THE TABOOS

Hello guests! For this time, I like to share an interesting story about "TABOOS". Did you know what is "Taboos" ??

A taboo is a vehement prohibition of an action based on the belief that such behaviour is either too sacred or too accursed for ordinary individuals to undertake, under threat of supernatural punishment.


Here are some example of the cultural taboos:


20 Cultural Taboos


1. In Thailand and in Arab countries never point your shoe/foot to another person. The shoe/foot is

the unclean part of your body.


2. In Thailand, don't touch the head of someone older than you, or, in general, don't touch the head

at all.


3. In many African countries

when talking to a tribal chief, make

sure that your head is not above his.


4. If you are a male, don't try to

shake hands with an orthodox Muslim

(covered) woman.


5. Don't walk into a Japanese

home with your shoes on.


6. Don't forget to say "takk for

maten" ("Thank you for the meal.")

in Scandinavia. It is a MUST!


7. Never eat while standing while in Indonesia


8. Never wear red to a funeral in China or write a

person’s name in red in Korea.


9. Never chew gum in public in Austria, Italy,

Germany, or Malaysia.


10. In India and many other countries, don’t eat

food with your left hand.


11. Don’t cut your grass on Sunday in Switzerland



So did you understand what is the meaning of "Taboos" ??


Futhermore, the cultural taboos also has a significance which is :


#     They are an expression of interconnectedness of two inseparable dimension in the African worldview: the visible world and the invisible one. That interconnectedness can also be seen as interdependence whereby the quality of life of the ancestors and of people depended on each other's actions;

#     They are an expression and a means of perpetuating what was considered as the most important features in African culture: preservation of life and well being of people.

#     Life and its quality was seen as crucial and the society applied a variety of methods to preserve it and transmit it, including taboos;
Taboos showed the communal dimensions of one's actions. In the culture where one was defined by belonging to a community and where the community was far more important than its individual members, one's actions affected that community.

#     Taboos were helping people to recognize their own importance – if one could affect the community, in this case, negatively, he was not unimportant. To a certain extend, the researcher would call taboos 'self-esteem-enhancing beliefs';

#     Taboos helped people to realize that an improper behaviour would always have consequences for them, the community and the nature;

#     Taboos were an expression of a quite sophisticated moral system ruling the life in the community and the life of an individual. Even though formulated as 'negative' principles stressing 'do not...' and teaching people about what was not acceptable in the community, by implication, they were also pointing out to the actions that were supposed to be done. By preventing people from doing wrong things, they were helping them to focus on what was encouraged in the community;

#     Taboos were an expression of the 'natural law' – a general set of rules commonly understood by all human beings. Similarities among various tribes concerning prohibitions against such acts as incest, murder, stealing show the common ground of various taboos. Often formulated in a way that implied more than their original wording, they were helping people to exercise their common sense and moral responsibility in interpreting them and applying them to various situations;

#     Taboos were used to convey moral values to especially to children. They could be described as 'teaching aids' when explaining some moral principles to them. When one lacked an intellectual ability to impart the importance of some moral principles, taboos were a useful way of transmitting the same value from a different perspective. Those values, worded as taboos, were expressed at various occasions such as circumcision, marriage negotiations and funeral rites. It was an effective system of preserving and transmitting moral values, keeping in mind that traditional African cultural was an oral one;

#     In a society where there was no police, taboos served as a guardian of moral values. To a certain extend, they were better than modern law enforcing agencies, because, in most cases, breaking of a taboo was associated with an automatic punishment – one did not have to be caught to be punished;

#     Through taboos one was made aware that an improper action, as defined by the society one was a member of, would result in negatively affecting the harmony of the person concerned, the family and the society at large. Transgressing it would also result in punishment. It was a way of teaching people that each action entails consequences. Such consequences/punishment was usually automatic, personal (creating feelings of fear and guilt), affecting, in one way or another the family and the community. That punishment could also be administered by the community;

#     Taboos aimed at preserving harmony. However breaking them was not irreversible. As such taboos point out to wisdom of those who created them, who were aware of human frailty. There seems to have always been a way of avoiding the grave consequences of breaking of a taboo and of re-connecting harmony that was damaged. Taboos, hence, were not an end in themselves but rather a means of expressing fundamental values of harmony, peace and life. If it is was not enough to prevent people from breaking it or if broken unintentionally, the community had a way dealing with it in a way that was enhancing the quality of life.

