May Day! May Day!

These strange coincidences continue... Friday, May 11, while going through my daily digest of online news, I bumped into Raja Petra's take on the May 13 1969 incident. Read it here, from the corridors of power.

Then, Saturday, May 12, malaysiakini reports that Dr. Kua Kia Soong is releasing a new book on the May 13 riots which, like others before, offer an alternative answer to official reports, which by the way, have NEVER been made public in full. Read it here.

A fellow blogger (sorry, can't remember who) offers this caution though: "...I do appreciate Dr Kua Kia Siong's efforts to delve into the history of the May 13 incident but I would caution readers to to exercise their critical thinking in reading the account. The information came from newly declassified secret British reports, most likely sourced from their Secret Intelligence Service - MI6. Much of it would be raw intelligence, and represents A VERSION of events. The MI6 has been proven horribly wrong on other world situations before, most recently the fiasco in Iraq".

Meanwhile, Elizabeth Wong in her blog reports that the BN Backbenchers' Club is "retreating" at Pangkor - presumably, to accelerate the next General Elections. Why? Because of "Ijokitis" - fear that a United Opposition like at Ijok could seriously derail the BN gravy train. This SMS she received points a clue: “Was told they push election fast so that solidarity btwn pas, pkr & dap never develop like in Ijok. watch PANGKOR. tq”.

Another Pangkor Treaty? Tell-tale signs to watch out for: sudden announcements and "rakyat-pleasing" generosities - like the civil servants' pay rise, etc.

Other May 13 brushes with history:

1917: The beginnings of the Fatima Apparitions in Portugal. Our Lady of Fatima is the title given to the Blessed Virgin Mary by Catholics and others who believe that she appeared to three shepherd children at Fátima, Portugal on the 13th day of six consecutive months in 1917.

1981: Assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II in Rome by Mehmet Ali Ağca.

2000: The Vatican ends an enduring mystery, saying the third secret of Fatima, the Virgin Mary is said to have told three children in 1917 was a foretelling of the shooting of Pope John Paul II in 1981.

Birthdays: Joe Louis, U.S. former heavyweight boxing champion (1914-1981); Stevie Wonder, U.S. pop singer (1950--).

Favourite "May" song: First of May - Bee Gees (1969)

When I was small, and Christmas trees were tall,
we used to love while others used to play.
Don't ask me why, but time has passed us by,
some one else moved in from far away.

Now we are tall, and Christmas trees are small,
and you don't ask the time of day.
But you and I, our love will never die,
but guess we'll cry come first of May.

The apple tree that grew for you and me,
I watched the apples falling one by one.
And I recall the moment of them all,
the day I kissed your cheek and you were mine.

When I was small, and Christmas trees were tall,
do do do do do do do do do...
Don't ask me why, but time has passed us by,
some one else moved in from far away.

A tad melancholic maybe, of persons and love and things of the past.... but we should remember too, that while we may be "taller" than Christmas trees now, and that while "some" time has passed us by, it's not entirely gone yet, and the choice remains ours - whether we want to let "some one else move in from far away" or not.... !! and yes, to all the moms out there, HAPPY MOTHERS' DAY!