Melayu Sarawak: Bermukun dan Bergendang

Ghazal, zapin, kuda kepang dan sebagainya antara warisan budaya Melayu di Malaysia. Tapi budaya gendang Melayu Sarawak atau bermukun masih kedengaran baru di telinga masyarakat Malaysia. Tetapi, budaya ini tidak asing bagi masyarakat Sarawak. Ia sudah lama wujud dan bertapak di Bumi Kenyalang sebagai hiburan santai yang mendidik, menghibur, dan mengkritik perilaku masyarakat.

Sejarah budaya bermukun

Budaya bermukun dikatakan bermula sebelum era Brooke ataupun lebih awal. Gendang melayu ini wujud untuk mendidik budaya berbahasa juga mendidik akhlak menerusi pantun dan tandak (tarian) mudah. Namun, budaya ini pernah disalahgunakan oleh segelintir individu sebagai medium 'menjerat' dan maksiat. Isu tersebut menjadi sindiran menerusi novel Melati Sarawak oleh Mohamad Rakawi Yusuf terbitan tahun 1932 mengenai kelonggaran akhlak masyarakat Melayu Sarawak dalam bermukun pada tahun 1927 dan 1928. Pandangan serong terhadap seni gendang tersebut ternyata memberi konflik terhadap golongan bangsawan, perabangan, pengiran, syed dan tunku yang tergolong dalam istilah 'Melayu Sarawak'. Disebabkan perkara tersebut, mereka yang menggemari budaya ini memenuhi kehendak mereka dengan memakai topeng bagi menyembunyikan wajah sambil berpantun dan bertandak. Sejak itu, lahirlah istilah 'menopeng' dalam budaya bermukun.

Seni pantun mukun Melayu Sarawak

"If one of the assets of poetry at its best is the magic and beauty accomplished by language, the Malay pantun can be placed among the highest achievements of mankind in this form of art..." - Francois Rene Daillie[La Lune et les estoiles: le pantoun malais- Belle Lettres, 2000]

Terdapat tiga elemen penting dalam budaya bermukun iaitu:
1. Dendangan (Seh Gendang)
2. Menopeng
3. Bertandak

Selain dari tiga perkara di atas, terdapat elemen sampingan lain seperti koreografi, zapin dan alat muzik seperti biola, akordian dan gong.

Bagi acara berpantun, nyanyian pantun berubah-ubah mengikut kemahiran Seh Gendang dan penggesek biola Irama pantun tersebut berdasarkan pembayang maksud pantun tersebut. Antara iraman pantun mukun yang terkenal ialah:

1. Labuan (juga dijadikan nyanyian tidur anak kecil oleh datuk saya).
2. Menyubuh
3. Asam Paya
4. Samsudin
5. Air Amboi
6. Selendang Mayang
7. Bintang Beralih
8. Sayang Serawak
9. Bercerai Kasih
10. Air Pasang
11. Laila Majnun

Antara contoh pantun dan irama yang digunakan dalam bermukun ialah:

Sayang Labuan pulo di laut,
Khabar berita pulo yang tumbuh,
Salam mu tuan kamek menyambut,
Asal rahsia disimpan teguh [Pantun Melayu Asli Sarawak-irama Labuan]

Asam payak buah di hutan,
Dalam sepompong masak sebiji,
Sungguh kacak wajah mu tuan,
Dalam kampung payah dicari [Pantun Melayu Asli Sarawak- irama Asam Paya]

Ya menantu ya nya anak,
Jangan dikira fikir yang banyak,
Mana yang panjang mana yang pendek,
Barang yang keras disuruh licak [ Pantun Melayu Asli Sarawak- petikan dari Hikayat Datuk Merpati, 1989]

Tuntung dian tuntung pelita,
Hendak menyuluh si batang sirih,
Berperang dandan dengan dewa,
Kerana merebut intan terpilih [Pantun Melayu Asli Sarawak-petikan Dandan Beranyut dari Syair Kitab Tajul Muluk]


