Earthen Lamps – Book Review

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Earthen Lamps: 60 Parables and Anecdotes to Light Up Your Heart

by Osho

Invaluable Source of Wisdom

It is no surprise at all that Osho is called "the master of masters". His words are mind-blowingly insightful and ethereally heartwarming, flowing deep into the very soul of man. Earthen Lamps is the third book by him that I've read. It consists of 60 stories recounted by the eccentric mystic which will lead you to reach godliness. If you have a thirst for knowing the essence of life, I heartily recommend this book. Osho naman~ 🙏🏻

Have you read Earthen Lamps? What do you think about this book? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

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Life Is a Soap Bubble – Book Review

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Life Is a Soap Bubble: 100 Ways to Look at Life

by Osho

An outstandingly beautiful gem crafted by a life master!

Osho is such an indescribable individual. Life Is a Soap Bubble is a book consisting of 100 letters, originally written to his disciple Yoga Sohan, about the very life all of us are in. The wonderfully magical words in these letters will penetrate into the innermost part of your being, waking you up to the reality of life and priming you for the ultimate unleashing of your own potential. I couldn't agree more with llarod r hernaiz's words in their Amazon review of this fundamentally transformative book: "Osho has a special way to take you to the center." Suffused with the Indian mystic's timeless wisdom and incomparable poetry, Life Is a Soap Bubble by Osho is a must-read for those seeking to live their lives to the fullest.

Have you read Life Is a Soap Bubble? What is your opinion about this book? Share what you think in the comment section below!

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Me: Then and Now

Perhaps to most people the phrase "time flies" feels more and more true with age. Here I am in 2025, a quarter of the 21st century having flown by unthinkably powerful AI tools such as ChatGPT being household names all across the world such that "digital gods" might be an apt name for them. I was born on the pale blue dot in 1990, which means 35 years has passed since my accouchement and I have, more or less, another 35 years of having the privilege of residing on this Brobdingnagian life-supporting rock. (Or is it? We'll see.) Everything evolves, and so do I. Looking back to my much younger self, I can see quite a significant difference between him and my present self.

Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash

The most striking change I have experienced has to do with my holistic view on life. I grew up becoming a religious bigot who harbored bitter hatred for those not adhering to my deeply held belief. That period of my life was indeed grueling years, filled with continual unsatisfaction and intense stress which rendered me alamort. I could not become my real self and had to suppress the naturality inside me, which would otherwise have entered its anthesis in that timeframe. As odious as this psychological and behavioral phenomenon may seem, I am confident that I have figured out how it managed to grip my being, and others' for that matter, so firmly. The infectious ideological bigotry in human mind could be easily explained by our desire to extinguish fear in the simplest way possible. The problem is what is simple is not necessarily good, and what is simplest is not necessarily best. Science has enabled me to unmask this false thinking. It goes without saying that, as a dinosaur maniac, paleontology is the science that has played a vital role in decimating the pernicious mental illness.

I could almost laugh when thinking about the naivety exhibited by my past self. In my mind, life was destined to be a bed of roses. Justice would eventually prevail, everyone would inevitably reach happiness if they really wanted to, and so on and so forth. As dreamy as this thinking may appear, so far as I can tell, it is not in line with reality. If you are born in a war-torn country, the odds are your well-being will not be as good as those who aren't. Where your parturition takes place is aleatory – it is not something you can choose. You could win the lottery today and go into a coma the next day because some inebriated guy's car ploughs into your unfortunate body. There is just an unending list of things that are outside our control. This is where Stoicism comes into play. This ancient school of philosophy seems to have been gaining traction in recent years, and its popularity is a testament to its efficacy and practicality. While terrible things do happen, we can still (and have to) make the most of it. Focusing only on things within your control and loving the fate handed to you (amor fati) are two examples of Stoic practices and I find them incredibly potent and fulfilling.