ESSAY 6 : CHILDHOOD LIFE

 

     A wonderful way to pass down childhood stories to the young people in your life. Writing about childhood life  has never been easier! .You'll look back on the friends you had, the games you played, the people that influenced your life, as well as the experiences you encountered. Enjoy a trip down childhood life lane! The childhood life that the most joyful time for every person without any doubt would be their childhood. Since people are different in many areas, they may have different opinions about the reasons. However, I think  that childhood is the happiest time because first children at that age do not have any special responsibility, and second they are children and their mind and the way they think completely different from teenagers and adults. In other words, their minds are free.

      

     First, as a child you do not have to take any noticeable responsibility. You just play and enjoy your daily life. A child does not get into the troubles of for example studying, going to work or even having family duties like a father or mother. In case of everyday life, matures are dealing with a lot of chores and duties. Take the case of a mother for instance, she should have to take care of the house, do the daily chores such as cooking, ironing, cleaning and boring duties like that. Moreover, she has to look after of her child or children too. Considering that she does not have to work like her spouse outside the house. Children's most important concern would be the size of their bicycle or the number of their toys they possess.

      

      Second, as a child your mind is largely free from many things which may cause challenge such as political or financial issues. Furthermore, in that period they tend to make friends much easier unlike teenagers. The things they are looking in a friendship are not materialistic. The purpose of make a link with their peers would not be for using them in further critical situations. They simply make friends to play with each other or to share their toys. Beside mentioned points, their needs are not much complicated. They would become easily happy by giving them a notebook and bunch of color pencils as if they are given a luxury car or a high-ranked position in a company.

     

      Childhood life is one of the sweetest experience.I think the kid’ space nowdays in childhood life; They play in your lap. Frequently they laugh, frequently they weep. When they touch your face with their soft little hands you feel a deep feeling of love and affection. Have you ever watched them! How do they behave!By God’s grace I always have got chances to be with small children. I watched them closely! What I felt I tell you categorically…If you are a stranger, most children would prefer to keep away from you. They watch your activities closely, weather it suits them or not! When convinced about you they join you! When you hold them in your hands and kiss them with affection the feeling is divine. They see the world on sitting your shoulder. Beware if the junior urinates without signal. How much time your new and well creched clothing been treated with these juniors!

      Generally Ball and deep multi colors attracts a child most! They are easily attracted to it. The other thing - they are easily attracted to birds. They like its singing, twittering and of course flying. They run after to catch them. No matter they fail, they keep trying every time. Even you will see the kids imitating their sound. Have you seen kids imitating the frog’s jumping and how many times the kid imitates to the sound of motor vehicles.  

      

     Kids enjoy the Balloon also. They play with excitement with it. The multi dark color balloons having various shapes make them wonder and by getting them they feel at cloud nine! Toys are the best friends of small kids. This involves their attention in to itself and makes them think and analyze. And have you heard two small kids talking to each other! This is always a great hearing. I would not tell any thing about it but would like to hear of your experience. Do tell me. While taking a bath all kids behaves differently. Some enjoy it and giggles while others shout at greater pitch, no matter there are no tears in their eyes or some times crocodile tears! Crying is the biggest weapon a child. There are several stories on it. While all of us were child at some stage I would like to here your child hood feelings and thoughts. All the notorious and funny aspects of your child hood. Tell me, would you?

       In conclusion, I consider the childhood time as the most memorable and happiest for everyone mostly because at that age, our expectations from life and other people around us are very simple and would not cause anyone trouble.  As childhood denotes an important timeframe within an individual's life, therefore the recounting of such memories plays a significant role to see where one has been and where one is going. While it is not possible to include all my memories of childhood in this paper, the ones I have presented to you are some turning points in my life. They show some of the events that have happened in my childhood which have played a part in making me who I am today, thus marking essential milestones on my life journey. It is my hope that after reading this, the reader will be inspired to perhaps write their own life story and record their experiences to see how one has changed, and to remind oneself of the joys, challenges and sorrows that have shaped their lives whilst growing up. Not only is this therapeutic and educational to do so, but self-reflective as well, which is always a good thing.

