Thursday, July 30, 2009 @ 12:06 AM
Lost Spark?
Hello.Past few days I was on MC, the fever probably burn out my brain cells or something... Well, P.A. Lady is going back to school on Friday... So... Yup!
Well not much to blog about today...
I remembered I plurked something that went like this:
A shadowed past constituted to a fear in my heart.
It's how I feel right now. Somehow, what's happened in my life for the past few months has constituted to a fear in my heart, it's been so long. But yet... It still felt like yesterday. Those incidents have scared me so deep, maybe I've lost myself in that process... Maybe, I've got to see a psychiatrist... Sometimes I'm not even sure if I'm in control of myself anymore... Right now, I know I just love Hian Lee.
Hian Lee, Hold me tight and never let me go.
I love you.
The girl by the sushi bar,
Ezann.
30. July. 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009 @ 6:45 PM
To Mr. Sugihara
Okay Okay, I just needed to do it cause this guy is just so great!A memoir to Mr. Sugihara.
Yup that dude up there, he saved 2000 Jews from the Holocaust.
Sugihara is said to have cooperated with Polish intelligence, as a part of bigger Japanese-Polish cooperative plan. Details remain sketchy, but after the Soviet takeover of Lithuania in 1940, many Jewish refugees from Poland (Polish Jews) as well as Lithuanian Jews tried to acquire exit visas. Without the visas, it was dangerous to travel and impossible to find countries willing to issue them. Hundreds of refugees came to the Japanese consulate in Kaunas, trying to get a visa to Japan. The Dutch consul Jan Zwartendijk had provided some of them with an official third destination to Curaçao, a Caribbean island and Dutch colony that required no entry visa, or Dutch Guiana (which, upon independence, became Suriname). At the time, the Japanese government required that visas be issued only to those who had gone through appropriate immigration procedures and had enough funds. Most of the refugees did not fulfill these criteria. Sugihara dutifully contacted the Japanese Foreign Ministry three times for instructions. Each time, the Ministry responded that anybody granted a visa should have a visa to a third destination to exit Japan, with no exceptions.
From July 31 to August 28, 1940, Sugihara began to grant visas on his own initiative, after consulting with his family. Many times he ignored the requirements and arranged the Jews with a ten-day visa to transit through Japan, in direct violation of his orders. Given his inferior post and the culture of the Japanese Foreign Service bureaucracy, this was an extraordinary act of disobedience. He spoke to Soviet officials who agreed to let the Jews travel through the country via the Trans-Siberian railway at five times the standard ticket price.
Sugihara continued to hand-write visas (reportedly spending 18–20 hours a day on them, producing a normal month's worth of visas each day) until September 4, when he had to leave his post before the consulate was closed. By that time he had granted thousands of visas to Jews, many of them heads of household who could take their families with them. According to witnesses, he was still writing visas while in transit in hotel and after boarding the train, throwing visas into the crowd of desperate refugees out the train's window even as the train pulled out. Sugihara himself wondered about official reaction to the thousands of visas he issued. Many years later, he recalled, "No one ever said anything about it. I remember thinking that they probably didn't realize how many I actually issued."
The total number of Jews saved by Sugihara is in dispute, ranging from 6000 to 10,000; most likely, it was somewhere in the middle; family visas—which allowed several people to travel on one visa—were also issued, which would account for the much higher figure. The Simon Wiesenthal Center has estimated that Chiune Sugihara issued transit visas for about 6,000 Jews and that around 40,000 descendants of the Jewish refugees are alive today because of his actions.[4] Polish intelligence produced some false visas. Sugihara's widow and eldest son estimate that he saved 6,000 Jews from certain death, whereas Levine thinks it was far higher at around 10,000. According to Hillel Levine's 1996 biography of Sugihara, In Search of Sugihara, the Japanese diplomat issued 3,400 transit visas to the Jews. Levine reports from his research of official Japanese foreign ministry documents entitled "Miscellaneous Documents Regarding Ethnic Issues: Jewish Affairs,' vol.10, 1940 Diplomatic Record Office, Japanese Foreign Ministry, Tokyo", that he discovered one list alone of "2,139 names, largely of Poles--both Jews and non-Jews--who received visas between July 9 and August 31, 1940...It is far from complete; many who received visas from Sugihara, including children, are not on it. By statistical extrapolation, we can estimate that he helped as many as ten thousand escape; those who actually survived are probably no more than half that number." Indeed, some Jews who received Sugihara visas failed to leave Lithuania in time, were later captured by the Germans who invaded the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941, and perished in the Holocaust.