"Purpose inherently exists in every human being." This is another thing in my mindset that has become obsolete. From a cosmic point of view, we have no purpose in this world. This may sound overly depressing and can leave us disoriented, but it can be liberating and uplifting instead. Although the universe did not impart purpose to us, we can create our own. Meaning is something that we ourselves determine and not something automatically dealt to us. Here is a profound quote from the extraordinary thinker Osho Rajneesh:

"People wonder why there seems to be no meaning in life. Meaning does not exist a priori. There is no meaning existing in life; one has to create it. Only if you create it will you discover it. It has to be invented first. It is not lying there like a rock, it has to be created like a song. It is not a thing, it is a significance that you bring through your consciousness." - The Book of Understanding: Creating Your Own Path to Freedom

Related to this is my realization of the vague distinction between good and bad. Dwelling in absolutism will not bear real fruit and only result in desperation. Which is better, being an employee or an entrepreneur? Is working as a doctor better than as an accountant? Should you get married or stay single? No one can say that one is absolutely good and the other is absolutely bad. I completely agree with Osho on this matter and I'd like to end this article with another eye-opening quote from the Indian guru:

"People have remained concerned about their acts: Which act is right and which act is wrong? What is good and what is evil? My own understanding is that it is not a question of any particular act. The question is about your psychology.

"When you are total, it is good; and when you are divided, it is evil. Divided you suffer; united, you dance, you sing, you celebrate." - The Book of Understanding: Creating Your Own Path to Freedom

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The Book of Understanding – Book Review

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The Book of Understanding: Creating Your Own Path to Freedom

by Osho

Warning: If you are not open-minded or cannot resist taking offense, do NOT read this book.

The Book of Understanding by Osho is certainly one of the most mind-boggling and thought-provoking books I've ever read. The Indian mystic gracefully explains what understanding really is in lyrical language of his own style. The concept of "Zorba the Buddha" is absolutely fascinating, but this book is much, much, much more than that. Brilliant. Eye-opening. Electrifying. Powerful. Moving. All the same, it doesn't necessarily mean I agree with all of his points. I am completely sure, though, that it is quite impossible to finish reading The Book of Understanding by Osho without taking something home.

Unfortunately, due to local circumstances, I cannot fully express my view on the self-development book in this blog. If you are interested to know more of my thoughts, I would be more than happy to discuss The Book of Understanding by Osho with you personally.

Have you read The Book of Understanding? What is your opinion of this book? Share what you think in the comment section below!

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Quote #122

"Silent moderates are (at least partially) responsible for the action of violent extremists." - Klinsman Hinjaya

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Quote #119

"Genuine humility is a prerequisite for fully embracing evolution." - Klinsman Hinjaya

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Quote #115

"Do not fall for the execrable fearmongering propagated by demagogues around you." - Klinsman Hinjaya

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Quote #114

"Being geologically literate will eradicate a significant number of superstitions." - Klinsman Hinjaya

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Quote #84

"There's no such thing as overly critical thinking." - Klinsman Hinjaya

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Stoicism for Inner Peace – Book Review

Stoicism for Inner Peace

by Einzelgänger

The last several months have been an exhilarating philosophical ride for me. The previous book that I read is The Little Book of Humanism, an all-important philosophy work which I regard as "one of the most important, if not the most important, books I have ever read in my life." Having finished the marvelous opus, I ventured into deepening my knowledge and understanding of another school of philosophy by reading Stoicism for Inner Peace 🏛️📖 by Einzelgänger. Before I started reading the book, I had been so powerfully drawn into this ancient philosophy that I created a blog post about it entitled the name itself (to read my article about Stoicism, click here). Perusing the volume just made me more deeply in love with the philosophy and to start with, I would like to say that Stoicism for Inner Peace by Einzelgänger deserves to be placed cheek by jowl with its humanism cousin on my shelf for essential books for life.

