One person sins, everyone pays

Dr. Charlie Teo is a world-renowned Australian neurosurgeon and the son of Chinese immigrants. He was chosen this year to deliver the New South Wales Australia Day speech next Monday. The NSW Australia Day Council just might regret that decision. While Dr. Teo claims that Australia is 'the best nation in the world' and one in which he is proud and happy to live in, he plans to mention in his speech that Australia is still very much a racist nation.

His controversial views stem from the experiences his daughter had during past Australia Day celebrations, in which she had been vilified by drunken Australians who mocked her for her Chinese appearance and told her to 'go home'. Dr. Teo, a two-time NSW Australian of the Year finalist and Order of Australia Medal also used the experience of a neurosurgeon from India who came to study with him as ammunition for his argument. The man told him that while he was standing on the side of the road waiting to cross someone spat on him and told him to go back to where he came from.
Dr. Teo also takes shots at the people 'targetted' by racists, claiming that immigrants sometimes bring it upon themselves. He says that some immigrants are misbehaved and disrespectful of Australia and its culture and so this makes it hard for some Australian people to embrace immigration. Dr. Teo wraps up his argument by claiming that, apart from Indigenous Australians, the rest of Australia are immigrants. Therefore, the view that caucasian Australians are the real Australians is wrong.

I can understand why Dr. Teo would make such statements. There are some pretty fervent racists out there who go by the 'F**k off, we're full' mentality and openly take shots at other people's culture, background and appearance. But for him to bring this up at an Australia Day speech is garbage. Not only would it be an insult to the spirit of the event but it would also serve as a slap on the face for the Australian people who are not racist. If this is the way Dr. Teo thinks, well then it's his opinion. Heck, I'm pretty sure that there are people out there who shares his view. But there's a time and a place for everything and an Australia Day Speech is not the platform to use if you want to air out some dirty laundry about a nation and its people.
Dr. Teo should also note that it was 'drunk' Australians who abused his daughter. It would be unfair of him to brand all Australians racist just because some drunken idiots who practice false patriotism had a go at his daughter. If he wants to think that way, then it's his opinion and he should be entitled to it, but he should keep it to himself unless he wants to start trouble or, worse, another race riot reminiscent of the 2005 Cronulla Riots.

For me personally, I won't go so far as to call all Australians racist but because of some people who think it is ok to make fun of others for their backgrounds and culture I am not surprised to hear that some people see Australians as rude and racist. Some people have lamented that getting a tattoo of the Southern Cross or Australian Flag, behaving in a typical 'Aussie manner' (enjoying a few beers at the pub, watching sport, enjoying a weekend barbeque, speaking in a thick Australian accent, being laid-back and free-spirited etc) and even just owning an Australian flag is now a burden since people look at them and instantly think 'Oh, there goes a bogan!' It's an unfair assumption but thanks to some people, they exist. If you go on Facebook and look up the community page Aussie Pride you'll see people who, when they're not talking about what makes Australia great (which is the likely purpose of the page's existence) they're making fun of other people and their culture and appearance, often with the use of racial epithets.

Moreover, and as Dr. Teo pointed out, some Australians also complain that some immigrants don't make an effort to embrace their new home, blatantly disrespect customs and are genuinely misbehaved. Fair enough, but when you hear stories of Australians misbehaving overseas, whether it is in Europe and ESPECIALLY Asia, such views kind of make you shake your head. Ok, so being a tourist and an immigrant are two different things, but when you go to another country, whether it is permanent or temporary, you are expected to be respectful of their customs and obey their rules.

I guess if there's one thing that Dr. Charlie Teo needs to understand it's that racism exist all over the world and that just because one person committed the crime it doesn't mean you have to condemn their entire community, especially during a national celebration.

But that being said, it is sad for people when one of their own acts like an idiot and ruins it for everyone else. In this case, there are people who think that Australia is a racist country just because some people seem to get a kick out of making fun of other people's backgrounds. Such a way of thinking is unfair and is far from the truth, but because of people who punish an entire community, race, culture etc for one person's stupidity others pay the price.

Finally, racist people exist all over the world and they come in different colours and backgrounds, they are not just caucasian. So if Dr. Teo wants to brand Australia as a racist country, how about doing the same to the rest of the world?

