May I have your sincere answer then, do we practise the same degree of openess towards our very own people and the kind of democracy that is done in the USA.

Openness is the key. We are mostly second or third generation immigrants ourselves.

Openness towards people, ideas, and competition, coupled with democracy propels the USA into one of the strongest economy, political power and sporting nation.

If you are interested, please take a look at my comment (#4) in the article “Awarding scholarships – a reader’s view” (August 2008).

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oYzEwTeZ9Tw/SKTNkm6TIyI/AAAAAAAAAy8/MiYlL_WPyfU/s1600-h/43+birthday+for+blog.JPG

“As any good student of journalism knows, including a quote from an exotic source, no matter how irrelevant, automatically adds objectivity and depth to the piece.”

Thank you for pointing that out to me. I’m not a student of journalism and never knew that. From now on I shall try to quote from exotic sources more often in my articles.

“May I ask, why does your mysterious, helpful friend see fit to comment on Singapore’s political climate?”

She saw it fit to comment because I asked her and she responded.

“And why is the US model definitely the way to go when it comes to politics?”

Oh no of course we shouldn’t. A certain senior citizen said we will be finished if we have a revolving door political system like the US.

You do not need to have a first-hand experience on electricity to know that it kills. Sometimes, you just need to know it from the regular experience of others. That is what we call “learn it from others”.

In fact, in our country, certain reported cases (if you know what I mean) are delibrately given prominence in our MSM to drive across certain points – my interpretation of course.

Don’t splatter all that is on your mind. Articulate just one cogent point.

Don’t give up. Watch and learn, try again.

QUOTE BEGIN
138) watchandlearn on August 13th, 2008 7.10 pm
I know I am being provocative and obtuse.
QUOTE END

I know I am being provocative and obtuse. ///

I was enjoying myself reading your exchanges and have not intended to wade into this. After so many entries, defending the indefensible, you finally said something that made sense. I agree 101% with your above statement, especially the last word.

I have watched and learned …

Like I said, the main issue here is about showing faces of PAP MPs on National Day billboards. Picking on the source of funds is just a confusing sidetrack, i.e. It doesn’t make people any happier even if the billboards are financed out of the MPs’ own pocket.

I talk about politics with friends frequently, and experience tells me that it’s often better to stop the discussion once the discussion veers off the main point.

I have also found that it’s more productive to:

- listen and identify real point even if you don’t agree with it
- check that you have gotten the message correctly
- convey just one main point at a time
- keep the discussion civilised, accurate, concise, and focused

Think about how to convey a convincing message, and try again!

The citizens have not run out of options to improve the political situation.
No doubt it is tough but nothing is impossible when one is dealing with humans.
The best is yet to be.
Think before you open your mouth “watchandlearn”, your two bit comments is not impressing anyone ,not even your political masters.

After all why should he leave, it is his country. He has as much right as you to stay here and do what he want to do, think what he want to think and say what he want to say. Are anyone so different that they can deny others this basic rights?

Point a gun at anyone, they fear. Deny them food, they starve. Cut them with a knife, they bleed. Forbid them water and they thirst. Unless you are telling me that the MIW do not feel all these things, then there is something wrong with them, not us.

The fundamental of any society is always to observe the will and norm of the majority. This is the very reason why the minorities are very easily outcast and discriminated against (gays in Singapore), or even burnt at stakes (witches in medieval time).

So if you or the MIW are so different that you all don’t bleed, don’t thirst, don’t get hurt, then people like you belongs to the minority and perhaps you should be telling yourself to get lost.

The rest of us are normal, so we stay and we will take back what rightfully belongs to us. Thank you.

On what basis is it “warranted”? How do you decide what is genuine and what is not? Please enlighten us on that.

Do you take pride to say that we are better than Ethiopia, Burma, Zimbabwe and find comfort in it?I think it is much more constructive and progressive for us to aspire to be like Denmark, Finland or Switzerland? If comparing yourself with Ethiopia, Burma and Zimbabwe can buy you some comfort, go ahead and enjoy it and i have no problem with that. But don’t expect me to do that with you.