No, I wasn't exaggerating in any way. Especially in this era of rife chaos and pandemonium, we seriously need guidance on living our lives in an orderly and tranquil manner. How can we attain that aspiration? From my viewpoint, Stoicism is the way, and this philosophical realm is gloriously and effectively presented in this book through the hand(s) of "the loner". In Stoicism for Inner Peace, you will discover Stoic principles, teachings, and wisdom regarding the numerous issues that humans encounter and need to deal with in life. Take a look at the following questions:

• How can I achieve true happiness?
• Does anger have any value at all? Can it be justifiable in any way?
• I just broke up and it hurts so much that I want to end my life. Is it possible for me to deal with this extremely depressing situation?
• My father is the worst man on earth and I mortally hate him. He deserves it, doesn't he?
• I just got laid off and it's really hard to find a job nowadays. I don't have a lot of savings either. What should I do?
• This pandemic has caused acute distress for so many people, including me. It's the end of the world, right?

You may have questions similar to the above in your mind, and if you are still wondering, this book provides the best answers for tackling them. Stoicism for Inner Peace also has a section discussing four great Stoic philosophers: Zeno of Citium (the founder of Stoicism), Marcus Aurelius (Roman emperor), Epictetus (a slave), and Seneca the Younger (a statesman). As if that's not enough, the author supplies a set of exercises for readers to become a better Stoic in chapters such as "Praemeditatio Malorum", "Memento Mori", and "Amor Fati".

This book is a masterpiece, not only due to the nature of its contents but also the way it was written by the author. Einzelgänger is absolutely an ace writer. His God-tier eloquence shines throughout the book and it makes this philosophy gem very clear, persuasive, and engaging. He does not ramble on or include any unnecessary parts, taking a straightforward approach without sacrificing nuances.

In brief, Stoicism for Inner Peace is a truly worthwhile investment if you want to live a good life. For my money, you will actually get more than your money's worth (see what I did there?). There are certainly other resources for learning about Stoicism, but believe me, you can't go wrong with this one. Read Stoicism for Inner Peace, practice the philosophy, and attain inner peace. Be a Stoic. 😊

Have you read Stoicism for Inner Peace? What do you reckon to this book? Share your opinion in the comment section below!

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Quote #75

"Segregation is a horrid plague to humanity. What causes us to splinter is simply to be extirpated." - Klinsman Hinjaya

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My Extremist Self

This article could be considered special in that I am going to be sharing about myself: more specifically, my past self. Many people have known me for a handful of years, and that obscures a whole bunch of things this spectacled Chindo has done and experienced in life. Even those who have been friends with me for eons may not really be aware of the quirks that have annoyingly clung to me. At present, I can be seen as an incredibly friendly guy who beams his countless smiles in all directions and I believe that a lot of folk get the impression that there is no way implacable hatred nests inside this man's seemingly pure heart. Well, I do hope to live up to this positive image, but it was certainly not the case in the (not-so-)distant past.

You may not believe this, but I used to be an extremist, perhaps to the point of being bigoted. In what sense? I reckon there are various things that can be associated with extremism: in my case, it was religion. At the age of 12, I formally renounced my inherited religion and embraced my chosen one. I was very excited about my new religion and I loved it so much that I would do my best to please my God and not disappoint Him, worshipping the Creator with all my heart, soul, strength, and mind – I was primed to be a devout believer. At first, it may not have been apparent, but it was during this period of religiosity that I thought, acted, and behaved in extreme ways, casting my life into a sepulchral dimension.

How so? I adopted or formed a profoundly damaging attitude. Maybe you yourself can relate to this. As an adherent of one particular religion, I had this view that the members of my religion were superior to those of others. I saw those who were not wearing my religion emblem as second-class humans. To me, they were filthy beings deserving to be hurled into Hell for eternity if they didn't repent and accept my God and religion as the only way to Heaven. And since they were not "the chosen ones", I felt being in close proximity to them would potentially increase my chance of straying away from "the truth", so I tried my best to maintain "a safe distance" from them in order not to be infected by their impurity and falsehood. This is utterly disgusting, isn't it? I clearly remember a crazy habit of mine in which I would try very hard not to suck or inhale the smoke produced by the incense sticks that my dad burned as part of his religious ritual, for example by dashing upstairs (he was doing it on the ground floor) and covering my nose with my T-shirt (though I must admit that this extreme behavior was perhaps molded or solidified by some kind of sermon by a cleric of another religion of the same ilk).