Pemikiran bermukun dan bergendang

Bermukun dan bergendang dijadikan medium pemikiran cinta sama ada tersurat atau tersirat. Pemikiran tersebut menjadi fungsi utama bergendang sebagai hiburan santai bagi melegakan jiwa. Pantun yang berlandaskan cinta dan kasih sayang berbentuk ringan, sederhana dan menghiburkan bagi menyampaikan isi dan makna pantun dalam konteks etika dan beradab. Menurut kajian dari Institut Bahasa Melayu Malaysia Kuala Lumpur, pantun bermukun dan bergendang merupakan gambaran world view masyarakat mengenai konsep cinta terhadap Tuhan, manusia, dan alam. Kini, budaya bermukun dan bergendang menjadi aktiviti pelajar pengajian tinggi dan institut perguruan di Sarawak selain dari menjadi acara hari perkahwinan dan majlis-majlis keramaian.

(Dedicated to my grandfather who passed away in 1995).

Life as a Woman

Female is the opposite sex of male, or girl and also known as a woman (or women in plural). Being a woman is the ultimate dream for transgenders but they never experience the real life of a woman. For example:

1. Woman have to face the monthly crime (period crime). That time is not so easy as men always thought. We're talking about blood here.

2. Woman have to face the pain to bear a children (no men can feel this even they saw it, literally).

3. Woman have to work extra time (mother, daughter, wife, cleaner, chef, teacher, accountant etc)

4. Woman have to face the risk of sexual harassment (at the office, along the road, inside the bus- you knew that, didn't you?)

5. Woman have to be careful about the risk of breast cancer (the percentage of men to get this is very low)

6. Woman have to face the risk of getting into someone's topic (gossip~)

7. Woman have to be brave buying their stuff (because usually women's underwear is not in a package and most of it is out of the shop).

8. Married woman have to face the risk of getting cheated or disloyalty issue; unmarried woman have to face the risk of being criticized; while the widow woman have to face the risk of being hated by all married women around her.

9. Woman have to be more sensitive in cleanliness (because women are involved in few dirtiness issue in their life)

10. Woman have to face the external beauty issue (men likes pretty girls and that's the pressure)

11. Woman have to face the limited age of 'being fresh' (35 years old and above is considered as 'too ripe').

12. Woman have to spend huge for self-maintenance (slimming session, collagen treatment, breast job, nose job, all kind of pretty job to keep in youth..)

13. Woman have to meet a typical accusation; being a barren. 

14. Woman have to pay and care more in their dignity (because that's the value)

15. Woman have to control the desire of spending  because they often bought more than they need.

16. Woman have a limited reach area whenever they go (safety issue~)

17. Woman have to be careful in marriage issue (hated by in law or being hated by law)

18. Woman have to be clever (because that's a backup package in the future--dependable caused trouble if something's happened)

19. Woman have to be in their nature (because they're live to expect the expectation).

20. Woman have to be loyal to their partner until they died (because when women cheated, the value of her 'womanity' has decreased into the lowest level, and the situation is different when it happens to men--get it?)

Life as a woman, that's how they lived and grow.

#tmg2013

Theme Song for All Memes

Bitch Please described the attitude of less care about any issues around him/her. So, the suggested theme song for this meme might be:

1. Bitch Please by Naomi King (Youtuber)
2. What the hell by Avril Lavigne
3. I don't care by Fallout Boys

Forever Alone described the attitude of lonely or always alone without friends or any companion. The suggested theme song for this meme might be:

1. Lonely by Akon
2. Lonely no more by Rob Thomas
3. Alone again naturally by Chad Fischer (Ice 
     age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs)

Challenge Accepted described the attitude of willingness and curiosity to meet the challenge. The suggested theme song might be:

1. Final Countdown by Europe
2. Makes me wonder by Maroon 5
3. Barney Stinson Resume Song by Neil Patrick 
    Harris (from the drama series How I Met 
    Your Mother)