Levine discovered two documents from a Japanese foreign office file: the first aforementioned document is a February 5, 1941 diplomatic note from Chiune Sugihara to Japan's then Foreign Minister Yōsuke Matsuoka in which Sugihara stated he issued 1,500 out of 2,132 transit visas to Jews and Poles; however, since almost all the names of the 2,132 people were not Lithuanian at all, this would imply that most of the visas were given to Polish Jews instead. Levine then notes that another document from the same foreign office file "indicates an additional 3,448 visas were issued in Kovno for a total of 5,580 visas" which were likely given to Jews desperate to flee Lithuania for safety in Japan or Japanese occupied China. Moreover, there were also "some Jesuits in Vilna who were issuing Sugihara visas with seals that he had left behind and did not destroy, long after the Japanese diplomat had departed" which means that some Jews could have escaped Europe with forged visas issued under Sugihara's name.
Many refugees used their visas to travel across the Soviet Union to Vladivostok and then by boat to Kobe, Japan, where there was a Russian Jewish community. The Polish ambassador in Tokyo, Tadeusz Romer, organised limited help for them. From there, 1,000 departed to other destinations such as the United States and the British Mandate of Palestine. The remaining number of Sugihara/Zwartendijk survivors stayed in Japan until they were deported to Japanese-held Shanghai, where there was already a large Jewish community. Others took a more southerly route through Korea directly to Shanghai without passing through Japan. A group of thirty "Jakub Goldberg" arrived one day to Tsuruga but were returned to Russian Nakhodka. Most of the around 20,000 Jews survived the Holocaust in the Shanghai ghetto until the Japanese surrender in 1945.
Despite German pressure for the Japanese government to either hand over or kill the Jewish refugees, the government protected the group. In The Fugu Plan (a book about the 1930s Fugu Plot), Rabbi Marvin Tokayer offered one hypothesis: it was in gratitude for a $196 million loan that a Jewish banker from New York, Jacob Schiff, had given to Japan; the funds helped them to victory in the Russo-Japanese War of 1905. A broader hypothesis, which also motivated the 1930s scheme, involved the benefit of the supposed economic prowess to Jews (partly as some Japanese leaders had read anti-Semitic tracts attributing uncanny wealth and power to Jews), which was desirable to the Japanese empire. Finally, Jewish leaders pointed out that the Nazi ideal excluded "the yellow", and asserted that like the Japanese, the Jews were from Asia too.
Sugihara served as a Consulate General in Prague, Czechoslovakia, in 1941 in Königsberg and in legation in Bucharest, Romania. When Russian troops entered Romania, Soviet troops imprisoned Sugihara and his family in a POW camp for eighteen months. They were released in 1946 and returned to Japan through the Soviet Union via the Trans-Siberian railroad and Nakhodka port.
In 1947, the Japanese foreign office asked him to resign, nominally due to downsizing. Some sources, including his wife Yukiko Sugihara, have said that the Foreign Ministry told Sugihara he was dismissed because of "that incident" in Lithuania.
In October 1991, the ministry told Sugihara's family that Sugihara's resignation was part of the ministry's shakeup in personnel shortly after the end of the war. The Foreign Ministry issued a position paper on March 24, 2006, that there was no evidence the Ministry imposed disciplinary action on Sugihara. The ministry said that Sugihara was one of many diplomats to resign voluntarily, but that it was "difficult to confirm" the details of his individual resignation. The ministry praised Sugihara's conduct in the report, calling it a "courageous and humanitarian decision."