My life was also filled with an intense desire to proselytize infidels, saving them from plunging into "unimaginable darkness". Well, not only that, I felt impelled to rectify sinners belonging to the same religion. One particular memory will stick forever in my mind. I heard that a cousin of mine with the same belief system used contraception, which was forbidden and considered to be a sin according to the teaching of our religion. I had this mental conflict over whether or not to talk to her to make things right (she may not have realized that it was a sin): if I did, I would do the right thing in the eyes of my God, but I would probably end up being disliked or hated for meddling in her business. I finally made up my mind to do so and what I feared did happen: I was admonished for doing what I thought was a noble act.

For me, it was the real Hell. It should have never happened and I am terribly sorry to all of those who were affected by my inappropriate behavior. I am glad that I have gone through a lot of things that have shaped me into who I am today. In my (new) book, the notion that certain human beings deserve to be looked down on is truly nauseating. All of us are humans and our nature is the same – nothing should unjustly segregate us. I would like to express tremendous thanks to science and those who have educated me on this subject, making me a more likeable individual (less prejudiced, more tolerant, etc.) and transforming my life into a much more fulfilling one (one related book that popped up in my mind and would foster this much needed attitude is Why Dinosaurs Matter by American paleontologist and TED speaker Kenneth Lacovara). I also cherish personal space and perfectly understand that one can do whatever they want inasmuch as it only affects them themselves.

I am now a liberated person. In this way I can achieve my full potential, unleashing what is untapped, and contribute to the world in a much more meaningful and effective way. And I am really excited about it. 😉

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The Magic of Reality – Book Review

The Magic of Reality

by Richard Dawkins

Let me begin this review by commenting on the first phrase you read even before you crack this book open. The Magic of Reality by Richard Dawkins probably has one of the most impressive titles of all the books ever published. The subtitle is also extremely arresting: How we know what's really true. I got this sleek copy of mine on my second visit to Big Bad Wolf Book Sale Jakarta 2020, and I brought it home for an orgasmic bargain price, partly thanks to a discount voucher I had won from my first visit to the grand book fair. So, what do I have to say about the contents of this little book? Let's get rolling!

The Magic of Reality aims to clearly explain to the readers what is real (and what is not), in life, in the universe. The first chapter sets out the nature of reality and how it compares with magic, and then it is followed by 11 chapters each dealing with a question on a particular subject, several examples of which are "What are things made of?", "When and how did everything begin?", and "Why do bad things happen?". Dawkins begins most of the chapters with myths and then provides explanations for what is really true, or what really happens, through none other than science.

The Magic of Reality is the second book by the world-renowned British scientist that I've read, the first one being the religion & atheism book The God Delusion. The language in The Magic of Reality is "lighter" than in TGD, but Dawkins still writes eloquently in his delightfully conversational style, which would transport readers through his strings of ideas smoothly. It is a book that I wish I could have (and had) read 10 or 15 years ago, at a much younger age – had that really happened, I would have formed a real understanding of reality earlier. Insightful, informative and addictive, The Magic of Reality also has made me wish Prof. Dawkins had been my science teacher in school (not only of biology, but also of physics and chemistry)! In my mind, The Magic of Reality is a terrific (and, indeed, magical) book on introduction to science, quite possibly the best one available.

The book that you see in the photo above – the one that I own – is actually the minimally illustrated (and paperback) edition. To see the richly illustrated (and hardcover) edition, click here. (Even practically without illustrations, The Magic of Reality was so easy to digest; I wonder how much of smooth sailing my reading experience would have been if I had read the lavishly illustrated version!)

I would like to finish this review by making a more general compliment to the author: I believe Richard Dawkins is one of the greatest science communicators out there.

Note: I would be more than happy to discuss my review of this book with you in more detail. Feel free to contact me through one of my social media channels.

Have you read The Magic of Reality? What is your opinion on this book? Share what you think in the comment section below!