F*ck Yea described the attitude of brave and high self esteem who doesn't give a f*ck to those who likes or hates them. The suggested theme song might be:

1. I know you want me by Pitbull (Calle Ocho)
2. Born this way by Lady Gaga
3. Sexy and I know it by LMFAO
4. World is mine by David Guetta

Cereal Guy described the attitude of bossy, fussy and kinda nuisance into someone's matter. The suggested theme song might be:

1. Paparazzi by Lady Gaga
2. Where have you been by Rihanna
3. Who the hell are you by Madison Avenue

LOL guy described the attitude of happiness toward something that tickles them whether it is cynical or not. The suggested song might be:

1. SMF-Hahaha hardstyle 
2. Lollipop by Mika
3. I am glad 'cause I'm finally returning back 
    home by Eduard Khil aka Mr. Trololo

Me Gusta described the attitude of liking or feel good about something. The suggested theme song might be:

1. Feel good inc. by Gorillaz
2. Feel good time by Pink
3. Good time by Owl City ft. Carly Rae Jepsen

OMG described the attitude of surprise, shock or hard to believe about something matters. The suggested theme song might be:

1. OMG by Usher ft Will.I.Am
2. Oh My Gosh by Basement Jaxx ft Vula 
    Malinga
3. Oh My God by Lily Allen ft Mark Ronson

Rage Guy described the hatred, angry or aggressive attitude upon something. The suggested theme song might be:

1. Twisted Transistor by Korn

2. Papercut by Linkin Park

3. Blue orchid by The White Strips

4. Last resort by Paparoach

or any kind of rage song that suitable with 'fffufufufu' face.

Okay Guy described the attitude of low self esteem, easy to agree or give up about something. The suggested theme song might be:

1. Okay by Usher
2. Beggin by Madcon
3. I'm no good by Amy Winehouse

Trollface described the attitude of mocking something and feel happy about it. The suggested theme song must be this one:

1. I am glad 'cause I'm finally returning back 
    home by Eduard Khil aka Mr. Trololo 

(Do you have any song that suitable for this face?)

Y-U-No guy describe the attitude of disagreement about some issues and asking for any solution. The suggested theme song might be:

1. Why by Avril Lavigne
2. I need to know by Marc Anthony








More suggested theme song for those memes? Give your ideas now =D

#tmg2013

Day 2: Sematan Beaches to Mountainous Lundu

Monday morning, the second day of CNY, we (everyone in my family) decided to pay a visit to Pantai Sematan. At Sematan, of course. Located 67.5 km from Kuching city, this is the district of serene beaches and fishing village. The weather is quite hot too so don't forget the umbrella and the sunblock (typical lotion is useful too). Starting the journey at 0710 o'clock, my dad drove along the sizzling rain, hold by the police road-check (surprisingly, the male officer who stand in front of us named Monday) as well as watching all kind of funny river name such as:

1. River Mutud

2. River Stenggang

3. River Stumm Toman

4. River Stoum Muda

5. River Batang Kayan Ulu

6. River Stunggang

7. River Tebero

8. River Serayan Kecil/Besar

9. River Sebako Besar

10. River Kabon

11. River Sebat. 

At 0920 am, we finally arrived at Pantai Sematan by parking on a private land. Thank goodness, the villagers didn't ask for a bill. So we spent the day eating fried noodles, nasi lemak, kuih bom and chips before we went on the beaches and taking pictures.

The right view of Pantai Sematan

"SHIELD IS HERE" with the smiley face =)

Credits to my sister
(Instagram)

Later on, we're off to Pekan Sematan, buying seashell door decoration with a great price as a souvenir then seeking my mom's lost relative who lived many years at Sematan. Luckily, we've found them, lived not very far from the Pekan Sematan. What's the best thing in here? I've learned that there's a local dish in Sematan known as 'rebung kering' (I never eat this before and not available in Kuching too) and the dried bamboo shoot had been cooked like 'masak lemak'. It taste awesomely delicious, and unique. My taste-day is so great with 'Kampung style'.