ESSAY 4 : Baby Dumping

Our country, Malaysia has become a very popular and favourite spot for dumping, not the usual garbage dumping but it is the baby dumping. Baby dumping means the act of throwing away the babies at any place without taken care the babies. Surely, all of us have heard about fruit season and others, but do you ever heard of baby dumping season? New Year celebration and Valentine’s Day are known as mating season nowadays which leads to unwanted pregnancies among youth and obviously, leads to baby dumping cases which can be easily read in the mass media. Child dumping is the practice of dumping offspring outside of legal adoption.The dumped child is called a foundling or throwaway. According to a reliable statistics, one baby is dumped every week. The question that comes to mind is ‘Why is this scenario is happening in a modern and technology era that we lived in’? Do we, the society, play a good role in handling this issue or perhaps we just take this issue as light as feathers since we got nothing to do with it? And do we have even have a little of sympathy when we see how these innocent babies’ lives being ripped out by this shameful act?

            First and foremost, I shall brief you on the factors that causes baby dumping. One factor that leads to baby dumping is teenage pregnancy. The first reason is teenagers are lacking of sex education. Parents and schools do not inject sex education onto teenagers' mind since they were small. Parents always think that their children will understand everything about sex when they grow up. This is the natural ability that everybody has and they no need to talk to their children about sex. Most of the parents feel ashamed and uncomfortable everytime their children ask them questions about sex.They refuse to give a positive explanation and a clear view to their children and always claim that they are too small to know about sex. Due to the lack of basic knowledge, surely they do not know how and where a baby comes. At the level of puberty,teenagers are full of curiousity and they want to try everything that they have not tried before.They will feel curious about their boy friends and girl friends. Urged by their strong curiousity,they have a special relationship with their partners.After the process, they might have a baby.When they face problems such as pregnancy, they will try to solve the problems illegally and the best solution to them is baby dumping.

         
           Secondly, peer influence. Parents who are always busy work are result their child have more time to gather with their friends rather than them. Therefore, this situation will become worst when their child are friend with gangster or friends who have many bad habits. So that, when their friends persuade them do somethings, they just follow what their friends say. Because for them, this is the way to show that they are best friends. This is because at a young age, teens are very easily influenced by their peers. This problem becomes worse when they associate with negative peers. Negative friends who will invite young people to do things outside the boundaries of religion and norms of society, such as going to places of entertainment such as disco, taking drugs and doing free association. Teens who fall in the arena, the arena will be negative sexual promiscuity, and eventually reached a dead end to find that her pregnancy. In desperation, they had to discard their babies.

Besides that, parents did not pay a lot attention to their son’s, especially about moral education, but in my opinion not only moral education is the main role that causes baby dumping phenomenon because the other role such as internet, television also one of the cause behind baby dumping. There are still some of us who do not understand the real meaning of sex. Consequently, certain abuses take place. In the web for example, we have the cyber sex which is getting a lot of attention especially from the teenagers. We cannot of course prevent them from chatting in the web or engaging into cyber dates since the internet has proven its worth in terms of socialization and communication. That’s easy to interupe teenage to the sex without marriage and then, when they make sex and pregnant without married, the problems that could make one get confused and decide to do things that cannot be done by a normal human being,so that’s why some women decide to dump their children.

Here suggestion on how to cope this problem. The key is parents  must provide religious education so that children know good and bad matter. Besided that, parents should know whom their children friend so that their children friendless with social and must know all their children's activity. Through this it can control their children's movement not to trapped with bad element at outside. Parents also should provide sex education to their children. Sex education is not only about the mechanics of sex but also learning how to respect our bodies and one another. It need not encourage promiscuity, but properly taught can encourage abstinence till marriage and not falling for the “if you love me, you will have sex with me” line. It is needed to encourage responsible sexual behavior and avoid unwanted pregnancies that causes baby dumping. Furthermore, parent is near to them. So, parent is role model in shaping their personality. Beside that, parent need give upbringing to child about moral since small. Early care so important. If child was taught from small with good value, they would not be involved with wrongdoing such as baby dumping.

In conclusion, there are many factors that lead to cases of baby dumping occurred. This problem should be addressed and resolved to carry out these steps effectively before the situation worsens and threatens the future of the country. In this case, all parties must cooperate and work together to solve this problem because like the Malay proverb says, "because the sewer water round, round man for consensus".