For all the wrong reasons

Last weekend, I was reading The Sunday Telegraph newspaper and ran into an article by Claire Harvey in which she outlines how Australian swimmer Stephanie Rice does not get a fair shake from the media. It seemed reasonable enough. After all, Rice shone in the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and has continued to perform well in international contests though she's also been burdened by injuries. Harvey also covers the way Rice's personal life and image has mostly been disrespected in the media and among people in Australia.

First of all, I'll give credit where it's due. Yes, Rice is a great athlete and what she's done in her career is nothing short of amazing. Heck, I'm pretty sure people will be watching her race at the London Olympics this year hoping that she can a). repeat her amazing run in Beijing and b). she can stay injury-free all year. And yes, she is a beautiful girl no doubt about that. However, for Harvey to gloss over her twitter faux-pas in 2010 (in which Rice, after Australia beat South Africa in a Rugby match tweeted 'Suck on that, faggots!') as though it was nothing is not right. It was a stupid and irresponsible thing for a star athlete to do, given that there are many young swimmers out there who, no doubt, look up to her as a role mode. Also, such a comment is seen as prejudicial and homophobic. If a football player were to do the same thing they'd be criticised by the media for it and be branded as a jerk and a homophobe for the rest of their career. Why should Rice get a free pass? Because she's a pretty girl? I don't think so.

And for Ms. Harvey to claim that Rice is 'manifestly more articulate, and more gorgeous, than anyone else on the planet' is a gross and unfair exaggeration. Sure, Rice is attractive but to call her the most attractive person on the planet? That's a tad bit histrionic isn't it? And as for being the most articulate, I don't think using such language on twitter posts shows that she is smarter than anyone else on Earth.

Then there's the Facebook controversy that occurred before the 2008 Olympics when Rice posted a photo of herself dressed in a sexy police officer's uniform. I can see why the backlash from this would be considered unfair, after all it's not like the outfit itself was too revealing, but for a person in the spotlight, such an act can give people the wrong impression. Sure, for some it shows that she's a normal girl who likes to let her hair down once in a while, but for others it might suggest that she's another party animal who is only using her position as a star athlete to become a tabloid-hogging celebrity. To women, she comes across as a tart. To men, she comes across as a slut. Unfair labels and perhaps contrary to the fact, but people can and will judge.

Ms. Harvey focuses quite a bit on Rice's good looks in her argument and she reveals that Rice has on occasion wondered why she doesn't get as much praise as past swimming greats like Susan O'Neill and Libby Trickett. Harvey uses this as an opportunity to attack Australians and the way they characterise female athletes, celebrities and just women, period. Harvey claims that Australians in general cannot respect a woman who proudly embraces her sexiness and that doing so will cause people to constantly question their personal life no matter how pure they claim to be. People will always take every mistake they make and blow it up into something bigger than it is and if anything about their love life becomes messy, they will be in a world of hurt.

Then comes the baffling part. Having criticised the media and the Australian people for their mistreatment of poor Steph, Harvey then takes the opportunity to criticse both The Sunday Telegraph AND Ms. Rice for photos published in the paper. The photos show Rice wearing tiny bikinis and posing provocatively. Harvey claims that if Steph were her little sister she'd be telling her to tone down the sauciness and that the bikinis she wore should have been more modest.

She then closes her article claiming that in today's world, young beautiful girls like Stephanie Rice will always be subject to unfair, preconceived notions and so the best defense would be to stay demure.

Ok, I know this is going to sound unfair, and it probably is, but young women who are comfortable with looking sexy will have a hard time with the media. Contrary to what Ms. Harvey claims, it is not about people being incapable of respecting women who are sexy, it's just that given the image they project, of course they are going to attract sleazy attention from guys and bitter attacks from women who feel that they are disrespecting their gender. And as for Ms. Harvey's attack on The Sunday Telegraph for those photos, well all I have to say is that they pretty much answered her questions as far as to why Rice is being treated disrespectfully. If Rice really wanted people to start taking her more seriously, she would have objected to the poses and the bikinis she had to wear and asked for a classier shoot. Instead she went along with it, saucy poses and all.