Inside the picture: fried fish, rusip (local Sarawak food), sayur keladi, raw veges and dried bamboo shoot.

Credits: Flickr.com

After spent a great day with them, we're off to Lundu, celebrating CNY at my sister's friend who lived at the calm and quiet residential, very close the mountainous area at Lundu. Believe me, the view is extremely wonderful. The blue sky and the green mountain is contrary and it feels chilly too.

From Kuching, Bau, Lundu, Sematan; everything is great for the first and second day of CNY. What a great holiday =D

#tmg2013

Day 1: Tasik Biru to Taman Sahabat

SUNDAY: 10/02/13- TASIK BIRU, BAU, SARAWAK

The lovely morning in the weekend (CNY morning, of course~), we decided to expand the brain far to Tasik Biru, or also known as The Blue Lake. Located 35 km from Kuching city, Tasik Biru is one of main attraction in Bau and it used to be a gold mining site that closed forever in 1921. Tasik Biru got its name because of the bluish-greenish water appearance (due to the reflection of trees and sky) but it is believed that it contained some toxic substance inside the blue water (so don't try to drink it as well as...don't swim at here)

The legend of Tasik Biru.

Nasi Ayam Penyet at
Medan Selera, Bau
nyum..nyum~

Tasik Biru is more than a lake. It was a gold digging heaven, the place where Bau becomes the jewel after oil  well at Miri and Bintulu. There was a legend and tale about its depth. The villagers said that Tasik Biru is really deep that 10 tonne truck is similar like a matchbox from the top. The second tale was there were three monster lived inside the lake. In1988, three monsters with huge weird figures about 3 meters long were spotted on the surface of the lake. The third tale was the struggling to own the gold site caused death between two sides and the smell of the rotting bodies followed the wind's direction; and that's how Tasik Biru got its name.

Well, for me, Tasik Biru is great for my weekend =)

SUNDAY:10/02/13- TAMAN SAHABAT, KUCHING, SARAWAK

"Hear me, Zheng He is here~"

Still the same day of CNY, we decided to finish the grand walk at Taman Sahabat after lingering awhile at Bau. From Bau to Kuching, Taman Sahabat welcomed us with rain. Screw me very much for the first half of time. After we sat down and playing with the fish on the pool (feed the fish), the weather swept the tears, and  we're ready to wide the step.

Taman Sahabat, also known as the Friendship Park, dedicated for the relationship between China and Malaysia for many centuries. Completed in 2005 and located at Jalan Song, around the area of Tabuan residential (big houses rich people lived here), there is a statue of the voyager and explorer Zheng He (or Adrimal Cheng Ho) in the middle of the park and the country's plates starting with Perlis on the right and ended with Sabah on the left. Taman Sahabat is not about friendship between China-Malaysia only, it has a good information about each country in Malaysia,  the wonderful calm-view and the architecture is great- which brought us directly to the mainland of China. I thought that I was in China actually but the fact is, the architecture of Taman Sahabat was a product between the close relationship of Kuching City and Kunming City of China. This pavilion was been designed, fabricated and supervised by Chinese Landscape technicians and artisans to resurrect the feeling of the mainland and the history of Zheng He.

My evening has completed with history- From Kuching to Bau and Bau to Kuching.

#tmg2013

The Legend of Chinese New Year

The Legend of Nian

Long time ago, there was a mythical beast called Nian lived and hiding inside the cave. Every year, Nian will go out from its cave and hunting for food. So, on the first day of Chinese New Year, the villager begin their festival by fighting against the monster. Nian the monster would eat everything such as the livestock, crops, and even children and villagers. In order to protect themselves, they decided to prepare foods in front of the door so Nian would not attack more people. 

