Are we progressing or going backwards?

I dun understand how some things are run/done in this country:

1. There is no evidence of long-term planning or proper analysis watsoever when some genius decides to build a public structure:
   
   Case in point #1: Highways. Wat is the point of building soooooo many freakin highways when it consists of a 5-lane highway converging into 2 measly lanes at the exit???! Instead of solving the traffic issues, it's escalating the blurdy problem! Might as well just leave the road as it is in its current 2-lane state! Wat's worse is that we, the tax payers, have to pay for blurdy toll to get stuck in a traffic jam right after getting out of the toll! ARGH!
   
   Case in point #2: LRT/Monorail System. Wat is the point of having KL Sentral when commuters have to walk out of the building, cross a vast empty area, cross a busy main road to get to the Monorail?! Who is the blurdy stupid genius who doesn't understand wat 'Sentral' means?! Do they not understand wat an 'integrated system' means??? And they dare to wonder why ppl complain abt the effectiveness of public transport in the city! It's not like KL is such a ginormous town at that. But we have 3 different freakin rail systems, all of which commuters need to disembark and walk a considerable distance to catch the next one. Geez, it's so absurd that it's not even funny! I dun see why if NYC, S'pore, and even Bangkok can have an effective, integrated rail system, M'sia can't. It just doesn't make sense!
   
   
2. To ostracize one of the most reknowned (if not THE most reknowned) Indian classical figures in the country, if not the region, just coz he's Muslim. Me and Chris were having a discussion over dinner about how Ramli doesn't get any funding watsoever from the *relevent body* to continue his efforts in promoting and preserving Indian classical dance in the country and the reason for this is coz he's a Muslim practising a Hindu art. This is definitely not news to us. In fact, it's a well-known fact. And it is such a terrible shame coz Ramli is such an expert in his art and widely hailed in other countries, even India itself, as one of the foremost gurus of Odissi but yet, our *relevent body* does not recognize this and provide him with the proper funding to continue his legacy. See, if Ramli practised the Mak Yong or some other Malay cultural dance, I have no doubt that he would be given the necessary funding by this *relevent body*. But just coz he's practising something that is non-Malay and non-Muslim, he's cast aside.
   
   After being his student for more than 3 yrs (and still going), I've come to have utmost respect for this man who has such passion in his art. To actually go ahead and pursue his passion even though it meant being ostracized by his fellow men, to me, that is one of the ultimate sacrifices one can make to follow one's dream. And he is so good at his art that each time he does/shows a move during class, I never fail to stare in wonder (though I try to do it subtly, hehe) and think to myself 'man, i wish i could do it half as good as he does!' And the reason why I enjoy his classes and being a part of his dance academy is coz he doesn't include any element of Hindu worship or anything to do with the religion in his teachings, unlike some other places that I know of. Me, being agnostically inclined and religion-neutral, would've hightailed outta there faster than u can imagine if any element of religion had been impressed upon students in the classes.
   
   But see, even with all the accolades that Ramli's received, the *relevent body* still chooses to ignore his chosen art. And though we would never admit it, it all boils down to race and religion. For some strange reason, these 2 topics are very sensitive topics here (why, i dunno, as we are supposed to be a democracy and issues should be able to be openly discussed, ideally). And the fact that we're so 'culturally rich', anything that one does that is outside of the 'culture' that we are brought up in, is immediately deemed as 'delinquent'. Ppl just cannot accept it when someone who is of their own cultural background, chooses to do something out of the norm and out of the culture that they've been brought up in. Can't ppl just understand that cultures are meant to be shared, enjoyed, and preserved by all and not just by the particular group that 'owns' it?
   
   
3. Some groups of ppl have such narrowminded views and the shepherd-flock mentality that it just astounds me to the point where I wonder 'Gosh, do these ppl even try to think rationally and logically on their own?' One example that was related to me was how a friend of a friend, who's a staunch Christian, gave up practising yoga because her pastor informed her that she is practising Hinduism by doing yoga.
   
   Ok... let me first get this straight that I have nothing against any religion and that I like learning and reading abt all religions; I've just never subscribed to any religion in particular. But, c'mon! If u do yoga, u are deemed to be practising Hinduism??!!! I'm not sure abt yoga in other countries, but I dare say that yoga in this country is practised for its health benefits more than anything else. I've done yoga myself and all it involves is systematic breathing exercises and different poses and NO Hindu worship watsoever! And for ppl, and a pastor at that, to say that if u do yoga, u are going against the word of Christ, that is just plain irresponsible! And wat's more scary abt it is that I know a lot of ppl who take the words of their religious leader as the word of God (or something to that effect). Can you imagine wat would happen if some misguided religious leader utters something dangerous, perhaps against another race or religion? Oh wait a min, this is already happening in other parts of the world! *shudder* The repercussions of this, as we've already seen, can be enormously horrific.
   
   Anyway, coming back to the topic at hand... ppl seriously need to be able to think and judge for themselves and not let some religious leader or some other person of authority tell them wat is good/bad for them. It gets really frustrating when I hear of stories like the one above. Just makes me wanna literally shake the person and tell him/her 'Can u pls think for urself? Have some common sense, will u?!'

Sometimes, the things I see/hear/experience, makes me feel like we're moving backwards instead of progressing as a society and as a country. It's quite sad... and absolutely frustrating... sigh...

Phew... I seem to have some sort of verbal diarrhea today. The recent discussion I had with Chris had opened up some floodgates in my mind that have been closed for some time... lol!

*Disclaimer: This entry consists entirely of MY own views and opinions, and is not endorsed by any other party watsoever.