I am so glad last week when myrrkat lent me volume 7 of Genju no Seiza, a very interesting manga. This is what I gotten from wikipedia:
In a distant country of Dhalashar, they have found their leader of fifteen years of age. He is the 42nd High Priest of Dhalashar, and is supposed to be a reincarnation of the first spiritual leader. But he isn't. The high priest is actually an impostor appointed by the Chinese government and the snake god Nāga so the Chinese can claim the scared country. The real ruler is in Japan.
You see, the hero of this manga, Kamishina Fuuto is an ordinary teenager with extraordinary powers. He was discovered by his favourite guardian beast, Garuda, a bird god. Anyway, Naga, worried that his bid for power may be foiled, sends out the guardian beasts to kill Fuuto.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genju_no_seizaFrom volume 1 to 6, I always have the impression that the guardian beasts are meant to accompany and protect Fuuto or Atisha (as Naga contends as the real king). But what was revealed in volume 7 is very interesting. Sohki, the unicorn god reminded the guardian beasts their roles are not to protect the king but to protect the world from the king.
The 12 guardian beasts must help the king to learn and control his powers as untrained and uncontrolled, the world may be destroyed if he unleashes its full power on it. Meanwhile this is what wikipedia aptly added:
Throughout the story, though Fuuto refuses to take on his role as the Holy King, he learns almost the same lessons as the King should have. In his experiences with more Guardian Beasts and the Supernatural world, he grows to learn of mortality, and the roads people make for themselves and others.
Luckily, because this is fictional and at the control of the artist, Fuuto is a good natured person and his actions are restrained by his ethics and morals.
In reality, we may not have kings with supernatural powers but having absolute political powers are not too far off from such supernatural powers. In fact, throughout history, kings and emperors are revered as gods / sons of heaven simply because they have the powers "to grant life and death" to anyone. The populance would not dare to speak ill of the kings and emperors for fear of death while a mere word from the kings and emperors would turn people in rags to riches.
In this postmodern era, can we still afford this system of governance where our liberty is at the whim and fancy of the few political elite? But what we have is concentration of powers into 1 house of representatives and this one house dominates all aspect of our lives. The same house then elevates much powers into the Executive branch (just pick up various Malaysian Acts and you will notice the minister is granted much powers to decide on matters) while places the Judiciary as a subset to it.
But surely, MPs are free to vote right? Afterall, they are elected as representatives of the rakyat? Yes, as long as the Party Whip says it is ok.
So are we surprised that oppressive laws like ISA are still in existence until today? To who afterall ISA is meant to protect? National security as often cited by the Home Minister? What about the concept of innocence until proven guilty where specific charges are raised, evidence given and judged?
I wonder if we feel safer now with yesterday's ISA arrests where we are once again reminded that we live under the "benevolence" of the Executive regardless of our creed, colour or religion.
As for me, I lit a candle earlier and placed it on the ledge of the window, in remembrance of all who have been and are still being detained by ISA while I pray that real political changes would come soon. Surely, protesting and demonstrating in the streets now would mean nothing...
Throughout the story, though Fuuto refuses to take on his role as the Holy King, he learns almost the same lessons as the King should have. In his experiences with more Guardian Beasts and the Supernatural world, he grows to learn of mortality, and the roads people make for themselves and others.
Luckily, because this is fictional and at the control of the artist, Fuuto is a good natured person and his actions are restrained by his ethics and morals.
In reality, we may not have kings with supernatural powers but having absolute political powers are not too far off from such supernatural powers. In fact, throughout history, kings and emperors are revered as gods / sons of heaven simply because they have the powers "to grant life and death" to anyone. The populance would not dare to speak ill of the kings and emperors for fear of death while a mere word from the kings and emperors would turn people in rags to riches.
In this postmodern era, can we still afford this system of governance where our liberty is at the whim and fancy of the few political elite? But what we have is concentration of powers into 1 house of representatives and this one house dominates all aspect of our lives. The same house then elevates much powers into the Executive branch (just pick up various Malaysian Acts and you will notice the minister is granted much powers to decide on matters) while places the Judiciary as a subset to it.
But surely, MPs are free to vote right? Afterall, they are elected as representatives of the rakyat? Yes, as long as the Party Whip says it is ok.
So are we surprised that oppressive laws like ISA are still in existence until today? To who afterall ISA is meant to protect? National security as often cited by the Home Minister? What about the concept of innocence until proven guilty where specific charges are raised, evidence given and judged?
I wonder if we feel safer now with yesterday's ISA arrests where we are once again reminded that we live under the "benevolence" of the Executive regardless of our creed, colour or religion.
As for me, I lit a candle earlier and placed it on the ledge of the window, in remembrance of all who have been and are still being detained by ISA while I pray that real political changes would come soon. Surely, protesting and demonstrating in the streets now would mean nothing...
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