"Great Souls", brief biographies of six individuals whose life and actions has affected the world written by David Aikman  is a good source of inspiration for those who are looking at the big picture where the fate humanity is concern. These larger than life characters includes the Rev. Billy Graham, Nelson Mandela, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, Mother Teresa, Pope John Paul II and Eli Wiesel. Each of these individuals manifested great virtues such as ,Salvation, Forgiveness, Truth, Compassion, Human Dignity and Remembrance as their forte in tackling the human conditions that they were faced with. The books is a good read as it evokes in my own quest limited as it is towards better understanding of what it takes to be an extraordinary being in this time and age. The course of the lives on these individuals, their strength of character and their deep sense of integrity in facing adversities is a great model for the rest of mankind to refflect upon and emulate.
If in some small way I can emulate the 'compassion' as characterized by Mother Teresa or the 'forgiveness' in spirit of Nelson Mandela, If i can in some small way express the 'truth' as has been the tool wielded by Solzhenitsyn; I would be indeed of use to the human race in its course of survival. As I keep digging within me to discover my true being, my original nature, I find reading the lives of great men and women of the past who have made a contribution towards humanity's well being gives me a sense of belonging. In the words of Billy Graham, the American Evangelist;

"I am going to preach a gospel not of despair but of hope - hope for the individual, for society and for the world."
          Billy graham, London, 1954

We are close to if not already are walking in the valley of death, humanity as a whole today is closer to our own self destruct than ever before with the latest sabre rattling going on on the Korean Peninsula and not to mention the civil war in Syria and the ethnic religious conflict scattered throughout the globe like wild fires. Most of us are oblivious to this state of affairs living our lives in complete denial with our heads buried in the sand. But there are those who have awakened and are beginning to realize the terrors that confronts us in the not too distant future of our existence on this planet; these few from all corners of the earth  are preaching the gospel of hope even if it is quietly  done to their small gathering of followers with like mindedness. These are the few who have begun to see through the falsity of our errors due to our common ignorance and deep rooted sense of greed and thirst for power; we are taking a crap on the very plate we eat from.
Nelson Mandela in his defence before the court that sentenced him to life imprisonment told the judge..
"During my  lifetime I have dedicated myself to the struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratise
 and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die for."
                                                                                                     Nelson Mandela - 'The Rivonia Trial'

As Malaysians are preparing to face the General Elections which will fall on the fifth of May next month many are still in a conundrum as to who or what to believe in much less too choose as the future leaders to lead the country. Most Malaysians are closely monitoring the both the pro-government and opposition parties through all the medias and more so thought the Internet excess to information's, But a great many more are left to their own devices as they are not educated and would have to rely on what is fed to them from both sides. These are  easily swayed by rhetoric's and promises, that is past and parcel of an election campaign; in the long run it is their lives that will be most affected by whoever comes to power after the General Election. The younger generation of voters, those who for their first time are casting their votes will play a major role in deciding who will decide their future. These are the more informed voters as they are exposed to the E - Medias. As flags and banners fill the air along street corners and rice fields, as the voting fever affects young and old alike, Malaysia will see a change that is expected to be both thorough and consequential. The people, a majority of them are awakened and they are taking a very close attention towards making their choices transcending prejudices albeit racial or religious.
It is up to the politicians especially the newer faces to live up to the people's expectations, they will have to be able to break away from the regular politic or money and mud slinging; they have to be genuinely concern with the future of this nation. The question is what can they bring for a better change to enable the country to move forward in peace and prosperity and not become copy cats of their predecessors. The people are hoping for some new and intelligent leaders to educate the masses, who will enlighten their future towards peace and prosperity; not more opportunists and shysters to rip them off at every sign of a contract. It is not about money; it is about integrity, honesty and compassion. It is best for those vying for a position or being elected as officials to know that the people are not fast asleep as those that were in the past and that to be elected they have to serve and not be served like those before them. Serving the needy, the poor the destitute, the ignorant and those in their immediate care is what is expected of them; not serving their own self interest and those of their kith and kin. Most of all to achieve justice for all.