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My Thoughts on Religious Terrorist Bombings

I have been wanting to write an article on this subject but it is only now that it can be accomplished – the draft has unfortunately languished in its depository for one reason or another. This issue is real in the face of humanity, hence deserving to be discussed and pondered about.

At first blush, religious terrorist bombings seem mind-bendingly counter-intuitive. How could a human take out another human being (and even themselves) and feel that it is the right thing to do? October 11, 2002 is an impossible day to forget for some people. It was the day when the first Bali bombings unfolded, tragically claiming not only 1, but 202 lives on the beautiful Indonesian island. The planner, Imam Samudra, confessed to being religiously motivated in that appalling attack, and the execution of him and two other perpetrators caused their supporters to rise up, many of them lauding the convicts as martyrs and heroes. Yes, you read it correctly: this horrendous act was shockingly justified from the point of view of a certain group of fellow humans.

So what is it that can explain the justification of and even reverence for an action committed by a human (or a group of humans) that is aimed at vanquishing others of their kind? Here is my analysis which attempts to answer this seemingly puzzling question.

My opinion is that this comes down to our selfish genes. Naturally, we try our best to survive on this planet for as long as we can; that's why we consume food and drinks, take a rest when necessary, cross streets with caution, and so on and so forth. We would like to preserve our genetic materials and pass them on to our offspring (the fact that the population of our species is continuously growing speaks volumes for this). Death, by nature, is of course an unpleasant experience, marking the end of a human's existence. We are making as much effort as we can to keep this macabre line at bay, hoping not to step over the life-death threshold anytime soon.

The bad news is death is certain to happen. But what if I told you that you can still live happily after you die? What if I told you that your genes can still rejoice after your bodily form has even completely decomposed? Wouldn't it be a wonderful thing?

This is what I think deeply clings inside the mind of religiously impelled terrorists. In one way or another, they believe that a perfect gene-preserving/"propagating" place or such is reserved for those who exterminate others matching particular criteria. Their selfishness kicks in and these horrible events happen. In other words, in my scenario, the same kind of survival motivation is what underlies the condemnable deeds of these people.

So, what measures do we need to take to prevent such deplorable acts from happening again? I think the first step is to recognize that this social phenomenon is real and not to dismiss it. Next, we need to pin down the real cause of such dreadful acts and preempt any potential actions by any effective means. It is important that there be no wall of resistance that precludes thoughtful discussion on this issue simply because it is religion-related. Lastly, scientific and critical thinking has to be fostered, promoted, and instilled in anyone since it provides us with trustworthy paths to walk into a bright future.

References:

• 2002 Bali Bombings (Encyclopedia Britannica)
• Top Causes of Terrorism (ThoughtCo)

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The God Delusion – Book Review

The God Delusion

by Richard Dawkins

I don't usually read books centering on non-dinosaurian and non-English topics or subjects. Nevertheless, this book is one of the few which have managed to pass my bookish filter. I was in the midst of immersing myself in a great work by a Canadian dinosaur paleontologist whose initials are S.D.S. when this bestselling book on religion finally landed in my hands – after a couple of weeks of typical pesky waiting for an imported book. At first, I hesitated as to whether to finish the then-being-read book, or grab and devour the newly arrived one. The latter turned out to be the champion of this little battle of thoughts (now that I have completed reading the British author's, I am delightfully back from my short hiatus to the interrupted dinosaurian adventure). Please pardon my inexorably burning fanaticism about the iconic creatures of the past, and here is my take on The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins:

First of all, it is pretty obvious, from the title alone, that this book is concerned with atheism, i.e. the absence/lack of belief in God or deities. What you will encounter is the author's arguments for the godless outlook on life and thoughts that thoroughly explain his stance on religion. One might expect that the pages of this book are peppered with vulgar or foul language such as "fuck religion!" but, on the contrary, you will be surprised by the cordiality (and eloquence) of his writings. It is strongly recommended, especially if you are religious, to get rid of any prejudice towards the contents before you start reading; or otherwise you will fail to grasp what the writer genuinely intends to convey to the reader. As an evolutionary biologist, Dawkins possesses a very scientific framework of thinking: consequently, he examines and discusses the subject on the basis of his expertise. Through reading this book, which is made up of 10 chapters and richly loaded with information (including quotations) from a great many sources, I find it extremely easy to see that Dawkins is indeed a hardcore rationalist. Personally, I think The God Delusion is well worth reading for people of all sorts of (un)belief, who comprise, but are not limited to, theists, agnostics, and even atheists themselves, if they want to gain useful insights into this particular worldview.