Sugihara settled in Fujisawa in Kanagawa prefecture. To support his family he took a series of menial jobs, at one point selling light bulbs door to door. He suffered a personal tragedy in 1947 when his youngest son died just seven years old. He later began to work for an export company as General Manager of U.S. Military Post Exchange. Utilizing his command of the Russian language, Sugihara went on to work and live a low-key existence in the Soviet Union for sixteen years, while his family stayed in Japan.
In 1968, Jehoshua Nishri, an economic attache to the Israeli Embassy in Tokyo and one of the Sugihara beneficiaries, finally located and contacted him. Nishri had been a Polish teen in 1940. The next year Sugihara visited Israel and was greeted by the Israeli government. Sugihara beneficiaries began to lobby for inclusion in the Yad Vashem memorial.
In 1985, Chiune Sugihara was granted the honor of the Righteous Among the Nations (Hebrew: חסידי אומות העולם , translit. Khasidei Umot ha-Olam) by the government of Israel. Sugihara was too ill to travel to Israel, so his wife and son accepted the honor on his behalf. Sugihara and his descendants were given perpetual Israeli citizenship.
In that year, 45 years after the Soviet invasion of Lithuania, he was asked his reasons for issuing visas to the Jews. Sugihara gave two reasons: one, that these refugees were human beings, and the other, that they simply needed help. As Sugihara stated in a conversation with a visitor to his home near Tokyo Bay that year:
“You want to know about my motivation, don't you? Well. It is the kind of sentiments anyone would have when he actually sees refugees face to face, begging with tears in their eyes. He cannot just help but sympathize with them. Among the refugees were the elderly and women. They were so desperate that they went so far as to kiss my shoes, Yes, I actually witnessed such scenes with my own eyes. Also, I felt at that time, that the Japanese government did not have any uniform opinion in Tokyo. Some Japanese military leaders were just scared because of the pressure from the Nazis; while other officials in the Home Ministry were simply ambivalent.
People in Tokyo were not united. I felt it silly to deal with them. So, I made up my mind not to wait for their reply. I knew that somebody would surely complain about me in the future. But, I myself thought this would be the right thing to do. There is nothing wrong in saving many people's lives... The spirit of humanity, philanthropy...neighborly friendship...with this spirit, I ventured to do what I did, confronting this most difficult situation---and because of this reason, I went ahead with redoubled courage.”
When asked why he risked his career to save other people, he quoted an old samurai saying, "Even a hunter cannot kill a bird which flies to him for refuge."
Sugihara died the following year, on July 31, 1986. In spite of the publicity given him in Israel and other nations, he remained virtually unknown in his home country. Only when a large Jewish delegation from around the world, including the Israeli ambassador to Japan, showed up at his funeral did his neighbours find out what he had done. Sugihara Street in Kaunas and Vilnius, Lithuania, and the asteroid 25893 Sugihara are named after him. The Chiune Sugihara Memorial in the town of Yaotsu (his birthplace) was built by the people of the town in his honor. The Sugihara house-museum in Kaunas, Lithuania. The conservative synagogue Temple Emeth, in Chestnut Hill (Newton), Massachusetts, has built a "Sugihara Memorial Garden"and holds an Annual Sugihara Memorial Concert.
When Sugihara's widow Yukiko traveled to Jerusalem in 1998, she was met by tearful survivors who showed her the yellowing visas that her husband had signed. A park in Jerusalem is named for him. The Japanese government honored him on the centennial of his birth in 2000.
A memorial to Sugihara was built in Los Angeles' Little Tokyo in 2002, and dedicated with consuls from Japan, Israel and Lithuania, Los Angeles city officials and Sugihara's son, Chiaki Sugihara, in attendance. The memorial, entitled "Chiune Sugihara Memorial, Hero of the Holocaust" depicts a life-size Sugihara seated on a bench, holding a visa in his hand and is accompanied by a quote from the Talmud: "He who saves one life, saves the entire world."Sugihara is also known as Sugiwara Sempo and Chiune Sempo Sugihara. Sugiwara Sempo (to use the Japanese order with family name first) was a pseudonym that he adopted when he worked in the Soviet Union from 1960 to 1975 to prevent the Soviets from identifying him as the Japanese diplomat who in 1932 outsmarted them and obtained a very good deal for Japan when it purchased the Northern Manchurian Railroad. Sempo is not a distinct name but another way of reading the Chinese characters 千畝 for Chiune. Similarly, sugiwara is an alternative pronunciation of 杉原, his family name. Sempo was not his middle name, as Japanese names do not have middle names.
