Michael Jackson

I was watching CNN on Michael Jackson Memorial today. It was quite a moving scene and I felt the grief and sadness of the loss, experienced by his parents, children and his brothers and sisters. Though the memorial seemed like a concert to me, I was moved and felt the loss of a great entertainer. I am not an ardent fan of MJ but I did enjoy his shows. I love to see his dancing, sheer perfection. Now he has gone, people sang praises of him, appreciating him, acknowledging him as the world's greatest entertainer. Acceptable when it came from his close friends.

To me, those beautiful words printed in newspapers are meaningless. They should be said while he was alive, respect and appreciate him even with all his flaws. Human beings are such hypocrites. The American press had field days ridiculing him. I wonder how do those people feel now who made money out of making him look bad. Freedom of press in America is like a circus-disregarding human dignity and can destroy a country.

In a smaller picture, I see hypocrisy everywhere. At work, for example, how many of your colleagues can you trust? How many of them are your real friends who will protect and care for you? Your next table colleague could be your rival, aiming for that promotion or for that salary increase as you do. Many will play dirty, particularly behind your back. Envy is a sickness. He or she will do their best to pull you down and then step on you. I wonder how do this kind of people feel when the person they back-stabbed became depressed or experienced great sorrow? Do they have hearts? Do they gloat and feel proud?

I remember having a fair share of this backstabbing myself, especially from individuals whom I mentored and nurtured to promote the Peer Helper Program and other educational programs. When I was transferred to the Ministry of Education, there was so much griping and badmouthing about me that it was unbelievable. I was angry and disappointed, as it came from my so-called mentees. But I was lucky I had real good friends and ex-bosses who defended me and they continued the good work. A colleague who traveled with me to work badmouthed me to the Director. My activity was clamped down. I received the most unprofessional comment on a formal letter of invitaion for me to give a talk - 'Banyak kerja lain lagi boleh buat di sini. Tidak diluluskan.' I should keep the letter as a momento. Oh yes, I did feel like quitting, but I didn't. I know if I quit, I lose and some people would be clapping their hands hard. So why give them the satisfaction. But Allah is great. If you perservere, believe in Him and you are sincere, you will win. I did! It just takes sooooo long. Have patience, courage and intelligence to deal with it.

So to those individuals, students and young friends, if you are being back-stabbed by your colleagues, learn to be strong. Be positive. If you were clamped from your activities because some people badmouthed you to your superiors, you have a choice. Either you go and confront the person, see your boss and explain but be calm or you can psyche yourself and do something for yourself which will make you proud. Find ways that you can be known or acknowledged in an area you are good at, such as painting, writing, dancing, poetry writing, crafts etc, etc. Promote yourself. There are so many ways you can save yourself from feeling small. If your boss doesn't appreciate your contribution, find ways you can channel your energy somewhere else . But never let yourself down by being a defeatist.

To all the bosses out there, small or big, observe and gather information before you make judgment. Just remember, you have bosses too. How do you feel if you are treated as you treat your subordinates? Arrogance will be your downfall.

To those hypocrites who enjoy badmouthing, backstabbing, gossiping and who like to think they are right all the time, some day somebody will do that to you too. You will experience pain in later part of your life. Actually hypocrites are people with low self-esteem and they lack self-confidence.

So if you want to appreciate someone or people in your life, do it while they are still alive. No point singing praises when they are dead. They can't hear you! MJ is dead, the glorified ceremonies are for show. He wasn't there to see. I wish the American news would leave him alone - in peace where he couldn't get while he was alive.

Life is a cycle. You get what you give.