Sometimes I get too caught up with my current troubles and frustrations that I forgot that I am actually more fortunate than most. A documentary and a short news report brought back my grateful heart and I sincerely thank GOD for my current life and situation.

The first documentary is one that is made to commemorate the 65^th anniversary of the end of World War II. Honestly, World War II is such a far off event that even my parents didn’t go through (and I thank GOD for that). Perhaps, it only lives in the textbooks for us and what we heard or understand about it comes in a more objective and structured form. I could remember vividly the reasons for the rise of Japan and the defeat of Japan in World War II since I took history for “O” levels.

However, this documentary consolidated images and excerpts from diaries of common people (mostly Japanese), soldiers and public figures of that age. It made all of it seemed more real and mind-bothering than just understanding why Japan wanted to conquer the world and what are the factors that led to its defeat. I am truly thankful that I was not made to go through that era and suffer like them. We all read about the atomic bombs, negative radiation effects, bomb raids, rapes, atrocities etc. However, to actually hear it in another form (diary excerpts) made them more heartbreaking, especially if you put yourself in their shoes.

“A day before the atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki, I left home early in the morning for work and my wife bade me goodbye. After the bombing, I wasn’t able to make it home immediately. Finally, after three days, I managed to do so. I was able to identify my wife in the midst of the ruins. She was all charred, lying on where our kitchen was supposed to stand. I put her in a bucket and carried it to the cemetery.”

~Japanese Civilian

“We were all hiding in the cave along with many Japanese civilians as the Americans cornered us. There were many women and their babies. The babies were crying loudly. The general ordered the babies to keep quiet but it did not work. Then he ordered the babies to be killed. Mothers strangled their babies. Then, the baby cries were no more only the sobbing sounds from the mothers.”

~Japanese Soldier

Many Japanese were brain-washed to believe that the Americans were devils and would torture them if they were to fall into the American’s hands. Thus, many Japanese civilians chose to commit suicide rather than surrender to the Americans. But as the images (videos and photos) captured during those troubled times suggest, the Americans did not mistreat the Japanese civilians, soldiers or merchants, let alone execute tortures like what the Japanese soldiers did to the people on their conquered lands. Many recordings showed that the Americans tried to save any pilots, navy men or merchants whose aircrafts or ships were bombed. They also tried to save the Japanese civilians and feed them immediately, since by the end of the war, the Japanese were lacking in food and water resources.

I suppose that’s why Japan, Germany and Italy of that age were able to join as allies. Their leaders and their actions displayed a striking similarity – brutality. This also highlighted the importance of information and individual autonomy in analyzing situations. Due to the lack of information and intensive propaganda from the Japanese government, many innocent lives were wasted and perished. Some were even delusional.

“Coming so far since the beginning of the war, I cannot believe that our beloved Japan will be defeated in any battles. I know I will perish in the upcoming battle but I am honoured to die while protecting my country. My only regret is that these Americans will be landing on our Japanese soil. I will become a ghost and stay on this island. I shall await our allies to come and defeat these Americans and help recover Japanese land.”

~ Japanese Soldier

“Father, Mother, please congratulate me. I have been chosen to perform the sacred task of performing suicide bombing. I feel honoured to be chosen for the task and I am glad that I can help to protect my nation.”

~ Japanese Kamikaze Soldier

The poison that ran within the minds of these young lives (at that point in time) was deadly. They are without a doubt, patriotic. Yet, without a doubt, insane.

Then, after this depressing documentary, a news story brought my spirits to a new low. This took place in Taiwan, Xin Zhu (pardon me if I spelled wrongly and my dad is a Taiwan news fanatic -_-). A guy who attained Masters and had a bright future was attacked by 5 crazy youngsters. They just didn’t like his face and had no personal grudge against this poor guy. They attacked him with wooden baton-like weapons. The guy was severely injured and he died. Within hundred days of his death, his granddad died from extreme trauma from the guy’s sudden death. His dad was said to be too grief-stricken and met with an accident. Just a few days ago, his mum who was down with cancer, lost her battle and passed away.

The Taiwanese court has sentenced each of the 5 youngsters to only 10-15 years of jail. WHAT THE HELL!!!!! Their judiciary system is so lenient! So unrealistically lenient that I couldn’t help but think that their court must be infested with bribery (I am sorry if it isn’t the case but… how can it not be the case?). And even then, some of the youngsters want to appeal because the sentence is too heavy. How atrocious!!!!! He murdered a life and he finds a jail sentence of 10-15 years too heavy????!!!!! Maybe he should be murdered one day and see if he feels that his murderer’s sentence of 10-15 years is too heavy?!

Seriously, these boys should be sent to our sunny island. They might easily be sentenced to death with free caning to go along. Crazy arseholes! 10-15 years jail sentence isn’t even enough to redeem a fraction of their crime and they still dared to appeal. I hope their judge will not be feeble and should instead, increase his jail term to compliment him for appealing.

Although I am disheartened by my woes, the documentary and the atrocious arseholes, from the bottom of my heart, I thank GOD that I wasn’t born in those turbulent periods and neither was I born in lawless nations.

amor,esperanza y fe 1:31 AM.

