When someone does something that angers us, we console ourselves that karma will bite that person back – and we could not be happier until that day comes.

The problem with this is that karma rarely comes back to “punish” soon enough.

The worst part about karma is that it’s been said that the cycle is completed in another lifetime or generation – striking a person when he is most undeserving of the punishment for some misdeeds committed in his previous lives.

Punished, when he is now leading an innocent life.

Because how else can one explain a succession of bad and tragic luck that befell a near saintly person – if not that it’s karma at work?

Seeing what unjust misery it can cause, I wish there are no such thing as karma striking back – on anybody in his current life and especially future lives – no matter what wrongdoings he may have committed.

May God forgives whatever it was that he has done in his past lives and may God notices every good things that he has done in this lifetime.

And may God please have mercy on this family.

One thing I enjoy when I wait for my kids in school is to read.

For the last quarter of an hour before the last bell rings, when we would wait in the car. In this confined area, I can finally let my eyes off my younger two and while they relax with the show on, I would take a breather with my book too.

It may only be about 10 mins of reading but it’s enough for a few pages with no time wasted on booting and loading up because yes, I still read with a proper printed book.

Unlike many who has gone the e-book way, I will stick to my printed books because of many obvious reasons. It’s easy to flip to the pages that I want. There is no problem with flat battery or software updates. My data backup software consists of a regular basket to hold my books, needing no license or compatibility issues or, again – no software updates!

It’s a non-issue even if pesky hands got hold of them, lost their grip and they get dropped on the floor because my books are hardy – and cheap enough to replace if need to.

Just like a Sabahan author whose printed book is in my collection, I too will always prefer actual books that I can read anytime and anywhere.

The only thing that was right in the whole incident which made worldwide headlines within seconds was this statement : “You don’t trot out this stuff as trophies“.

Taking another human life should never be consider as something to gloat and brag over like trophies and awards, no matter how rightfully it was taken – especially in this case where this man was simply the face for a movement, and a growing one at that.

Let’s just hope that his statement was enough to stop the gleeful gloating of the more vengeful amongst his followers and especially to assure his allies and placate his protesters and enemies that he is honourable enough to give what was never offered by the other side, dignity.

Because we do not need another resurgence of martyrdom fueled by anger and revenge.