Ms. Harvey also notes that Rice, who recently ended her relationship with rugby union star Quade Cooper, was the subject of a disgusting act by online gambling agency SportsBet who started offering odds as to who would be Rice's next boyfriend. She also notes that for someone who many claim is a tart, Rice has only had two boyfriends in the past four years (Cooper and fellow swimmer Eamon Sullivan).

Ok, so the SportsBet thing was a rude and classless thing to do, and yes, she did only go out with those two guys in the past four years, but again, when you are a beautiful young woman like her who is comfortable looking sexy, or if you are just a celebrity, period, you will get a hard time from the masses as far as your personal life is concerned. During the 2008 Olympics, for example (which occurred shortly after she broke up with then-boyfriend Sullivan, whom she outperformed as far as personal achievements in the 2008 games is concerned) there were rumours of her getting flirty with US swimmer Michael Phelps, who, as well all know now, dominated in the 2008 Olympics. This led many people to brand her a 'gold-digger', claiming that she was probably only after him for his impressive gold medal-winning run. Such rumours turned out to be false, but Rice still couldn't prevent people from making such judgements.

Well, there you have it. Claire Harvey can complain about Stephanie Rice making headlines for all the wrong reasons as much as she wants but the truth is, and as sad as it is to admit, it just comes with the type of image that Rice is projecting right now. A young woman who loudly embraces their sexiness is always going to get a hard time from the media and from people in general, whether it is criticism or unwanted attention and labels, and Rice herself can gripe about all this as much as she wants but she really isn't doing anything about it. Yes, she is a fine athlete and yes, she is a beautiful girl, but she needs to understand that as a person in the spotlight who has no problem putting it all out there, there will be consequences. Ms. Harvey is right, perhaps Rics should tone it down a bit. As she put it, 'imagine herself on the cover of Vogue, not Zoo Weekly', look at your image through the eyes of a 40-year old bloke, not your Gen Y girlfriends.'

Well, that's one way to lose your job!

I read a story on the internet today (9/01/2012) in which an employee at a New York pizza chain called Papa John's was sacked over a racist receipt.
Yeah, the first thought that came to mind upon finding the article was disbelief. 'How can that be?', I asked myself. I read the article and as it turned out, the employee had taken Minhee Cho's order and handed her a receipt referring to her as 'Lady Chinky Eyes'. Ms. Cho took to Twitter to post a picture of the offending receipt and vent her anger (as one usually does these days) and as a result, Papa John's was forced to issue an apology on Twitter and Facebook and immediately fired the idiot employee.

This story seems to be another one of those dumb 'pranks-gone-wrong' type of stories, but there may be other reasons the employee did such a thing. Maybe they were sick of their job and looking for a way out (because apparently quitting is soooooo five years ago), perhaps Ms. Cho was rude to them and so they decided to hit her where it hurts, maybe this person is racist etc. But however you slice and dice it, this is a stupid way to lose your job. Even if you don't want it and feel like breaking free, what's wrong with just quitting!? It sure is a far more dignified way to go out! And if you're the type who is short on references in your resume, you'd better get down on your knees and pray that your former boss doesn't tell future employers that you are dumb, immature and racist.

And if it is indeed a prank that went horribly wrong, well what can I say? You goofed around on the job and you paid the price. Nice going, bud. If you want to play pranks on people while on the job (not that you should be, but I understand how boring work can be) then make sure that a). You don't hurt yourself and others, and that b). The outcome will not cost you your employment. Yeah, it's not as easy as it sounds, people!

Well, whoever that employee was, I wish him or her the best of luck. It's going to be pretty tough finding another job now, unless they have other references who won't tell future employers about their mistake. And if there's one lesson you can take from this wretched tale of stupidity, it's that you have to think before you act. Oh well, gotta go. I got work to do!

New Year's Resolutions, My Take

Well, it's that time again. One year ends, a new one begins. For some, this is just another year in which they get older, return to the daily grind and end it the same way they did the previous year. For others, this is seen as a new beginning, one where they will make some changes in their lives and ensure that it is much more memorable than the previous one. Whether it is deciding to take a trip, learn something new, accomplish a goal etc, a new year brings with it new opportunities.