Sometimes I get too caught up with my current troubles and frustrations that I forgot that I am actually more fortunate than most. A documentary and a short news report brought back my grateful heart and I sincerely thank GOD for my current life and situation.

The first documentary is one that is made to commemorate the 65^th anniversary of the end of World War II. Honestly, World War II is such a far off event that even my parents didn’t go through (and I thank GOD for that). Perhaps, it only lives in the textbooks for us and what we heard or understand about it comes in a more objective and structured form. I could remember vividly the reasons for the rise of Japan and the defeat of Japan in World War II since I took history for “O” levels.

However, this documentary consolidated images and excerpts from diaries of common people (mostly Japanese), soldiers and public figures of that age. It made all of it seemed more real and mind-bothering than just understanding why Japan wanted to conquer the world and what are the factors that led to its defeat. I am truly thankful that I was not made to go through that era and suffer like them. We all read about the atomic bombs, negative radiation effects, bomb raids, rapes, atrocities etc. However, to actually hear it in another form (diary excerpts) made them more heartbreaking, especially if you put yourself in their shoes.

“A day before the atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki, I left home early in the morning for work and my wife bade me goodbye. After the bombing, I wasn’t able to make it home immediately. Finally, after three days, I managed to do so. I was able to identify my wife in the midst of the ruins. She was all charred, lying on where our kitchen was supposed to stand. I put her in a bucket and carried it to the cemetery.”

~Japanese Civilian

“We were all hiding in the cave along with many Japanese civilians as the Americans cornered us. There were many women and their babies. The babies were crying loudly. The general ordered the babies to keep quiet but it did not work. Then he ordered the babies to be killed. Mothers strangled their babies. Then, the baby cries were no more only the sobbing sounds from the mothers.”

~Japanese Soldier

Many Japanese were brain-washed to believe that the Americans were devils and would torture them if they were to fall into the American’s hands. Thus, many Japanese civilians chose to commit suicide rather than surrender to the Americans. But as the images (videos and photos) captured during those troubled times suggest, the Americans did not mistreat the Japanese civilians, soldiers or merchants, let alone execute tortures like what the Japanese soldiers did to the people on their conquered lands. Many recordings showed that the Americans tried to save any pilots, navy men or merchants whose aircrafts or ships were bombed. They also tried to save the Japanese civilians and feed them immediately, since by the end of the war, the Japanese were lacking in food and water resources.

I suppose that’s why Japan, Germany and Italy of that age were able to join as allies. Their leaders and their actions displayed a striking similarity – brutality. This also highlighted the importance of information and individual autonomy in analyzing situations. Due to the lack of information and intensive propaganda from the Japanese government, many innocent lives were wasted and perished. Some were even delusional.

“Coming so far since the beginning of the war, I cannot believe that our beloved Japan will be defeated in any battles. I know I will perish in the upcoming battle but I am honoured to die while protecting my country. My only regret is that these Americans will be landing on our Japanese soil. I will become a ghost and stay on this island. I shall await our allies to come and defeat these Americans and help recover Japanese land.”

~ Japanese Soldier

“Father, Mother, please congratulate me. I have been chosen to perform the sacred task of performing suicide bombing. I feel honoured to be chosen for the task and I am glad that I can help to protect my nation.”

~ Japanese Kamikaze Soldier

The poison that ran within the minds of these young lives (at that point in time) was deadly. They are without a doubt, patriotic. Yet, without a doubt, insane.

Then, after this depressing documentary, a news story brought my spirits to a new low. This took place in Taiwan, Xin Zhu (pardon me if I spelled wrongly and my dad is a Taiwan news fanatic -_-). A guy who attained Masters and had a bright future was attacked by 5 crazy youngsters. They just didn’t like his face and had no personal grudge against this poor guy. They attacked him with wooden baton-like weapons. The guy was severely injured and he died. Within hundred days of his death, his granddad died from extreme trauma from the guy’s sudden death. His dad was said to be too grief-stricken and met with an accident. Just a few days ago, his mum who was down with cancer, lost her battle and passed away.

The Taiwanese court has sentenced each of the 5 youngsters to only 10-15 years of jail. WHAT THE HELL!!!!! Their judiciary system is so lenient! So unrealistically lenient that I couldn’t help but think that their court must be infested with bribery (I am sorry if it isn’t the case but… how can it not be the case?). And even then, some of the youngsters want to appeal because the sentence is too heavy. How atrocious!!!!! He murdered a life and he finds a jail sentence of 10-15 years too heavy????!!!!! Maybe he should be murdered one day and see if he feels that his murderer’s sentence of 10-15 years is too heavy?!

Seriously, these boys should be sent to our sunny island. They might easily be sentenced to death with free caning to go along. Crazy arseholes! 10-15 years jail sentence isn’t even enough to redeem a fraction of their crime and they still dared to appeal. I hope their judge will not be feeble and should instead, increase his jail term to compliment him for appealing.

Although I am disheartened by my woes, the documentary and the atrocious arseholes, from the bottom of my heart, I thank GOD that I wasn’t born in those turbulent periods and neither was I born in lawless nations.