IMPOLITENESS

The definition of  impoliteness unkind, discourteous behavior. When we think of rudeness, we classify these actions into three categories which is bodily functions, verbal rudeness and physical actions.
Bodily functions are, to us, the worst of the group. Having a weak stomach when it comes to vomit, gas odors, and feces, we get upset when we are exposed to these things deliberately. Unless you are with your children or significant other, passing gas for others to endure is simply rude. Another rude bodily function is spitting where people have to walk. Especially when a man spits out dip (aka tobacco).Finally, on the subject, and my pet peeve number one rudest, is blowing your nose at a restaurant table.
Being loud and verbally abusing to someone, even an animal who doesn’t understand the words but the tone of voice, is at most, unnecessary. Children come to mind when we ponder this thought. We were raised to respect our elders. Saying “Yes mam, yes sir” came naturally. But kids these days will attack you with words like “Shut up and no!” They also have a tendency to be very nasty to less fortunate individuals. We just recently had to correct our four year old sister for blurting out “Mom, that girl is real fat!” The kids also tease each other with name calling such as “You are so ugly!” They taunt each other by laughing at the others misfortunes; such a rude thing to do.
Our third and final category is rude actions. What we mean by actions is when an uninvited guest shows up at a party and ruins everything. Or, when a relative or friend overstays their welcome at your house is totally rude. And finally, when someone cuts you off when you’re driving.
There are many more rude actions we wanted to add like cursing excessively, indecent exposure, failure to flush the toilet, interrupting while someone’s speaking, and eating with your mouth open.
Finally, we should know that impoliteness are not good to have in our life. This is because it can make a us to have a negative behaviours.

WORLD POVERTY

Hi, this is our first essay for this blog.The tittle that was given is world poverty.Here we state our opinion.
                                     

           We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. Poverty was and still is the biggest and the most serious killer in the world. Many people don’t die because of illness like AIDS and Malaria but because of the fact that they are so poor that they can’t survive.

           Did you ever think? Enjoying your new shoes and clothes? Enjoying your food, coffee, and leather couches? Well, as we sit comfortably here in the Malaysia, think about the rest of the world where our great wonders and daily supplies come from ... check your labels and you’ll see that the Third World is our main supplier of cheap goods and leisure items. Even drugs like opium fall into the category of Third World products, it’s the only way for many farmers to make a living. We may enjoy our acquisitions, but what about the people on the other side of the equation? 

            Consider the billionaires, with all their money, more than any human could spend in a lifetime and gained from management and ripping apart rivals, while countless others slave and die to provide their cars, lawns and houses. How do billionaires benefit society? What do they do but encourage people to smash others into the mud and to snatch fortune for one’s greedy self? The title is quite fitting - Billionaire: the accumulation of capital stolen from a billion people.There is enough food and labor in the world to save them, but to do so, no one person can have as much wealth as the billionaires do. We cry about our wars and property rights and then hail capitalism as the most humane and free system. 

           However, look at the Third World and see the people dying every year because of our “free world” and “free markets,” and the others who suffer and live a pathetic existence because of greedy individuals. Most workers in those nations lead lives of poverty, unable to purchase anything to enjoy life, and even capitalist nations’ workers, though benefited by the starvation of the Third World, still endure lives in which they can’t strive to become anything. There are only so many scholarships, and a youth of poverty and misery remains a scar through one’s lifetime. “Free world” indeed. Globalization is spreading quickly and both capitalist and Third World nations are feeling the weight, yet it is not the rich taking the blow, but the common people.

           

             If we stop poverty, we will save many peoples’ lives. Life is so hard and if we don’t help these people, who will do that? Let’s support this cause, because this is the way that we can see smiles on childrens’ faces and we can make some childrens’ dreams come true. Poverty destroys many childrens’ dreams and it is time to say stop. It is time to integrate with each other for one cause because these people need us, it is time to show that we have golden hearts and we really understand how serious the problem with hunger is and it is time to be people and to show that we care not only for ourselves, but also for others in our planet. So let’s help before it is too late and let’s show these people that they are not alone and somebody, somewhere cares about them.

