Comments on: Celebrating 60 years of human rights http://theonlinecitizen.com/2008/11/celebrating-60-years-of-human-rights/ a community of Singaporeans Mon, 22 Mar 2010 05:17:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: balajian http://theonlinecitizen.com/2008/11/celebrating-60-years-of-human-rights/comment-page-1/#comment-36945 balajian Sun, 30 Nov 2008 05:46:59 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=3266#comment-36945 Its SAD that singaporeans need to be taught what human rights is about. Its SAD that singaporeans need to be taught what human rights is about.

]]> By: Chia C.K. http://theonlinecitizen.com/2008/11/celebrating-60-years-of-human-rights/comment-page-1/#comment-36492 Chia C.K. Fri, 28 Nov 2008 04:53:48 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=3266#comment-36492 I think public education and awareness on human rights has been postphoned for way too long in Singapore. I am deeply saddened by the suicide of 15 year old teenager Tan Wen Yi (see http://mrwangsaysso.blogspot.com/). Wen Yi jumped off his 11-storey apartment in-front of his parents just to make a point - 'as a final feat of rebellion' against his parents and the school. Wen Yi epitomizes what we as Citizens are facing: pressures exerted upon us and our children to 'perform' and 'excel' regardless of whether we want it, like it or not. And we find ourselves accomodating to these pressures - exerted by our social institutions like the education, economic and family systems under the rubric of 'pragmatism' ritualized and consecrated by the powers-that-be. We are not sacrificial offerings at the altar of 'meritocracy' which mainly serves to renew and reinforce its own ranks of the 'elite'. We need to be able to 'speak to', 'speak with' rather than 'speak up', and that simply is what 'human rights' mean to me. If Wen Yi had been allowed to be heard - by his family and school then I believe his untimely death could have been prevented. We as Citizens, therefore cannot be silenced by power such as the kind - sophisticated & clinical wielded by Thio Li-ann (at a recent ARI round-table on 'human rights') who had stumped me with 'would you prefer housing or the rights to housing'. I can almost hear Nik Aziz the ustaz, MB of Kelantan and spiritual leader of PAS snorting in agreement when he had also recently stumped Malaysians by telling them not to question the Fatwa Council acting under the authority of god. As a Singaporean, I do not profess my faith in unquestionable, divine-like powers who can wield, manipulate, monopolize 'pragmatism' and tolerate human sacrifices. I should be empowered to speak to them. I think public education and awareness on human rights has been postphoned for way too long in Singapore.
I am deeply saddened by the suicide of 15 year old teenager Tan Wen Yi (see http://mrwangsaysso.blogspot.com/). Wen Yi jumped off his 11-storey apartment in-front of his parents just to make a point – ‘as a final feat of rebellion’ against his parents and the school. Wen Yi epitomizes what we as Citizens are facing: pressures exerted upon us and our children to ‘perform’ and ‘excel’ regardless of whether we want it, like it or not. And we find ourselves accomodating to these pressures – exerted by our social institutions like the education, economic and family systems under the rubric of ‘pragmatism’ ritualized and consecrated by the powers-that-be. We are not sacrificial offerings at the altar of ‘meritocracy’ which mainly serves to renew and reinforce its own ranks of the ‘elite’. We need to be able to ’speak to’, ’speak with’ rather than ’speak up’, and that simply is what ‘human rights’ mean to me. If Wen Yi had been allowed to be heard – by his family and school then I believe his untimely death could have been prevented.
We as Citizens, therefore cannot be silenced by power such as the kind – sophisticated & clinical wielded by Thio Li-ann (at a recent ARI round-table on ‘human rights’) who had stumped me with ‘would you prefer housing or the rights to housing’. I can almost hear Nik Aziz the ustaz, MB of Kelantan and spiritual leader of PAS snorting in agreement when he had also recently stumped Malaysians by telling them not to question the Fatwa Council acting under the authority of god.
As a Singaporean, I do not profess my faith in unquestionable, divine-like powers who can wield, manipulate, monopolize ‘pragmatism’ and tolerate human sacrifices. I should be empowered to speak to them.

