciously rather than otherwise, I mentioned my computer find to big sister DSP. We exchanged a few SMSes and finalized that the-what-should-be, should be on. On Thursday a short SMS was composed and sent to eight household heads, his children who reside further away from Kampung Babagon. Sister Colette was the first positive respondent. Apart from Big Sister herself, there were two others who positively responded much later. The rest of the invitees did not bother to acknowledge the simple SMS because, as confided, they could not for they didn't know how! Friday evening was simply a perfect evening for any indoors or outdoors activities. Everyone was in before 8.00 p.m.. Everyone wished their father "Happy Birthday"