This brings us to the concept of 'New Year's Resolutions'. These are goals that people set for themselves every new year, mainly commitments towards projects, personal changes, changes in lifestyle etc. They differ slightly from life goals, in that they are seen as a way to improve one's health, appearance, personality etc rather than one that helps one move to another stage in their lives (though most resolutions can help you achieve these goals). Unfortunately, not everyone keeps their resolutions. Some people try it for a week or a month and then decide that it's too hard, too mundane or just not worth it and so they quit.

I guess some people realise that the resolutions they've set for themselves was more than they bargained for or one that they don't particularly need and so they walk away. Fear not, folks. Good ol' Bernd is here to show you the way.

1. Make realistic resolutions

Kind of a no-brainer, but you must make sure that the resolutions you set are achievable for you. It's ok to dream and set yourself a challenge but make sure you know exactly what you need to do to get there. And also, make sure that you can achieve them within the year.

2. Decide to actually achieve these resolutions.

Don't make a resolution unless you are prepared to fight tooth and nail to achieve it. Setting a resolution only to quit the next week is meaningless.

3. Prepare to battle adversity

Like all goals, you are bound to run into some form of difficulty with your resolutions. If you're serious about it, you will find a solution to every problem you encounter rather than take the easy way out.

4. Prepare to work

Just as adversity is all but guaranteed for resolutions, so is hard work that comes with achieving the prize. Don't be lazy and look for shortcuts. If you really want it, you must work for it.

5. Ignore the naysayers

There's a good chance that some people you know will laugh at your resolution, perhaps say that you are incapable of achieving it. Don't let their negativity bring you down - use it as extra motivation to achieve the goal and make them eat a huge serving of crow.

6. Stay disciplined

This mainly applies to goals that involve your health (eg. lose weight, quit smoking, drink less etc). I notice that these types of resolutions usually have a high number of quitters and it's usually because the person either couldn't handle the hard work that comes with it or because they simply fell prey to temptation. If you are serious about your goals you need to strengthen your willpower and learn to overcome these temptations.

7. Be patient and stay focused

Most goals don't happen overnight. Sometimes it can take years of hard work to achieve them. New Year's Resolutions are no different. Sure, your resolution shouldn't take more than a year to achieve but that doesn't mean you need to get discouraged if it doesn't happen within the first six months of the year. Patience is key.

Well, that's about it from me. Hopefully this helps some of you out in regards to your resolutions. But remember, if you are serious about your resolutions, you will stay true to them and not give up at the first sign of hardship. Like all goals, you have to work in order to achieve results and if you quit, you'll be left with nothing but regrets.

Good luck, and Happy New Year to all!

Best Films I've Seen This Year

Ok, so I just completed my blog regarding the songs that drove me up the wall this year, let's try something new. This blog will present my five top films of 2011. Enjoy!

1. Captain America: The First Avenger

When I went to see this film I have to admit that I didn't expect to be blown away. But you know what? This film turned out to be pretty good. The special effects were pretty cool, had riveting action sequences and the fact that the man himself was a scrawny, sickly little kid transformed into a buffed, Nazi-slaying badass resonated for the geek within me. Hayley Atwell's cute-but-tough Peggy Carter and Tommy Lee Jones' prickly Colonel Chester Phillips are also stand-outs. Totally ejoyable.
My grade: B

2. Johnny English Reborn

This film received mixed reviews from critics, with some saying that Rowan Atkinson 'still had it' while others thought he is losing his touch. But in my opinion, this was one of the funniest films I've ever seen.
I'm a big Rowan Atkinson fan and I have to say, he still has it. The dialogue ranged from witty to straight-up ridiculous and the action was over-the-top and, at times, predictable but I still laughed myself silly. The opening sequence alone had me red in the face and by the end of the film I felt as though I had just completed 1,000 sit-ups. Absolutely hilarious!
My grade: B+

