April 15 was my birthday.

Just as I was contemplating a postmortem thoughts of my birthday on April 16, 33 innocent lives were lost in a mass shooting at the Virginia Tech's campus. When I read the news on Yahoo! this evening, I decided not to blog about my birthday thoughts but to devote the time for a better cause.

I am not writing to express hatre for the South Korean gunman nor to stir up racial prejudice. Neither am I writing a lengthy commentary on U.S. gun laws nor the gunman's state of mind.

I firmly believe that any atrocious man-made acts or natural catastrophes, the loss of innocent lives, regardless if they are Americans, Indonesians or other nationalities, is the loss of innocent lives of our fellow brothers and sisters on Mother Earth. Therefore, in view of the Virginia Tech's shooting, I urge all countries that legalise private ownership of guns to examine such laws thoroughly and conscientiously.

Banning gun ownership from the individuals is not a 100% foolproof solution because a policeman/soldier can go berserk when we least expect. However, such measure will help to control access to dangerous weapons and reduce the death count caused by deranged gunmen.

At the present moment, please join my humble effort in reshaping the U.S. guns culture by commenting on this issue. If the comments grow beyond 500, it will be brought to the attention of the U.S. Embassy in Singapore for its onwards transmission to the Congress.

Thank you.
Bananation

Am I an Ageless Monster?

Last week, I went for a job interview and my interviewor was suprised when I told him I am 34-year old. He said he thought I was 25. A discount of 9 years.

This afternoon, my age was mistaken again. I was at HMV Heeren with my best friend, John after our lunch. I picked up a movie VCD 'C.R.A.Z.Y' and paid at the counter. I tried to quote my conversation with the cashier as closely as possible.

"I don't need a bag." I told the cashier.

Instead of saying ok or at least an acknowledgment with a nod, she said something totally irrelevant and absolutely bewildering. I did not want to assume what I heard was correct. I reconfirmed with her. This time, I heard her loud and crystal clear.

"Are you 18?"

Indeed, I got her correctly the first time. Whether it was a new job requirement for cashiers to ask the customer's age before selling a mature-themed movie product, or the fact that she thought I was still a pre-pubescent kid, both were equally shocking to me.

"Do I need to be 18 to buy this VCD?" I asked.

"Yes." She replied.

"I'm flattered," I grinned. "I'm 34."

"No, he is 17." John who stood by my side teased her.

To have my age discounted by 16 years is an illusion that fashion created and a gift from my gene. When I was in my early 20s, others saw me as a student. When I age from mid to late 20s, I was mistaken to be in my early 20s. Now at 34, guessing my age is like playing a game of roulette with several possibilities, except that it never hits the 30s range.

In a world where men and women are chasing after the fountain of youth, I would be lambasted as an ungrateful, silly man who doesn't appreciate what I am blessed with. It is, therefore, difficult for others to understand my mixed feeling towards the 'underage' issue. When people call me 'sir' instead of 'xiao di' (meaning little boy), or credit cards promoters approach me instead of bypass me, I feel happy because I am recognised as a MAN and not as a BOY.

I am happy to be whatever age I am. When I reach 70, call me 'Ah Pek' (grandpa) please and not 'Ah Chek' (uncle). If my age is discounted 16 years again, the Chinese legend will have another monster - the 'Ageless Monster' beside the 'Monster Nian' of the Spring Festival.