DuckTale: Inside the mind of a LadyDucky

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Today is my birthday... The 27th. Keep on reading...

The new semester that has just begun urge me to read quite lot philosophical background of the specified subject. I still can’t enjoy it. I do like philosophical things. What I couldn’t enjoy is the chronological plot that has been used by the writers. They explain one thing then describe it a little and compared directly with other approaches. Yes, somehow this way is more practical but it makes me confused. They get used to jump here and there. And what make it harder, they use a lot of references for one thing, though I do understand that they do that in order to avoid plagiarism …

Anyway…
One of something that I learn is about the truth. Whether the truth is really true?!! This is an important issue, especially in the social sciences. And since daily life is full of social issues, this is also an important thing for life.

The truth, at certain points, consists of judgments. The judgment itself can be divided into two parts, what happens and what ought to. It means that the things that we see are sometimes not the way they are.

To make it simpler, everyday, we see a lot of things. Things did happen. We (ought to) experience a lot! Unfortunately, it seems that we don’t have enough time to do that. We are busy with those obligations. We wake up, take a bath and other personal things, eat three times a day (might be more or less), work, sleep. And so on. We keep on doing almost the same thing. Sometimes, I feel afraid that the future might be something like what some movies had showed. The last one, Wall-e.

We forget to see things closer. We think, the most important thing is to do ours. Keep on walking fast, sleep while on our ways, and eat with reading newspaper/magazine, and so on. We always think that we are busy people. Busy and busy… The life is becoming harder and harder. Find a lot of excuses to work overtime, to make houses to be like bed & breakfast motels.
Though time does fly!!!

This philosophical approach of the truth and judgment reminds me that whenever we already have certain images and concepts of specified thing, it would be hard for us to see it differently. When we see that person as a villain, we will see her/his behaviors in a bad way. That is why, to put any label to people should be done appropriately.

It is also why a good psychologist needs to be careful on making her/his reports. As a teacher, we shouldn’t say naughty boys/girls. As a student, we should not put any label to the teachers. Not only might have negative impact to the teachers but also to us; we might be frightened. As an employer, we shouldn’t think that our employees as lazy and stupid people; otherwise, as an employee, we shouldn’t keep on thinking that our employer is only focusing on money.

It seems that, like it or not, life is full of labels and if we want to go further, a massive gossips :(

Label is important to understand things. It is important to know others and ourselves better. For instance is those famous labels of personality. But, those labels need to be treated as recognition. As the way we identified others: “Ah you mean X, the cheerful girl?”.
But I don't think it is necessary to always try to put those people you met into any classification..

Labels put expectations. Expectation might be good if we see it as a hope, as a goal which needs to be set. But, expectation might be bad too if we put it negatively. Psychologists and motivators know it very well. And they do make money from that. Do we have to see them negatively? Well, sometimes, I also put cynical points to others, might be a person or a country. Many times actually. I even have friends who are supporting each others on doing this. And similar things happen with gossips.

That’s why I want to write this. I want to remind myself (again) that things might not as what we have seen. That the social world is really grey! And we should recheck, we might see the way we want to. And we might see others the way the others want us to see.

That is why discussion is great. To see anything closer, see the others' perspectives. Understand. Yet, a discussion is not a debate. Discussion wants to see the issues clearly, while debate wants to seek the winner. If you ever see a debate competition, both sides have to defend whatever the jury put them on. And none of those statements are false. They've have their points. Thus, you can see clearly the differences between debate and discussion. Though, I believe that in order to have a good discussion, we have to find the proper candidates.

Whatever it is…
I have to go back to this philosophical approach which I think doesn’t be explained clearly thru these chapters. I have to read it without what I’ve labeled it… HeHeHe…

Have a great day! Keep on reading...

Obama will be the President of United States of America starting from this night (noon in USA, night in Indonesia). I plan to watch the process. I want to hear his first speech as the President.

This is a proof that people will always be around you whenever you are in the top, but not when you are just ordinary people. Just like ants, who always gather near the sugar or anything sweet. They don’t care whoever has those sweet things. But, what can you expect from ants? Of course we can learn a lot from them, their solidarity and great cooperation system as examples, but don’t you think that as human we should be wiser on adopting certain behaviors?

However, I am not talking about ants.

So, though I hate those silly things, I am happy that I have chance to see this historical moment. Although, when there were only three candidates from two parties before the Democrat decided who will go as their representative, this is great! There were a woman, a man with a mixture color and a veteran. Those three were intelligent with their own positive and negative sides. A tough senator who is also a wife and mother, who is being hurt due to his husband’s affair. A “young” man who is a good orator, who were supposed to be labeled as third-culture-kid, who might felt confused with his identity but succeed to go through. An “old” man who has great experiences, a war veteran who was put his life only on the chances, who might feel bad when he had to shot. It is amazing isn’t it? While some countries debate on who could be their Presidents including who are the candidates’ ancestors and where they were born (does not mean overseas, just other cities).

