HE AND SHE SAYS: Should we believe in things we don't understand?

PERSONALLY, I do not believe in superstitions, especially in this era of science and technology. However, a few incidents have happened that have made me think twice.

Six years ago, my grandmother was against the idea of both my aunties (sisters) getting married on the same date and time. She said only one couple would be happily married while the other may have their marriage end in separation.

True enough, within a year, the younger sister separated from her husband.

Then, there was the time my cousin attended an interview. When he stepped into the interview room, a church bell rang in the distance. My aunt said it was a good omen and that he would get the job. Two weeks later, he got the job!

Not every superstition is true. My grandmother believes that when you talk about someone and that person suddenly appears, he or she will live for 100 years. One day, my mum and her sisters were talking about a friend they had not seen for a long time. It so happened that he chose that moment to visit them out of the blue. ‘You will live for 100 years’, said my aunt. He was overjoyed. Unfortunately, a few days later, they received word that he had passed away in a car accident. He was only 32 years old.

With all these incidents I’ve seen, I prefer to keep an open mind. Can we be sure that there is no hidden meaning in these superstitions, which is unknown to science? If not, we’d better think twice.

- Naden Surya Munusamy, 17, Kedah

SHE

I STILL distinctly remember the time I accidentally broke a mirror. ‘You’re in for seven years of bad luck!’ the shop assistant teased me. I just put on a bright smile before quaking in fear at the thought of my mother’s wrath when she found the shards of glass on the floor.

I will never break a mirror again. That incident still makes me shudder. What I wanted to point out is that superstitions are natural for human beings.

These so-called ‘irrational fears’ have always been around. Even as we step towards a new cyber age and become smarter and more modern in our way of life, we have all believed in superstitions at some point in our lives. While those who believe in them hold onto their beliefs, others who are more scientifically inclined (such as yours truly) believe that these superstitions are the result of good common sense or advice given by parents to curb their children’s mischief.

For instance, there is a superstition about not walking under a ladder or else you’ll have bad luck for the next seven years. Maybe the bad luck part of the equation was slightly exaggerated, but I don’t think having the ladder fall and hurt you could be considered good luck.

Also, some people say that smoking six cigarettes at once is an invitation for bad luck to come over for tea. This is true because Lady Bad Luck’s first name is Cancer.

However, it must be said that quite a few superstitions are just plain ridiculous. For instance, there is one that suggests if three people take a photo together, the middle one will die first. I bet that would cause triplets to fight amongst themselves to avoid being the middle one. Another superstition warns you not to walk past a grave without holding your breath or you’ll die at the twelfth hour.

So as you can see, certain superstitions are not for us to ignore, because they tend to be for our own good. However, we should always try to think of the logic behind them and not blindly follow whatever’s being proclaimed as the reasons. Otherwise, you’d forever live your life in fear. And then you may as well go and walk past a grave, because living in fear isn’t really living.

- Nurul Shamine Shaifful Anuar ,17,Selangor

HE AND SHE SAYS: Should we believe in things we don't understand?

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