3. X-Men: First Class

I used to watch the X-Men cartoons as a kid but haven't seen a single one of the films. When this one came out I thought that I might as well see it since it's the prequel to the series and looked at the history between Charles Xavier and Magneto in that they started out as friends and eventually became enemies.
Well, what can I say? The special effects and the action had me on the edge of my seat and there were enough friendly and brotherly exchanges between Xavier and Magneto that made you wish they hadn't eventually turned against each other. And the scenes in which Xavier teaches his young mutants to learn to control their abilities are pure gold - as is a cameo appearance from Hugh Jackman.
My Grade: A

4. The Fighter

As a boxing fan, I was disappointed when I heard that this film based on former boxing champion Micky Ward's career excluded his three legendary fights with the late Arturo Gatti. Still, I thought it was a great movie. While Wahlberg does not look at all like the real Ward (who makes a cameo in the film), his acting was top-notch and the Academy Award wins for Christian Bale and Melissa Leo (Who played Ward's brother/trainer Dicky Eklund and Ward's Mother/manager Alice Ward, respectively and both of whom won best supporting actor/actress in this year's awards) were well-earned. The fight scenes were realistic compared to some other boxing films (where inhuman beatings, wild-exaggerated punches and unhealthy amounts of blood and aggression seem to be the norm) and the squabbles and banter within Micky's dysfunctional clan are hard-hitting yet strangely amusing at the same time. And if Amy Adams' intent in signing on to this film was to distance herself away from her character in 'Enchanted', all I have to say is mission accomplished.
At the risk of sounding clichéd I have to say that this film delivered a knockout blow.
My Grade: A+

5. Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes

When I saw the preview for this film I thought to myself, 'I've got to see this one!' I walked out of the cinema thinking that it was the best film of the year. James Franco and Freida Pinto played their roles well but were completely overshadowed by Andy Serkis' compelling and touching performance as Caesar the Chimp. Also memorable was Tom Felton's portrayal of the sadistic animal caretaker at a primate shelter Caesar finds himself in.
There were some scenes that can bring a tear to the eye, and the film's climax not only leave you on the edge of your seat but will also have you, as a human being, cheering for the apes to win their battle against humans. There were also scenes that will make you laugh, particularly those with Caesar and his band of apes and I quite liked the way scenes in which Caesar was forming his army was shot with shades of 'Ocean's Eleven' and 'Prison Break' thrown into it. A powerful film with a strong message. Absolutely loved it.
My Grade: A+

Well, there you have it. These were the films that stood out for me in 2011. Let's see what the year 2012 will bring.

Songs that drove me crazy this year

Last year, I compiled a list of songs that, in my opinion, were either so bad or so overplayed that they became totally unbearable. I thought to myself that perhaps I should make this a yearly tradition. No disrespect to any hard-working musician out there but there are times when I switch on the radio and hear something that is much too galling for my palette. I might as well give you the reasons why I feel this way since not everyone has the same taste in music.

1. 'Firework' by Katy Perry

Katy Perry's songs are usually fun and catchy but this one, to me, is so irksome that whenever I hear it I want to jam my fingers into my ears and into my brain and just poke at it because I'm pretty sure it won't be as painful as listening to this tune. I know it came out late last year (October 2010) but it still got plenty of airplay this year so I might as well count it as a 2011 song. Plus, it missed the cut in last year's blog. And the guys at the NRL were considering on turning this into the theme song of the 2011 NRL Season? Oh, please! The only thing worse than corny sports highlights would be corny sports highlights with this turkey blaring in the background.

2. 'Party Rock Anthem' by LMFAO

No disrespect to these guys but what the hell were they thinking when they came up with their band name? Never mind, that's for another discussion. But I have to say, I've yet to hear a song of theirs that I could actually listen to in full without switching stations. Ok, maybe because I'm not a fan of dance music and therefore I cannot appreciate these guys, but all their songs sound the same to me - loud, voices that are probably autotuned and singing about the same thing over and over again. But then again, could I expect anything diffrerent from guys who call themselves 'LMFAO'? I chose 'Party Rock Anthem' to add to this list because it's really the only song of theirs that gets a lot of airplay and therefore one that I have to hear every time I switch on the radio.

3. 'Beautiful people' by Chris Brown and Benny Benassi

Look at the lyrics to this song and what do you see? The words 'beautiful', 'don't you know' and 'know' repeated over and over with several other words thrown in and accompanied by dreadful sounds and music in the background. While this song has a positive message, it's execution is nothing short of excruciating. Lame beats, annoying music and those REPETITIVE lyrics. Seriously, it makes singer Chris Brown sound as though he had only learned a certain number of words in his lifetime.