What rights do you have to tell fellow citizens to leave the country? Aung San Suu Kyi doesn’t like the military junta and could not do anything about it under house arrest, but did she leave? She could have done that if she went to collect her Nobel Prize but she did not because she cared about the people of Burma more than anything else.

“Isn’t it only fair that i ask where the money use to decorate my house comes from? Adding to atmosphere? How do you know? Did you do a survey? Who are the participants in the survey? What is your sampling size? Untilthen, all these are just your own claims with your own value-judgment.”

It is fair to want to know, I agree.

If you think its ugly and a waste of money then start a petition. Gather up some signatures and go see your MP to register your disgust. And then, lets see what the rest of your neighbours think.

“What do you by “genuine” concerns? I thought the art of feedback is to take all the views objectively and hear the people out. Who should decide what is “genuine” and what is not? To slam others’ concern as not being “genuine” is a form of intolerance and bigotry in itself. And it is ironic that you lecture others to run for elections with this kind of attitude towards concerns.”

Even if I did slam your concern, I think its warranted. There are worse places to live than in Singapore you know. Anyway if you don’t like it and you think you truly can’t do anything about it, leave.

@ everyone

I know I am being provocative and obtuse. However, I ask everyone to consider, is this truly the only way to go about it. Is this the only available channel left? You said that you have tried. How hard have you tried? How many times?

Do you truly believe that Singapore is going south and there’s no hope left anymore? Are you passionate enough about Singapore to do everything in your power to try and save it? Are you absolutely convinced that the government is wrong? Or is a simple police tactic of taking down your particulars enough to send you scurrying back?

Gandhi was but one man, but look what he did.

Really how hard have you tried? Have you tried to get you and your peers recognized as fellow citizens and true-blue Singaporeans by registering for a society permit, and only to have it flatly rejected year after year after year? Have you ever had your own night out crashed by the police simply for being in the company of like-minded people? Have you had a loved one horribly violated and hurt and not being able to get help and justice because the police just won’t care?

Most of you may not know this but all these and more happened and they happened much closer than you think. Thankfully, things are better now.

Singaporeans must stop this habit of being bullied into submission. Stop acting on hearsay. Get out there, find out what you can, then form an opinion. Know, intimately know who and what you are dealing with. Information is power. But information is nothing if it is not verified, analysed and understood.

And have a little faith in your fellow human. We are all trying the best we can, the way we can.

Only, are you?

Going by your standards, by writing what I have written here, I already am opening myself up for marking by “the powers”. I should kick back and enjoy my last cup of tea before the men in black come and take me away for even daring to promote independent thought, right?

Come on, stop making it look like I obstracize those who support SDP and their action. You twist it fast and turn it around, but I not stupid to fall into that. One moment, you seem to support the ruling party, and next moment, you twist it as though you support SDP when I merely focus on the fear created by paranoid government. So what are you ? A troll ?

I admire SDP’s courage and action to do what needed to bring social and politicial issues to the public, and I do not agree that just playing to the game of the ruling party will come out any effective result. And to do that, you have to acknowledge that the ruling party is doing whatever to render whatever opp party ineffective. The creation of fear is one of them. Without that kind of acknowledgement, everyone can just talk-big and give simplistic solution and says that opp party not to play by the rule.

To add on to the list.
Your fish will die? Your daughter will become maid ? Singapore will sink ? OUr HDB will collapsed ? Earthquakes will happen ? Opposition party will be destroyed ?

What happens exactly if you attend an opposition party and the police takes down your particulars? What happens? What?

YOu really want to know. Tell you what. Next time attend SDP meeting and gathering publicly least you talk big again. No amount of words can describe what those SDP members go through. Experience yourself first.

I thought you could disparage Solzhenitsyn as a arm-chair critic and challenge him to run for elections too?