The girl by those letter,
Ezann.
27. July. 2009
Saturday, July 25, 2009 @ 6:20 PM
What have this world become of?
Open house today. Not much just making lots and lots of slime.Hian Lee's sick. I'm partially sick. Hian Lee's being promoted to become PA head, which is good. I then become P.A. head's Girlfriend which is useless. Then I go think about how to write a good econs essay and then I go figure out how to annoy my boyfriend. I love him. I think we all know that. And Love him even more. And more and more and more and more.
I was just wondering... If the president's wife is called the first lady and he's the head of the country what do they call hian lee's girlfriend? the P.A. Lady? :D Roflmao. Sounds like the cleaning lady, but what the shit. (who's the 2nd lady?) Does that mean the cleaning lady is the cleaner head's wife? :D
I'm so full of shit. I'm having a headache. Hian lee's sick too. I feel like sleeping I just ate 4 sticks of Kinder Bueno. Grandma's birthday today... I don't feel like going. I feel like staying at home to accompany hian lee. I love him, he's like a fluffy little doggie that loves me so much. I love fluffy doggies. <3
Co-incidentally I had the same dream as hian lee. I saw myself get a little brown energetic dog at the SPCA, a few nights ago. Weird right?
My headache's so bad I feel like sleeping.
I shall blog sometime else. For now... I JUST LOVE YOU MISTER RICEBALL.
The girl by the little black coat,
Ezann
25. July. 2009
Friday, July 17, 2009 @ 7:01 AM
Luck & Love
Hey!!!Alright! First off, WISH ME LUCK FOR TODAY!!!!! *FREAKS OUT*
Ha. I must be crazy. :P
Anyway....
Here's a side note on love...
I believe that everyone stands equal when it comes to love, everyone will, ultimately only end up with one at the end of the day... (Means everyone will only have ONE spouse living with them, no matter how many times they are divorced or married... Ultimately, it will boil down to only ONE.) No matter how much of an ass you were to people, you'll still stand a chance to find that perfect One.
If there's one thing I've learnt from these past 11 months of relationship, is that when you love someone, no matter how unreasonable he/she is, no matter how many time he/she disappoints you, no matter how many times he/she frustrates you, etc. you'll still love them. Cause, Love sees past all imperfection. And hey, a relationship isn't easy. If you're in one and you find it easy, just wait and see. There will come a time where some people won't be happy with who you're with, or you find out about an unforgivable habit, etc. There will come a time where you will hit a cold hard wall. I'm not cursing you, I'm just getting you prepared. But here's the good news, if there's love, NOTHING can get in your way. Trust me, I know. (:
To Hian Lee: Reflect in education but, in life... forget about those memories that would make you cry.
I love you.
The girl by hian lee's photos,
Ezann.
17, July. 2009
Tuesday, July 14, 2009 @ 9:54 PM
To be blind
This is one time in life where I feel the need to numb myself. A few minutes ago I felt like drinking detergent and get life over and done with. I keep having to deal with this world, having to deal with disgusting people. Over & over again... Having to deal with people who keep wanting to have things done their way, where there is no room for negotiations at all... Leaving me with really no choice at all. I hate seeing him cry. I hate to see people killing themselves over power, be it in the household or over a nation. I start to realize that I can't do anything to change people's perspective about me. What can I say? I'm Not God. I can't change the world with a snap of my fingers.On a totally different note.
Install theme is out: Man In the Mirror.
Hopefully all you interactors reading this blog would come to my school's install! I love ya'll. (:
The girl by those fountain pens,
Ezann.