4. 'Price tag' by Jessie J

I don't actually hate this song. It's catchy, upbeat and has a powerful message. Unfortunately, it was sorely overplayed at its peak and so went from being a good song into an annoying one. It wouldn't have been strange to have it play on the radio twice in one hour and while I understand that it's what tends to happen to songs when they become hits, it also makes them mundane and unbearable. Sorry, Jessie.

5. 'Friday' by Rebecca Black

Does anyone remember that 'Crazy Frog Song' in 2005? It was exasperating and meaningless yet somehow it shot to number one in most music charts. At the same time, it was widely voted the worst song of 2005. 'Friday' by Becca Black is the same. It didn't exactly top the charts, but voting it as the worst song of the year was a no-brainer.
Where do you start in describing just how bad this song is? The beats and the music are lame, the lyrics are cheesy ('Partyin partyin, yeah! Partyin partyin, yeah! fun, fun, fun, fun', OUCH!!!!)and Black's auto-tuned voice makes you want to shove broken glass into your ears. Let's just say that when I sat down and listened to this song I switched it off at the first chorus.

Well, there you have it. Of course, I know some of you might read this and completely disagree but like I said, this is my opinion. Let's see what 2012 has to offer.....

Time To Harden Up, People!

This weekend I read an editorial piece in The Sunday Telegraph that sparked my interest. Written by Miranda Devine, it is titled 'A Generation Of Dopes'. It looks at the growing use of marijuana among young teenagers and the fact that children are growing up in a society that is starting to take this issue lightly. Her article stems from a news story in which three boys were expelled from a prestigious school for attempting to sell marijuana to their fellow classmates, as well as the recent story in which a 14-year old boy was arrested in Bali for marijuana possession.
Devine starts by noting that some counsellors and other figures of authority are too lenient on these boys, in that it is perfectly normal and harmless to experiment. What a joke. Such sentiments are irresponsible and blatantly permit young people to use drugs. Devine notes that while there will always be some people who experiment with drugs more work should be made towards minimising numbers rather than taking a lackadaisical approach. People can blame TV, music and movies all they want for the glamorisation of this culture but at the end of the day it is up to parents and the appropriate authorities to teach their kids what is right and wrong.

Devine then moves onto the teenager arrested in Bali and how Indonesian authorities have done more to punish this kid for his stupidity than the Australian media and political leaders have. In fact, when news of his arrest came out the dominant response from the Australian media was that of outrage TOWARDS THE INDONESIAN AUTHORITIES WHO ARRESTED HIM RATHER THAN TOWARDS THE KID FOR HIS MISTAKE. Devine notes that according to the NSW Central Coast police (where the boy comes from), had they been the ones who caught him for the crime he would be let off with a slap on the wrist and nothing more since the court would not take the matter seriously.
To make it worse, Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Foreign Affairs Minister Kevin Rudd appeared to race against each other to bring the boy home and NOT ONCE did they express disappointment or disgust over his stupid behaviour (for anyone reading this who thinks I'm being too hard on the boy, it is because what he did was absolutely dumb and does NOT deserve any sympathy). Instead, they only seemed to care about the accolades that awaited them once they've unashamedly flouted and disrespected another country's laws and brought the kid home where there's a chance he could be treated as a celebrity. I think it is an absolute shame that another country has to discipline some punk kid on their own just because his own countrymen and women weren't more willing to do so. Sure, the kid has been facing criticism from all sides for what he did but those who weren't more willing to punish him for what he did are just as bad, if not worse than he is.

Time to get tougher on these kids, people. What ever did happen to disciplining kids when they do something wrong? At the risk of sounding like a cranky old fart, but back in my day, when you screwed up you either heard it loud and clear from your parents or got a slap in the backside or a clip on the ear. There is nothing wrong with disciplining your kid when they do something wrong just as long as it's not too brutal and will resort in you going to jail for child abuse. Once you start getting soft on these kids, they not only stray but they start to believe that they can do anything they want without considering the consequences.