Until one day, there was a girl wearing a red cloth for the first day of Chinese New Year and scared away the monster. The villagers finally understood that Nian is afraid the colour of red. Since then, they decided to wear all red, preparing red lantern,red spring scrolls, making noise inside the house and using firecrackers to frighten the monster. From then on, Nian never come to the village anymore and finally been captured by Taoist monk. 

Later on, they repeated the custom from next generation to the next generation, congratulated each other and had a big celebration.

Angpao; The Red Package

After the great influence of red in celebrating the new year, the culture of red item become common among Chinese people. Red is associated with Lunar holiday, also for wedding ceremony and other Chinese festivals. As they realized red means luck and fortune, even the village has safe from the monster attack, they decided to thread coins with red string. Later on, the red string replaced by a red package as they believed to protect the elderly from evil spirits, sickness and death while for children is to memorialize the increase of age and year commutation . Angpao, Hongbao or Ya Sui; what ever the name it is, it become the 'money of warding off evil spirits.'

The Meaning of New Year Food

Chinese New Year is a great celebration against Nian the monster. To make it joyful and meaningful, Chinese people relate foods with luck, fortune, prosperity and wealth. Spring rolls symbolize wealth because it looks like a gold bars while clams are similar like bouillon. Pomelo in Chinese sounds like 'to have' and tangerine or orange been given to guests because those fruits sounds like wealth and luck, respectively. Fish, or 'yu' in Mandarin sounds like abundance and wish as sticky rice cake symbolize the rich abundance for the coming year.

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR TO ALL


Ref-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year
http://www.qingdaochinaguide.com/news/culture/chinese-new-year-nian-legend.html
http://www.chinatownconnection.com/chinese-new-year-legend.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_envelope
http://tmcatalyst.wordpress.com/blog/prima/the-history-of-angpao/
http://chinesefood.about.com/od/chinesenewyear/a/symbolicnewyear.htm
http://chineseculture.about.com/od/chinesefestivals/a/Countdown-To-Chinese-New-Year.htm

The White and Dark of Valentine

February is the Valentine's month, and Valentine's Day is around the corner. As you can see roses and chocolates are everywhere in every shop, people around the world believe that this is the best day to show their love to the most beloved one. Inside the common custom of giving sweet things, a bouquet of flower, gifts and a special dinner, there are more to know about the Valentine's day.

The Saint Valentine's Day

14th February is the day to celebrate love and affection. The celebration was begin by one or more Christian saints called Valentinus. The most well-known martyrology story is Saint Valentine was been imprisoned by the reason of performing the wedding for the soldier who were forbidden to marry. While waiting for the punishment, it was said that he is helping his jailor's blind daughter. Right after she healed, his punishment is around the corner and before his execution he wrote "for your Valentine" as a farewell to her (as the legend said). 

For Anglican Communion, Valentine's Day is the official feast day, as well as Lutheran Church and Eastern Orthodox Church. However, Eastern Orthodox celebrated it on July 6th and July 30th as the former date in honour of the Roman Presbyter Saint Valentine and the latter date in honour of Hieromartyr Valentine, the Bishop of Interamna.

Behind the culture of Valentine

"The rose is red, the violet's blue,

The honey's sweet, and so are you.

Thou art my love and I am thine;

I drew thee to my Valentine:

The lot was cast and then I drew,

And Fortune said it shou'd be you."

[Gammer Gurton's Garland-1784]

The 14th February suggests the sentimental value of love, often being described with the symbol of heart shape, doves and cupids. It produced the high-selling of greeting cards, wrapping papers, chocolate industries and flower mass-produced.

However, it is not exactly known that why 14th February become the Valentine's Day and it is almost impossible to obtain the real sources from any archives. It becomes more to legend than the fact. The modern Valentine's Day celebrations are said that it was been derived from the ancient culture of pre-Christians and Roman traditions. There were three men associated with the name 'Valentine' but the scholar believed that he was a priest who disfavour by Roman Emperor and lived around 250 AD in Rome. He was sentence to death by performing wedding and the sacrament of matrimony for young lovers in secret. So, the real Valentine's Day was existed in bad time; it was the era of lack of quality administrator, education declined, taxation increased and trade witnessed in pressure time. It was the counting black days of Roman Empire.

