[Jakarta, 12/18/23] A timid, retiring type without vices, I can’t remember the last time I had beer, bourbon, pot, cocaine or acid. Shit, I can barely remember what I did three hours ago. Going to bed absurdly sober last night, I read Cyntha Hariadi’s
The nature of all mankind is to do evil to varying degrees. That’s why acts of grace, mercy, and tenderness are so heartwarming. They are exceptional acts. At best, we can, for a time, leave each other alone. That is what is so confounding about the US. Why can’t we leave others alone? And why can’t the general populace acknowledge our persistent failure to do so. The US is a toxic combination of evil, apathy for the suffering of others, and aggression. I say all this while also being profoundly sad as my constant companion for 2 years (pictured with me in my bio) was struck and killed by a car this past weekend. As Lord Byron wrote about his own dog, my dog Hoshi “possessed Beauty without Vanity, Strength without Insolence, Courage without Ferocity, and all the virtues of Man without his Vices.”
I went to a neighborhood gathering last week where my friends talked about teaching their kids to say the pledge of allegiance. When I said I refused to pledge allegiance to a murderous, genocidal government they were shocked! They love Amerika. So clueless.
Interesting that the only fat people are at the pizza joint! Why can't you go into the Catholic Church, Linh? Thanks for sharing your interesting life with me. Blessings, and Merry Christmas indeed!
In Cairo, there were soldiers with assault weapons guarding churches. Here in Jakarta, it's not so crazy, but the churches near me are all fenced with a security guard, so you can't just walk in to look around. In Vung Tau right now, there are many nativity scenes, with huge ones outside churches and smaller ones at homes and businesses. I haven't seen one in Jakarta.
Here's a video of Hanoi's Saint Joseph Cathedral on 12/17/23. I notice the doors are closed, but it's super festive just outside. At 0:37, there are two Israeli tourists, then at 1:08, there's a family from Iran:
Thank you for that, Linh. You're right, only a heart of stone will fail to shed a tear watching that. I especially liked seeing the kids, enthralled. The only unenraptured face I saw in the audience was the smokin' hot girl at 3:36. Her bored look said, "I hope the Coach handbag store isn't closed when we get out of this place."
The nature of all mankind is to do evil to varying degrees. That’s why acts of grace, mercy, and tenderness are so heartwarming. They are exceptional acts. At best, we can, for a time, leave each other alone. That is what is so confounding about the US. Why can’t we leave others alone? And why can’t the general populace acknowledge our persistent failure to do so. The US is a toxic combination of evil, apathy for the suffering of others, and aggression. I say all this while also being profoundly sad as my constant companion for 2 years (pictured with me in my bio) was struck and killed by a car this past weekend. As Lord Byron wrote about his own dog, my dog Hoshi “possessed Beauty without Vanity, Strength without Insolence, Courage without Ferocity, and all the virtues of Man without his Vices.”
The silver line was actually expanded to Dulles just this year. Only took about 60+ years!
So much said in so few words. You could make the phone book sing, Linh!
I went to a neighborhood gathering last week where my friends talked about teaching their kids to say the pledge of allegiance. When I said I refused to pledge allegiance to a murderous, genocidal government they were shocked! They love Amerika. So clueless.
Interesting that the only fat people are at the pizza joint! Why can't you go into the Catholic Church, Linh? Thanks for sharing your interesting life with me. Blessings, and Merry Christmas indeed!
Hi Peggy,
In Cairo, there were soldiers with assault weapons guarding churches. Here in Jakarta, it's not so crazy, but the churches near me are all fenced with a security guard, so you can't just walk in to look around. In Vung Tau right now, there are many nativity scenes, with huge ones outside churches and smaller ones at homes and businesses. I haven't seen one in Jakarta.
Here's a video of Hanoi's Saint Joseph Cathedral on 12/17/23. I notice the doors are closed, but it's super festive just outside. At 0:37, there are two Israeli tourists, then at 1:08, there's a family from Iran:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrO4mO8IYU8&t=1s
Here's a video of a concert at the same church on 12/15/23:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t92QoaMAyOs&t=16s
Linh
P.S. Here's Phạm Thu Hà singing Schubert's "Ave Maria" at Hanoi's Cathedral in 2018. It's hard not to weep:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0os4dzvYA8
Thanks for the link to the fine performance of "Ave Maria". It has always been one of my favorites, and I hadn't listened to it in a long time.
Beautiful.Lovely.Harmony is important.I wipe tears off my wrinkly face.
Thank you for that, Linh. You're right, only a heart of stone will fail to shed a tear watching that. I especially liked seeing the kids, enthralled. The only unenraptured face I saw in the audience was the smokin' hot girl at 3:36. Her bored look said, "I hope the Coach handbag store isn't closed when we get out of this place."
If that's your girlfriend, apologies.
P.P.S. Here's Tiberias Church's Christmas celebration at a packed Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta on 12/9/23:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2K-rCSdY_IQ
About 10.4% of Indonesians are Christians, so that's 29 million people.