]]> By: Claire http://theonlinecitizen.com/2008/11/celebrating-60-years-of-human-rights/comment-page-1/#comment-36131 Claire Wed, 26 Nov 2008 18:39:34 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=3266#comment-36131 What is a human right? In America, the so called cahampion of rights, you have the right to live, but also the right to live in fear since everyone has the right to bear arms (weapons). What is a human right? In America, the so called cahampion of rights, you have the right to live, but also the right to live in fear since everyone has the right to bear arms (weapons).

]]> By: pugdragon http://theonlinecitizen.com/2008/11/celebrating-60-years-of-human-rights/comment-page-1/#comment-35604 pugdragon Mon, 24 Nov 2008 15:12:29 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=3266#comment-35604 I can't bring myself to celebrate 60 years of human rights. I haven't even experienced human rights 1st hand before in my life as a Singapore citizen. Hopefully, that will change. My citizenship, that is. Unless things take a turn for the better & Singapore takes on a human-oriented leadership style that gives power & humane rights to the people. I think it would be depressing for me if I were to go to this party. Sadly, it's like celebrating something that we don't have here. It'd make me really jealous of countries that are truely celebrating the event. I can’t bring myself to celebrate 60 years of human rights. I haven’t even experienced human rights 1st hand before in my life as a Singapore citizen. Hopefully, that will change. My citizenship, that is. Unless things take a turn for the better & Singapore takes on a human-oriented leadership style that gives power & humane rights to the people.

I think it would be depressing for me if I were to go to this party. Sadly, it’s like celebrating something that we don’t have here. It’d make me really jealous of countries that are truely celebrating the event.

]]> By: Khai http://theonlinecitizen.com/2008/11/celebrating-60-years-of-human-rights/comment-page-1/#comment-35302 Khai Sun, 23 Nov 2008 15:11:29 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=3266#comment-35302 Without civil or political rights,we are not a true believer of human right.We are either free or not free.There is no such thing as half-free or semi-free.. Without civil or political rights,we are not a true believer of human right.We are either free or not free.There is no such thing as half-free or semi-free..

]]> By: what to do bochap people http://theonlinecitizen.com/2008/11/celebrating-60-years-of-human-rights/comment-page-1/#comment-34681 what to do bochap people Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:22:07 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=3266#comment-34681 To ensure more people attend, the organizers need to assure people that it is a legal activity which I believe it is. There is potentially many to attend : 1. Retirees, 2. Retrenched 3. students 4. housewives 5. disenfranchised To ensure more people attend, the organizers need to assure people that it is a legal activity which I believe it is.

There is potentially many to attend :
1. Retirees,
2. Retrenched
3. students
4. housewives
5. disenfranchised

]]> By: smallvice585 http://theonlinecitizen.com/2008/11/celebrating-60-years-of-human-rights/comment-page-1/#comment-34592 smallvice585 Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:02:38 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=3266#comment-34592 <i>Why is there not an event to highlght infos on civil and political rights? Sad that TOC is not keen on that issue</i> - Khai (#3) Even TOC must tread the thin line between critical of government and anti-government. TOC is making great strides in the right direction though nevertheless. Why is there not an event to highlght infos on civil and political rights? Sad that TOC is not keen on that issue – Khai (#3)

Even TOC must tread the thin line between critical of government and anti-government. TOC is making great strides in the right direction though nevertheless.

]]> By: Khai http://theonlinecitizen.com/2008/11/celebrating-60-years-of-human-rights/comment-page-1/#comment-34591 Khai Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:59:00 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=3266#comment-34591 Why is there not an event to highlght infos on civil and political rights? Sad that TOC is not keen on that issue Why is there not an event to highlght infos on civil and political rights?
Sad that TOC is not keen on that issue

]]> By: Ong Teck Cheor http://theonlinecitizen.com/2008/11/celebrating-60-years-of-human-rights/comment-page-1/#comment-34477 Ong Teck Cheor Thu, 20 Nov 2008 06:05:03 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=3266#comment-34477 Something the late JBJ would be proud of. Something the late JBJ would be proud of.

]]> By: Gilbert Goh Keow Wah http://theonlinecitizen.com/2008/11/celebrating-60-years-of-human-rights/comment-page-1/#comment-34426 Gilbert Goh Keow Wah Thu, 20 Nov 2008 02:29:14 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=3266#comment-34426 Good work keep it up! Good work keep it up!

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