The Black Valentine turned white

Valentine's Day was existed from the story of hardship in marriage and love; the situation where matrimony is not allowed and all men were reserved for war as marriage is sealed to be the forbidden thing for them. Valentine's Day was more of remembering the terrible day of poor living in Roman Empire and so it was considered as the dark day of love until Geoffrey Chaucer linked the day with romantic love.

"For this was for Saint Valentine, when every bird cometh there to choose his mate."

It was firstly recorded in Parlement of Foules (1382) and the poem was written in honour to the first anniversary of engagement of King Richard II to Anne of Bohemina (Both of them were 15 years old when they getting married 8 months later). Since then, the tradition of 'Chaucer's love bird' had spread as there were no such kind of tradition before Chaucer. 

But actually, there were more poem about bird-mating in Saint Valentine's day in the same year; Otton de Grandson from Savoy, John Gower from England and a knight from Valencia. However, due to the difficulty of dating the medieval work, no one sure who is the first one released the idea of 'love bird' and turned the Valentine into 'white'.

The Roman tradition in Valentine

It was believed that there were part of Roman tradition in Valentine even some of people argued about it. According to World Book Encyclopedia (Valentine's Day: Vol.19, 1966, pp.205-206) states that the custom of Valentine's culture had no relation with the saints. It was the Lupercalia tradition who took in every February 15th in honoured for Juno, the Roman goddess of women and marriage, as well for Pan, the god of nature. After the spread of Christianity, Pope Gelasius adopted the tradition into the Christian festivals (similar like Halloween celebration) and gives Christian meaning to pagan festival. Most of historians are disagreed about the identity of Saint Valentine. Cupid, the god of love was supposed from the pagan beliefs and all kind of various pagan gods (Eros, Juno Februata, Kama or Priapus) now replaced with the image of Christianity. 

The Saint Valentine's Feast day was derived from the tradition of the Feast of Lubercus. The Roman people were believed that the God Lubercus is helping them watching all shepherds and their flocks.

There were some crazy practices that happened in Lupercalia festival such as:

- It was the day men whipped the women and sacrificed dog and goat.

- It was the day for them to get naked and women got hit by men as they believe that   

  would make them fertile.

- It was the day for them to matchmaking the mate by drew the woman's name from a jar. 

  The couple would date during the festival or longer, if the match was right.

- It was the day for them to get lust, drunken and having a lover.

Valentine Nowadays

Today, Valentine's day is the day for young people enjoying their love and relationship with the theory of Christian's thought on love and ways to show the affection to their Valentine. This celebration had been civilized but it was essentially built upon lust of the eyes and not a true Christian holiday (Apostle John).

Valentine's day is the day for Christian people to show affection and according to Christian  Today (2009), it is believed that how God reminded nine singles of his love for them on Valentine. But according to COGwriter, this statement is more to dating service and viewed God as a Valentine.

As the Valentine's day is derived from Juno's festival and Juno is the Queen of Heaven (or Hera in Greek), it is also the holiday for the Queen of Heaven. But there is the statement from Jeremiah 7:18-20, NKJV:

"...the women knead dough, to make cakes for the queen of heaven; and they pour out drink offerings to other gods, that they may provoke Me to anger. Do they provoke Me to anger?" says the LORD. "Do they not provoke themselves, to the shame of their own faces?" 

So, this is it; the white and dark of Valentine.

p/s: I don't celebrate Valentine. I love everyone who loves me-every day and every night, alive or dead. 

