Weimer, Buchenwald, Dresden, Lommatzch & Erfurt - GERMANY

Never in my wildest dream would I have ever thought of travelling to Germany, but, even by chance I would have got to Germany, I would have either gone to Berlin or Stuttgart, but not to, the above towns.

YES! I got there all right and I must thank my dear friends at ERA CONSUMER MALAYSIA for nominating me to attend the seminar which I have briefly mentioned in my previous postings.

The Friedrich Naumman Stiftung as part of its seminar proceeding organised a Excursion to the above towns and I must admit it was a visit which was worth every bit of it.

I would write more about the seminar in my other postings. Now, I will write a summary of my visit to the above cities.

WEIMER

Weimer is a small town in the state of Thuringia, Germany and is a urban district and has a population of 64,361 people. It seems that it is one of the oldest cities as it has records from the year 899. According to history Weimer has some of the greatest cultural sites in Europe. But its speciality is in music.

Since I like history it was indeed a wonderful experience to visit the places which was once resided by Johann Sebastian Bach, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Richard Strauss and many, many more historians and world renowned musicians.

BUCHENWALD
(PICTURE ABOVE IS THE MAIN ENTRANCE)

A place that should not have existed at all in the history. Apparently this place was used as a concentration camp during the World War 2 and was extensively use by Adolf Hitler. I hate that man for all the cruelty that he had created although he did well in creating Patriotism and Nationalistic value in all Germans. It was indeed very sad to see how prisoners’ were treated – VERY INHUMAN. They were not only tortured but they were simply treated like animals. Can you imagine, there were some prisoners who was killed in the pretext of medical examination and then they have a cellar to hang the body till its time to cremate them.

If the Buchenwald concentration camp is a sin, I would say the same about the detention centre in Guatanamo Bay, USA and the ruler of that State ………… (Fill in the blank).

Sorry!!!! Time is running out and I will continue with the writings about the other destination in my next postings. I will write a brief of the other towns that we all visited within the next few days.

As for my friends or shall I say my latest family members from all over the world. They are all an interesting character to get to know, although they come from various background but we have the same wave length of thinking. Along with me is a Deputy Governor of a state from Brazil, a MP from Nicaragua and a would be President’s wife from Nicaragua….and many many more. I am indeed very happy that the relationship which was created here will last long as we have decided to create a link that would be connected all time.

Staffs at the FDF have been great. They have made sure that every thing is taken care of. They are so very strict as far as timing in concerned, but, friends would know that – I am a person who would stick to my time as such, fulfilling that rule of law was never a problem.

MY VIEWS……. GERMAN is a developed nation and is so advanced but I miss MALAYSIA. There can be no other place in this world that’s as good as Malaysia, although plenty of the teachings here really make me wonder if Liberalism is ever possible in Malaysia.

Gummersbach, Germany

Many of my friends who have been visiting my blog must be wondering that i may have decided to be buried under this blog and may not hear from me.

WELL; please forgive me for not writing for some time now as I have been busy with plenty of work commitments and while being busy during that time, I was informed that I was selected to participate in a seminar to be organised by Freidrich Naumann Stiftung which would be held in Gummersbach, Germany.

I must than Era Consumer Malaysia for nominating me.

The seminar is being held now and I am right now in Gummersbach, Germany.

I would also like to take this opportunity to apologies to some of my friends whom I was not able to say GOOD BYE.

Anyway, since I am writing now, it is only proper for me to share with you some of the happenings around me till to date. Sorry, I don’t have any pictures to attach here but, at least for a start a simple backgrounder would be sufficient.

The Seminar which is titled ‘Chances & Challenges of Liberalism’ is organised by the Friedrich Naumann Stiftung = Stiftung means Foundation. The 12 days seminar is fully funded by the foundation and along with me there are 24 other participants from all over the world. To be specific I now have friends from South Africa, Ghana, Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, Turkey, Brazil, Mexico, Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Hungary, Georgia, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine and along with my Asian friends from Thailand, Cambodia, Philippines, Sri Lanka & Pakistan. YES, Its True, my friendship empire is getting bigger and better.

The discussions here have been very encouraging and I am enjoying every bit of it, especially learning the curves of liberalism and democracy (which I believe will be the best of the political system available at this point of time).

We have so far discussed several issues;

1. Liberalism throughout the world.
2. Liberalism versus its opponents, conservatism and socialism.
3. Property: the guardian of liberty and precondition for a flourishing market.
4. Democracy, human rights and rule of law from liberal perspective.

We have many more subjects that would be discussed over the next few days and I am indeed looking forward to those few days.

I will update you soon and please bare with me should there be a delay.

MY VIEWS…….. Liberalism is good, but Democracy is better. But, then again, for some country it may not work. As far as I am concern, there is no other political system which has been effective than the democratic system in a multi racial, multi ethnic and multi religious like Malaysia. There are plenty of similarities between liberalism and democracy and I am sure a combination of both would be the best.

Bloggers Buff 2007

During my recent travels around Peninsular Malaysia promoting Putera MIC, i have been mentioning that at the present moment of time we are living in 2 types of World. One, the real world and the other one is the virtual world.

Plenty of things predicted in the virtual world turn out to be real in the real world. Not all, offcourse there are some culprits (whom i term them as shock sendiri) will super impose people's pictures with a hope that it will become true - fat hopes. I would like to suggest to them, why not super impose your mother, father, brother, wife or sisters picture or better still your own picture - How sick can one person be ?

Anyway, coming back to my topic - Putera MIC which was just formed a few months ago would be making a giant step - supporting the organising of the Bloggers Buff 2007. For me its a giant step for an organisation which is just 4 months old. I believe the future is in the ICT world, in a short time of 4 months i have realised that one of the 'Blue Ocean Strategy' learning for me is to create a strong link between Putera MIC and the Virtual world.

I have taken a task to swim in this virtual world, i may sink or i may be able to swim to the shore, but i am sure, with the team that i have organising the bloggers buff 2007 - i will not sink. I salute B Mahendran, Amutha, Praveen, Puvanan and all their team for succesfully organising this historical event.

I think we would be the 1st political party in Malaysia to organise a bloggers workshop.

Some time back, when our Dato' Seri Party President announced the formation Putera MIC and mentioned his wishes to create the 3G Leaders - Many were unsure if that is possible - I will not fail the task which has been given to me despite many challenges out there as I know we have the ability to create the 3G leaders.

My Views; Let us all swim in the blue ocean and feel the virtual worlds strength and this would be the only way where the community will have an advantage to be the champion.