STUDENT #3

Hallo guests!! Assalammualaikum :D

What is your feeling when you first see this blog?? I think it was a little bit cute blog because there was a small "Bee" as the profile picture ^_^ As you know, this blog is created by 3 person. All of this are because of our Fundamental English assignments. We all are need to have our own profile data and each of us need to introduce ourself. This is my first time to have this INTERESTING assignments. Because before this I already have a blog but I was inactive because i dont know how to use it ( its for been 2 or 3 years inactivated) haha~

Therefore, for the first time when I having do this assignments.. I feel very excited as I was typing all the words in English! Its challenging.. hehehe..

And now..
I would like to introduce myself :D

My name is Nur Raihan Farhanah Binti Abd Rahim. I was born on 13th November 1994 in Malacca General Hospital. I live in Bukit Rambai, Melaka. I was the students of Universiti of Kuala Lumpur  (MICET) as the words "MICET" is stand for "Malaysian Institute of Chemical And Bioengineering Technology". I am the student of Barchelor of Chemical Engineering Technology (Hons.) in Food. My ambitions is I want to be an Engineer (Food Engineer) and if Allah wills I want to be the HALAL Executive in any markets. My hobby is I love travelling. Besides,before this I had continue my study in Malacca Matriculation College near to Londang,Masjid Tanah, Melaka.

Furthermore, my father's name is Abd Rahim bin Ahmad and my mom is Ruzana Binti Hj. Yahaya. Both of my parents is a teacher.

I have a sister. She is the only siblings in my life. Only me and her.
Her name is Nur Syahirah Binti Abd Rahim. I call her at home or anywhere as "Along". She is 22 years old and studying Medical in Cyberjaya University College of Medical Sciences (CUCMS) in Cyberjaya. Now she's in the fourth year. Inshaa Allah she will graduated as a Doctor by next year :)

Apart from that.. I would like to share to you about myself..
Firstly, I am really love to make a smiles and being friendly with anyone :)
Next, I like photography really much.
And lastly, I love travelling. My aim for the next 4 year is I want to fly abroad to continue my study in Master but I know it is not easy, but, I'll try because I trust that..

"What the mind believes, The body can achieve"

That's all from me. Assalammualaikum :)

STUDENT #2

Assalamualaikum. Hello lovely readers. Here I am after a few months relaxing my fingers from typing. :)
I am glad to write a little bit about myself. So, I have to say something about myself. Sometimes it is hard to introduce yourself because you know yourself so well that you do not know where to start with. Let me give a try to see what kind of image you have about me through my self-description. I hope that my impression about myself and your impression about me are not so different. Here it goes.

Nur Masturina Binti Sazili was the name given by my grandfather. Born on 18th December of 1993. I come from Kedah. Study in Bachelor Chemical Engineering Technology(Hons) In Food. I am the first daughter from 4 sisters and being the first grandaughter of my mother's family. All my cousins still at the average of primary school and kindergarten. My hero is Sazili Bin Abdul Rahman and my heroin is Nashriah Binti Mohamad. They described me as hardworking, helping and fierce at the same time, maybe they want to say me such a lovely person?Heh.

I love chocolates, in anything and everything (Note: You can bribe me chocolates into doing almost anything.). Love the ancient Japanese art of paper folding, aka Origami. Love purple, no I mean obsessed. Love caffein even migraines. I think a lot about money, but I'm NOT money minded. Always thinking the effort to gain money by myself like doing business, working after finishing SPM and matriculation. I also did an encourage business by sewing plushies keychains. The effort that I put was really enjoyable and made me excited on trying new things. Here is one of the picture.

I am the type of person who don't talk too much unless I feel comfortable to confront with them. People who don't know me think I'm shy. And people who do know me wish I were! I might look exceptionally unruffled in most pensive of situations, but that does not necessarily always reflect my inner state. I don't mind doing stupid reckless things with my close friends around.

With my sister. I'm purple in colour :)

I spend more time digging and fixing what is not right within me, than I spend enjoying what is good in me. I believe it helps me make a better me as days pass by, but at the same time I miss out on enjoying the good things in me. While it helps me make me "the me" I am, I don't necessarily see this as a good thing. Neither am I actively looking at fixing it. Thats all about me. Thank you for giving time reading my post. Assalamualaikum.