For more information

http://www.cogwriter.com/valentine.htm

http://www.theholidayspot.com/valentine/history_of_valentine.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentine's_Day

http://www.npr.org/2011/02/14/133693152/the-dark-origins-of-valentines-day

#tmg2013

Warna, Pengaruh dan Makna

Warna merupakan asas kepada simbol visual selain dari rupa bentuk. Ia sering dikaitkan dengan emosi dan cara pemikiran seseorang. Tujuh jenis warna pelangi dikatakan mempunyai kuasa mistik dan dikaitkan dengan cakra di dalam tubuh manusia. Kepelbagaian jenis warna menimbulkan perasaan berbeza, sosial, jantina dan status. Di Barat, warna merah jambu melambangkan perempuan dan warna biru pula melambangkan lelaki. Penggunaan ekspresi perasaan berdasarkan warna seperti "in the pink", "green with envy", "feeling blue", "seeing red" atau "off colour" digunakan untuk menyatakan situasi emosi. Warna banyak mempengaruhi agenda politik, isu persekitaran dan juga perkauman dan ia memberi makna pada setiap konteks.

MERAH

Melambangkan api dan darah, merah dikaitkan dengan kehidupan. Pada zaman Anglo-Saxon, merah dipercayai dapat melindungi mereka dari kejahatan. Selain dari itu, warna merah melambangkan simbol cinta dan kesuburan. Ia memberi makna keghairahan dan erotik di India dan di negara Barat dan mencadangkan bahawa merah memberi makna kepantasan dan tenaga. Merah juga dihubungkan bahaya dan sifat agresif dan dikaitkan dengan kemusnahan dan peperangan.

KUNING

Kuning dikaitkan dengan emas, matahari dan sumber yang memberi tenaga. Di China, kuning menjadi titik untuk alam semesta, dan warna suci untuk maharaja. Bagi orang Islam, kuning melambangkan kebijaksanaan manakala kuning pucat pula membawa maksud pengkhianatan. Di Mesir dan pertengahan Eropah, ia memberi makna cemburu dan juga sifat pengecut.

HIJAU

Hijau ialah warna untuk simbol kebangkitan, kesedaran dan permulaan. Di China dan Jepun, hijau membawa simbol musim bunga. Pada zaman pertengahan Eropah, hijau dikaitkan dnegan kejahatan dan memakai warna hijau bermaksud malang. Bagi orang Islam, hijau melambangkan syurga dan pembersihan jiwa. Ia juga dikaitkan dengan kuasa dalaman.

BIRU

Biru melambangkan keluasan dan infiniti; langit dan lautan. Ia membawa simbol keamanan, kedamaian dan kesucian, menjadi simbol warna untuk Virgin Mary bagi golongan Kristian. Biru dikatakan warna mimpi, renungan, pemahaman diri dan pendapatan. Di sebahagian tanah Arab, menggunakan warna biru boleh menghindarkan diri dari pandangan jahat dan simbol kesetiaan untuk pengantin perempuan bagi kepercayaan Inggeris Lama.

UNGU

Ungu merupakan warna mahal di Barat pada zaman dahulu dan hanya mampu dimiliki oleh orang berada sahaja. Ungu ialah warna diraja dan kependetaan. Ia merupakan warna kegemaran maharaja di Rom dan kerajaan Byzantine. Di China, ungu ialah warna istana maharaja di syurga. Buddha juga mengiktiraf ungu ialah warna suci, namun di Thailand, ia digunakan oleh balu kematian suami.

HITAM

Sebahagian tanah Arab percaya, haiwan berwarna hitam bermaksud malang; seperti anjing hitam, kucing hitam atau ular hitam. Ia dikaitkan dengan kuasa kejahatan dan amalan sihir.  Di Barat, hitam dihubungkan dengan simbol kematian dan kesedihan. Namun, hitam juga dikaitkan dengan simbol kuasa dan kewibawaan. Di Mesir purba, hitam melambangkan kebangkitan semula dan kehidupan baru. Ia merupakan warna bagi prinsip perempuan (yin) bagi orang Cina.