Note: Due to some geographical reason, I cannot fully write my review and I'd be very glad to share more of my thoughts on the book when the circumstances make it possible to do so.

Have you read The God Delusion? What is your opinion of this book? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!
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Quote #43

"Yesterday's appalling attacks on Surabayan churches clearly show the unspeakable power of deeply rooted belief. It is probably hard to imagine people willingly exploding themselves for the holy grail, which presumably is the ultimate reward of living in so-called Heaven forevermore; yet it is plain real and should sort of act as a good reminder of the potential danger of such a conviction." - Klinsman Hinjaya, on the bombings of three churches in Surabaya, Indonesia on May 13, 2018

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Quote #36

"Nothing should be immune to criticism, even the seemingly grandest, deeply established, and widely & highly respected ideas. Everything can be criticized, and should be criticized when necessary." - Klinsman Hinjaya

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Quote #35

"Bigotry, in all its forms, is to be condemned and uprooted to its very essence." - Klinsman Hinjaya

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Are We a Perfect Being?

The statement that we, humans (I believe no other organisms are capable of reading and understand this line), are a sort of creation that is impeccable, flawless, and the most majestic of all is ubiquitous. But do we really live up to the grandeur reputation that is passionately voiced in many, or even all, corners of the world?

The answer is "unfortunately" no. Let's probe into why this is the case.

Humans are living beings, just like other animals (I say "other" because we are animals), such as fish, iguanas, cats, dogs, and dinosaurs (birds included), as well as plants, which comprise those flowery stuctures making up your beautiful garden, if you do have one. All living things, including our little friends and foes bacteria, undergo a morphing process called evolution, that is gradual change in response to their environment for the sake of survival. In this harsh world, as we know and realize, sh*t happens, so not all individuals make it. Those who do not manage to continue their odysseys in this world are extinct, leaving the others with their "successful", selected traits. This phenomenon is known as natural selection, which, along with the theory of evolution, was proposed by British naturalist Charles Darwin in his 1859 seminal book On the Origin of Species.

Intermezzo: It is a real shame that the theory of evolution is still denied by many people, claiming that it is "just a theory." One must comprehend that scientists use the term differently from the hoi polloi, and we do have such an abundant amount of evidence pointing to the truth of evolution that it is unarguably, in everyday language, a fact.

Evolution has been going on ever since the first organisms appeared on Earth and the unfathomably deep passage of time that has passed by has resulted in the wondrous world we inhabit today, with the evolution-shaped, extraordinarily rich diversity of life spread all around it. It can be said that we are hyperlucky since we are some of the last remnants of life (shouldn't we be grateful?), those that represent the leaves on the tree of life or, in scientific terminology, phylogenetic tree.

All the individuals of the current life on this planet are "champions" in that we are the last bits of myriad unbroken chains that lead to the first ancestors of all living beings that have ever existed in the world, implying survival of mind-bogglingly immense magnitude. And all of us come with features that were left by our predecessors as a legacy. Modern humans have super complex brains and definitely are the most intelligent species on the globe. However, if you carefully examine the human body, many of the organs are not as "perfect" as people generally might think. Take the eye as an example. While it is true that our eyes are magnificent, they are not as remarkable as those of eagles, which can see four or five times farther than humans. Nevertheless, it doesn't mean eagles' eyes are "better" or "more perfect" than humans'; eagles' eyes evolved in that way because they are required for hunting prey, while humans do not need such visual acuity for their survival. Returning to the fabulosity of the human brain, our intelligence hallmark exists merely as a result of adaptation to our surroundings. This is also to say that we, including our brains, are still constantly evolving towards new trends as necessary – there is no such word or expression as "peak" or "end point" in the dictionary of evolution. In his best-selling book The God Delusion, British evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins also enlighteningly points out that humans do possess infirmities caused by things such as lower back pain and prolapsed uteruses, owing to our upright stance after being in the quadrupedal mode for a vast swath of time.

