2018-08-18

Various “Thou Shalt Nots”

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by Neil Godfrey

The Crude

As someone who has spent the last ten plus years working to facilitate open access of reading I had to pause and laugh at the blunt reality of this sign when recently wandering through the Chinatown area of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

–o0o–

The Sophisticated

When I returned home I visited once again the Queensland State Library and this time paused to examine a display cabinet near the entrance of the third floor’s “study and research” spaces. I expected to see some precious historical artefacts but instead saw it housing items that most libraries forbid in their reading areas, along with “preserved” mice and other beasties attracted by them. They were, of course, accompanied by information cards explaining the damage they each inflict on the collection.

–o0o–

The Mythical

Back to Kuala Lumpur for this one. In the old historic part of the city is a scenic spot with a flowing river and signage to alert visitors they were in the presence of the River of Life. There is an old mosque there and other interesting buildings and various signs to remind Westerners of the “thou shalt nots” that once accompanied their Edenic Tree of Life.

—–

—-

I don’t know what that empty circle with the “Forbidden” line through it is warning against (top row, third from the right). “No [fill in blank]”? — to cover those moments they catch you doing something they had forgotten to list?

I love the ban on romantic kissing sign. Much more discreet than our western images of naked Adam and Eve.

I see technology is introduced to help God keep a better eye on what’s going on nowadays.

 


2018-07-31

Travels

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

by Neil Godfrey

Right now I’m in transit between Australia and Thailand and as much as I hate flying I do love the experience of exploring new places — like today’s walks around the historical area of Kuala Lumpur, the national mosque, and seeing for the first time truly appropriate signage on those pull-push doors. For about the first time I can remember I had no trepidation over the embarrassment of getting the two mixed up as I approached.

Around this time last year I was in the UK and one place I could not pass up was Liverpool. I was 50+ years too late, though, so the stars were fossilized in bronze…

Rory Storm
You know who

THE Street to see … Mathew Street Continue reading “Travels”


2009-04-18

Politics of Josephus alive and well today

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

by Neil Godfrey

Josephus detested political dissidents. He saw nothing good in anyone going out of their way to protest against the government.

All sorts of misfortunes also sprang from these men, and the nation was infected with this doctrine to an incredible degree  . . . . This was done in pretense indeed for the public welfare, but in reality for the hopes of gain to themselves; . . . . (Antiquities, 18.1)

The same meme that equates politial protest with selfishness is, of course, alive and well today. From a Singapore newspaper:

The timely enactment of the Public Order Act will be an effective legal tool to check groups out to disrupt the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit scheduled to be hosted in Singapore in November.

We should not allow others to hijack these pro-Singapore events to satisfy their own selfish political agendas.

and then again in a Malaysian newspaper:

He said it was only a tiny group of irresponsible and selfish individuals who had been pushing this line of civil disobedience in Singapore.

Of course the same meme is with us wherever — even whenever — we live.