PUTIH

Putih ialah warna untuk cahaya dan dianggap bertuah. Di Afrika, putih ialah warna kematian namun ia juga warna untuk kuasa pemulihan. Di China, putih ialah warna suci, tidak bersalah dan juga bersifat spiritual. Ia merupakan warna biasa bagi pakaian pendeta dan juga pengantin baru.

KELABU

Kelabu dikaitkan dengan usia lanjut. Selain dari usia lanjut, ia dikaitkan dengan sifat kebijaksaan berdasarkan sifat Cronos, dewa masa pada zaman Greco-Roman. Bagi penganut Kabbalah, kelabu memberi simbol kehidupan dan kearifan.

OREN

Warna oren membawa maksud titik keseimbangan antara tenaga dan libido. Ia dikatakan sebagai warna ganjil yang berada antara warna merah dan kuning. Di India, ia merupakan warna kedua bagi cakra manusia yang menonjolkan sifat seksualiti dan emosi. Oren juga merupakan warna kesuburan dan mewah.

Ruj:
The Ultimate DSS (2007:HH)

#TMG2013

Fenomena "Listen-Listen-Listen~"

Listen-Listen-Listen~ menjadi trend dan fenomena terbaru di Malaysia,  sebagai cara untuk memaksa orang untuk mendengar apa yang ingin dikatakan, memberi mereka ruang untuk bercakap dan tanda untuk memprotes pendapat yang telah diajukan. Ungkapan "Listen" (mesti disebut banyak kali untuk lebih afdal) sebenarnya dimulakan oleh Sharifah Zohra, presiden NGO untuk Suara Wanita 1 Malaysia (SW1M) semasa beliau berada di Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) untuk satu forum yang bertajuk- "Seiringkah Mahasiswa dan Politik?".

Sharifah Zohra dikatakan berdepan dengan soalan dari seorang pelajar perempuan, Bawani KS mengenai isu perhimpunan BERSIH, Ambiga pencetus demonstrasi dan kemudian beralih kepada isu pendidikan percuma. Menerusi video debat antara Aunty Listen versus Bawani di Youtube, Bawani menyebut tentang PTPTN dan pendidikan berbayar di Malaysia, berbeza dari negara luar seperti Argentina, Brazil dan sebagainya yang mengamalkan pendidikan percuma untuk pelajar universiti. Setelah memberi pandangan dan pendapat mengenai perkara tersebut, Aunty Listen muncul di hadapan Bawani dan berkata:

"Let me speak..."

Kandungan Video Aunty Zohra Versus Bawani

Secara ringkasnya, berlaku beberapa insiden di antara Aunty Zohra versus Bawani menerusi video yang telah dimuatnaik ke dalam Youtube. Menerusi video tersebut, ramai pihak memberi analisa dan pendapat mengenai forum yang dianjurkan di UUM. Ramai pihak menyatakan bahawa sikap Aunty Zohra yang bersifat pengongkong dan diktator dalam forum tersebut, manakala Bawani pula meninggikan suara dan bersifat sarkastik ketika mengajukan soalan, lebih-lebih lagi isu haiwan ada masalah pula tidak relevan untuk tajuk forum. Bukan itu saja, menganjurkan forum berunsurkan politik di universiti sebelum musim pilihan raya bukan satu tindakan yang bijak kerana ia mungkin mengundang kontroversi, fitnah dan juga debat yang menyimpang. Sebaiknya, kedua-dua belah pihak (Aunty Zohra versus Bawani-termasuklah pihak UUM) belajar untuk menghormati dan tidak menyinggung perasaan orang lain semasa mengeluarkan pendapat masing-masing (dan itulah pada pandangan saya sebagai bekas pelajar dan pemerhati keadaan semasa)

Apa-apapun, Aunty Zohra telah memperkenalkan kaedah #Listen untuk sesi pengucapan awam. Walaupun cara penyampaian #Listen tersebut kurang sopan tetapi ia memberi impak mengenai kuasa mendengar.

P/S: Listen-Listen-Listen~ No buffering, no suffering."

#TMG2013