Why did Obama get the Nobel Peace prize after all?

(Photo courtesy of news.com.au)

I was quite shocked that a lot of Americans were questioning Obama's move to move more US troops into Afghanistan. I mean it does contrast with Obama's earlier comments especially during the US presidential campaign, of returning more US troops back from countries like Iraq.
This was the first time I notice there was mixed reactions about Obama's move to make America be the great country it is.

There was even global scepticism on how he can be eligible to receive the Nobel Peace prize. The Nobel Peace prize is deffinitely something that a lot of people and countries are vying for.

As we continue to question Obama's move and why he still got the Nobel Peace prize, let us see the whole picture.

11th September 2001 was another beautiful morning in New York city. People were going to work and the city streets were busy as ussual with commuters. I guess we can imagine it like KL where people go to work in the morning and people sending kids to school and looking forward to the weekends.

Americans were totally caught unaware when disaster struck - the hijacked airliners crashed into the NYC World Trade Center. A lot of innocent people, someones mom , dad, brother, sister or child, perished so unexpectingly. Fire-fighters, rescue workers and police from NYPD also included in this devastating disaster. Not only were lives lost, but dreams.

Somewhat war had hit America, a country thought to be very guarded and secured. It was an attack by the Taliban which was centred in Afghanistan.

Both ex-president Bush Junior and Obama pledged to eradicate such terrorism from their shores and also the world. It is an on-going effort that only time will tell as it has already been 8 years since September 11th 2001.

I believe Obama's intention to send troops to Afghanistan is not a sign of him not meeting his promise for peace globally. It is a sign of his continued effort to put a stop to terrorism that is endangering peace. Hence, it is this effort that he should be applauded for.

In summary, we should not look at it from a bad perspective but instead look at the good that Obama is trying to do for all of us.

Giving back for Christmas at the Penang Eurassian Association

(Photo courtesy of Santa Roger)

The Penang Eurassian Association has been organizing Christmas parties every year for as long as I can remmember.

Since my family and I moved to Penang from Kedah in the late 1980s, my parents have taken me and my sister every year. It was a very important and special time in my early years as a kid, celebrating Christmas and also getting to know more of the Eurassians of Penang.

There were so many Eurassian families there from all over Penang. Sadly this quantity has dwindled as many have migrated domestically and internationally. A lot of the younger generations are in KL.

Each kid (under 12 yrs), gets a bag of snacks and a toy from Santa Clause at the closing of the even when Santa makes his appearance.

There will be those crazy kiddy games where all the kids will take part. It was loads of fun at that time. I rememmember coming back home sweating and tired after those parties. Sadly, I do not have any photos as memories of those times.

I almost became one of Santa's helpers once but turned down the offer coz too chicken out! Haha!

This year 2009, it came to my understanding that there was a shortage of sponsors for invited orphans from the Salvation Army in Penang. The organziers were very understanding in the sense that it will be fair to call all the kids under 12 yrs old rather than inviting a few. However, it would be costly for them so they were looking for sponsors to sponsor the kids.

As I read the notification on Facebook that they were inneed of sponsors, it suddenly struck me. After all these years of having a good time as a kid at the Penang Eurassian Association for Christmas, it was time to share the moment with the younger generation especially the kids from the Salvation Army who were less fortunate.

I called my aunt who is one of the organizers and told her to put me down for 4 kids. She said that was all they needed coincidently to complete the sponsorship and invitation list for the kids. I was so happy. It felt like it was so meant to be.

I am happy for doing my small part and hope whoever these kids are have fun.

I declined to attend the event and preferred to keep a low profile. :P

The reason I am blogging about this is to remmember those good times as a kid. :)