Those people, the situation and the Americans itself were give me an understanding. Although I don’t like USA, its arrogance and the way it be a problem maker. I don’t like that it has UN veto right. I simply don’t like its authority. But, I can understand why Americans feel proud to be the way they are, although most of them also protested some policies (ex.: Iraqi wars), they proud to be American. And I can understand why a lot of people try their luck on the lottery of green card.

Everything seem possible!

I like the way Obama appreciated McCain and vice versa. I never heard that the opposition candidate backstabbed his/her opposition after the election. While they were still in the election's process, they announced the words war between them. But that’s it! Not like in certain countries, the opposition always try to take the lost chair as soon as they can. Well, I do agree that the oppositions need to debate certain policies, to remind what needs to be done, to against. But, those efforts should be put in the name of lay people instead of their own.

What is important in this moment is not because it is an inauguration of USA’s president-elect. But, because it shows that Americans are ready to move on. They know what were happened in the past, how the whites discriminated the blacks. They know the history. They honor the history. And Obama didn’t provoke the blacks to fight against the whites, to revenge. He didn’t and I think he won’t.

I believe that he faced many hard situations just because of his skin. How hard it was to move over countries, to live with a few cultures instead of one (which also gives a great opportunity of understanding). He might feel rejected and unwanted. And so on. But, what is important is not what he felt. But, how he faced and how he did it.

So, I think it is better to learn how to honor our histories instead of creating a supportive group for Obama. It is more important to reveal our histories. To learn the fact. To receive however bad is it. To forgive and ask for forgiveness.

It is more important to support our brothers and sisters in our countries who are in need, instead of making an idol. It is silly, isn’t it? Obama is just a human, just like us. So, I don’t think it would be wise to put all the problems into his two hands. And it is terrible to see him as a savior of this nasty world. Yes, he gives new hope. A hope that creates euphoria and makes us believe that hope is still exist. That this world is getting crazier than ever, but we still can believe that there always be the right time for everything. To remind us, to not let go our hopes.

Above all, I put my highest respect to Ann Dunham. I just can imagine how strong she was (though we have our own problems which make us strong too). She should faced the racism because she fell in love with a black man. How broken her heart when she knows that Obama Sr. should married (an)other due his tribal custom. How hard it was to raised a children alone, though she decided later to sent Obama to her parents. How she taught Obama (and her daughter, Maya) to respect every cultures that they have. How she taught her children to be proud, no matter what. To behave properly, no matter what their religions.

Last, I hope Obama is not only a good orator, but a good President too. Sometimes, people forget what they said and promise when they already get what they want.

I get use to heard a lot of boasting words, through speech, slogans or even songs.

*picture was taken from here

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The first post for the first day in the new year...

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However, to regret is not a good point for life.

I think it is better to count the good instead of calculating the bad. We have to be thankful, don't we? To count the blessings is better for the mental health, while calculating the trials creates  jealousy. Jealousy leads us to negative thinking and endless bad motivation. 

I feel that I am blessed with many great things last year.

I want more, but I know that I am lucky enough. I didn't win a car from any draw, nor win any money from the lottery. But, I can fulfill my basic needs. I even be blessed to continue my degree, almost without money to be spent... 

Thus, I think I have to do more. I have to give more than what I did.

I am looking forward to do some volunteerism during my academic calendar. 

I did two! And I enjoyed, especially the last one.. It was an amazing experience!

I want to do more...

Yes, there is a hidden motivation... Those volunteerism will help me on getting jobs after I graduated. But, really, I don't think that being a super-duper-dilligent student who just sitting in the class and do the homeworks is what I want to be.  I am get used to be a little active, not much. I know that I can't too be too active in many organizations. I am a good procrastinator! I don't know why, but I couldn't finish my homeworks far before the datelines. Thankfully, I still able to manage it...

I also a lazy person to go out. I love hang around and see great places. I love to experience things. But I hate traffic jam! Though there almost no traffic jam in my "new city", the transportation system isn't as good as I expected. My house was 40 minutes from the CBD, but it will takes more because of the schedules. Thus, I spent around 90 minutes. There were some vacant volunteerisms around my sub-urb, but I couldn't. It was because, they asked volunteers with certain certificates which legitimate them on helping the elderly or children.

That's why, I am looking for any volunteerism that do not require too much time! It will be great if I can do it at home... Cheaper, easier and more effective to me.

And I found it!!!

Online volunteering is the answer, isn't it?

UNV (United Nations Volunteer) has a website to accomodate this interest. 

The website is named

There are various classifications of tasks and development topics. We can also sort the tasks based on regions and languages. And the greatest thing is the humantarian organizations which post the tasks are real and they might give us certificates or any papers that explained what we did. It is awesome!

So, what are you waiting for?

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Dear All,

Merry Christmas for those who are celebrating it and Happy New Year 2009 for everyone \(^.^)/

May peace be with us all and may we be blessed through every dreams that we ever dreamed... 

Have a nice holidaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaay!!!

Cheers,
Ancilla
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