14. July. 2009
Sunday, July 12, 2009 @ 10:44 PM
Moments before
It's July 12th 2009.It's been almost a year since he & I got together. We've been through Fights, Arguments, Friendship Problems, such and such... I know our 1st year isn't until 9th of August, but I had this one moment in my life where I felt weird... I finally felt that life isn't what people say it is. Ain't easy, kinda tough actually and love actually IS what Hollywood say it would be, at least... for the past 11 months that's how I've felt. It feels like some Hollywood movie...
I mean, he's the MOST boring guy I've met thus far and yet... I feel that he's THE one. We've got lots of things in common but I suppose one thing that clashes is, Fashion. He's the simple Dri fit with jeans kinda guy. I'm the I'll wear anything that makes me stand out kinda girl. When we go out it sorta looks like we're just siblings, until we hold hands that is. He knows everything about me I suppose, from family to what I'm wearing on the inside (he's seen my dressing cupboard), simply everything. Even when I miss my arrow for him, he knows. Hahaha. I can't hide anything from him. I try not to. (:
They say what do I know about love? I would pretty much say nothing.. But I know that if I loved someone, I'll never want to see him cry. If I loved someone, I'll never want to hurt him. If I loved someone, I'll always support his ideas. If I loved someone, I'll galdly die if he asked me to. But more importantly, if I loved someone, I've gotta trust him and not forgetting Not keeping any secrets from him. Because I love him, I'll do anything he wants me to. True love is something hard to attain, Some people take 30 - 40 years to attain it. Some people just never find it. Others think they've found it, but have they? I don't know what true love is, but I know that if it's true love You should be able to feel it, You just will... It's a feeling I cannot discribe... It's a feeling you just know...
I love Hian Lee. That's that.
On a totally different note... I'm laughing... :D Hian lee's making me laugh... I think it's past 5 Minutes.
Right He's rushing me... I'll go now. BYE
The girl by the laughing gas,
Ezann
12. July. 2009
Thursday, July 9, 2009 @ 8:20 PM
Turtle Trip II
Hello.We're planning another turtle trip to Kuan Tan. Hopefully we can rope in 20 people. Right now we've got:
Amber
Debra
Hian Lee
Jun Xian
Joshua Poh
Tania
Champ
We need another 13. Teachers are welcomed. (:
Here are some photos from the last trip.
If interested please contact me, Amber or Hian Lee. Or just leave a message at the tag board with your name & phone/ email. I will get back to you ASAP. (:
Thank You!
The girl by the beach,
Ezann
9.July.2009
Sunday, July 5, 2009 @ 8:27 PM
No will to live on.
Hello.I have no idea why I'm doing this blog post. I'm not particularly interested in blogging or going back to school. I'm more interested in self torture and suicide.. Well, if you're wondering what happened to the Ezann you once knew? Well, someone Killed her... Or maybe she just killed herself. I don't know. You pick, you judge, you decide. I'm a cowardly little girl who refuse to face the world, the world which has hurt her in so many ways...
I didn't want to end up this way, it was people who keep driving me up a wall... I kept pushing my limits. I snapped. I lost sanity. I lost hope in humanity. I wonder why God still kept me here. I wonder why he enjoys playing such sadistic games with me. I wonder why, he made me go through all this... I'm totally unsure of life, of what to do in life...
But if there's one thing I'm sure of, that is that I love Hian Lee.
In short, I have no will to live my life anymore... The only thing keeping me alive, is Hian Lee. If this is what YOU wanted to see, then well done. You've done it AGAIN. GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY LIFE. JUST GET YOUR PUNY LITTLE BOTTOM AND YOUR PERKY LITTLE NOSE OUT OF MY LIFE. IT IS MY LIFE DAMN IT. MY LIFE.
WHY DO YOU HAVE TO INTERFER IN MY LIFE. WHY DOES HURT SO MUCH WHENEVER I REMEMBER THAT YOU WERE ONCE MY FRIEND? WHY TELL ME WHY.
The girl by those fountain pens,
Ezann.
5. July. 2009
I don't wanna hate you for the rest of my life, but you've gotta promise me you won't take him away from me. You won't hurt me again. You'll just leave me & Him alone... Please don't make it difficult for me... You know you're wrong, Why deny it? I'm not gonna hate you if you admitted... I would in fact forgive. So why Deny?