Nevertheless, it must be admitted that Homo sapiens is a very successful species, and with our brain and, especially, I think, our social bonds and skills (among all the "strengths" we possess), we can make up for our "weaknesses". It would have been difficult for a single human to kill a mammoth alone, so he or she worked together to take it down. We couldn't swim like fish, so we came up with ships, scuba-diving apparatus, and the like. We couldn't fly as birds do, so we invented the airplane and similar things intended for navigating through the air. We even remain the only group of living beings capable of exploring the space. Humans, in a sense, are definitely a barrier-breaking species.

To add another argument against our "perfectness", it is useful to think that a number of members of our own species are born with diseases or abnormalities. Think of those cancer-suffering or limbless newborns, for example. Clearly, pathologies can occur at any point in our lives and this is, in fact, natural, as we ourselves are part of the natural world. Additionally, needless to say, we all eventually will come to a point called death.

So are we a perfect being? Well, as they say, nobody's perfect. ;)

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Animal Abuse

On June 21, 2016, the Lychee and Dog Meat Festival, perhaps familiarly known as the Yulin Dog Meat Festival, began in China, despite a cornucopia of opposition from inside and outside of the country. The dog-slaughtering event has aroused my desire to express my view on this fairly controversial topic: animal abuse.

Modern humans have existed for a relatively long time, around 200,000 years. Our ancestors must have fed on a wide variety of diets, including a great number of members of the animal kingdom. It makes a lot of sense to think so since the present time sees human consumption of numerous kinds of creatures – some of which you would probably gape at — as a means of surviving in the modern world. The Manadonese, a tribe native to Manado, one of the largest cities in Indonesia located in Celebes island, take it to an extreme. It is a common practice for the locals to eat bat, cat, and rat meat, as well as dog and monkey. Perhaps this ethnic group is comparable to the Chinese, who are also known to indulge themselves in enjoying a vast range of foods made out of animal flesh.

Is it morally wrong to kill a dog and devour it? Does it deserve to be abhorred to take out a clowder of cats and cook "steaks" out of them? As with a bunch of other things, humans can't be separated from culture. Different cultures may have differing attitudes toward this issue. Those who are accustomed to it would say it is perfectly all right – it might be weird for them not to eat a certain kind of animal. On the other hand, others might see this sort of act as being cruel and evil.

Actually it is not really difficult to work out why this can happen. People grow in different environments and are shaped by them. It is worth mentioning that humans naturally have feelings, such as compassion. Dog and cat lovers would say a BIG yes in reply to the two questions posed at the beginning of the previous paragraph. Being in contact with these types of animal for a long time – perhaps in most cases, since the creatures were born – have certainly generated affection and pity in them, hence the disfavor.

There was a controversy relating to this matter in Indonesia a few months ago: dog lovers protested to the owner of a pet shop in South Tangerang against a puppy/puppies being fed to the snake pet(s). When I first noticed this, I thought, What would snake lovers do if they knew this? Would they protest to the dog lovers?

It seems silly to actually grumble about this situation. If the human race has maintained their existence in varied ways, why should we, the current generation, feel agitated? In my opinion, as long as it doesn't have a negative effect on our species' survival, it really is no problem. (Some people might have a thought that it is simply wrong to kill an animal. However, do they care about the massacre of countless chickens that will end up at KFC's and McDonald's tables every day? I believe not – consistency is the key here.)

I am suddenly reminded of the killing of Harambe, a gorilla in the Cincinnati Zoo, the U.S., which took place recently. He was shot dead with the intention to prevent a young boy who had fallen into the gorilla's territory from experiencing imminent death. While I agree that we need to conserve biodiversity, saving living things from extinction, our species has always to take priority over others.

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