I just had to mention that, ‘fascism that works’, is indeed a very interesting article – and i enjoyed its sometimes ironical approach toward the matter.

It ties up the main factors comprising the various manifestations of the phenomenon of fascism as it had occurred in quite a few locales. It certainly summarises and brings together what one might have to go through quite a few texts for. I certainly wouldn’t say that it is ‘less insightful’ than my series on the matter. Rather, complementary might be the word as our approaches of focus is different. No one individual or text can have the final say on any matter as ‘fascism’, like any of its viral counterparts, is indeed adept at adapting to its progressive host.

ed
a2ed.com

Yes, i suppose so, if ‘foreign’ refers to the ‘Chinese’.

It is, significantly, contributed to by top-down oppression leading to the formation of a culture of ‘coping’. ‘Horizontal activism’, you could call it, as opposed to a politically vibrant ‘vertical’ one. When one is relieved from political responsibility as is largely the case amongst the chinese for more than 2 millennia, as opposed to the malays or indians, kia-etc-isms becomes the means via which the consequences of popular political failure is addressed.

Your perspective on definitions being dispensable is quite an impractical one. Anyway, ‘definitions’ aren’t really the appropriate term here. Rather, the point is to explore the various means by which the ‘reality’ of the present is delivered. The issue is far more complex of course – given the sociological and psychological consequences of the oversights of the past, and how this paves the way for the emergence of greater evils thereafter. If the people in America or the west thought along your lines, the blacks will still be picking cotton, china will still be carved up by various western powers, and women will still be minding the hearth as everyone would be making the ‘practical’ best of the present and leaving along the foundations for their condition. Think about that.

That is the conventional scientific approach toward things – unless you’re saying science is irrelevant in the ‘asian democratic’ scheme of things of course.

If that is not done, then one would immediately adopt the traditional chinese way of thinking up more innovative ways to bail out the water whilst leaving politics in the hands of politicians – and hence ignoring the gaping holes that perpetuate the need to continuously bail out the water. It never ceases to amaze me how chinese of all educational levels tend to use this ‘logic’ in discounting thought-requiring and discomforting critical introspection/retrospection. You might have the support of numbers when it comes to your viewpoint, but be assured that you won’t find it in the west where such opinions generally issue forth from juveniles and the ill-educated. I suppose you’re fixated on the ‘present’ given that the ‘majority’ are the least marginalised compared to the ‘others.

And by the way, its interesting to see how you continuously gloss over the apathy of the chinese – be it in xinjiang, tibet, china and singapore…though not as applicable in the case of HK or Taiwan. Given that the chinese are generally unconcerned about anyone or anything unless it directly and blatantly affects their interests, and given how most are not concerned about how the country has been taken from everyone and basically turned into a satellite of china, it is logical to go on to assume that when they pick up arms to ‘defend the nation’, it will, in their minds, be in defence of a chinese state. One follows from the other, and any defence of the non-chinese would be incidental.

ed
a2ed.cm

“….One thing I have observed is that most people, especially most Chinese are only concerned on matters/issues that affect them….”

I presume this is meant to Singapore. Unfortunately, I agree with this observation but I do believe this mentality was imported over the years; the real kiasi/kiasu behavior was really from foreigners & it didn’t take long for the locals to fight fire with fire. It also doesn’t help that our top leaders are setting an example by enriching themselves with obscene pay levels even in the worst recession.

However my experiences showed this need not be the case. During my NS stink, my unit had only 1 Indian and 1 Eurasian. Our vocation meant that it is statistically determinate that our life expectancy would be low in a shooting war. Yet these are the “care only for themselves” Chineses that will carry out their duty to protect any CIMO of Singapore (including those whose only concern is for a definition of fascism). Once SG males rejoin the workforce after their NS stink, I guess any patriotism just fades away when we see incidences of PRs like that Zhang Yuan Yuan flashing her IC while participating in China’s Oct 1 parade. So, no, people like me don’t need a perfect definition of fascism to understand what is going on.

“….If you could not see this point, I wonder how much you have understood from A2ED’s article. ….”

Hi Tracy,
You have taken my comments wrongly. See my earlier post @#23 — lessons of the past/similarities do concern me, concise definitions don’t.

Maybe you could mention something PRACTICAL on how you understand the A2ED’s(?) article as applicable to Singapore’s current situation. I did provide some possibilities for future discussion in #32 – would you care to expand on those?

There are four official languages : English, Malay, Mandarin and Tamil. Malay is the national language of the country. However, the government has been
promoting the use of Mandarin when English is the link between the
different ethnic groups.

In the Cost of Living Survey – Worldwide Ranking 2009, singapore has moved up three places to reach 10th. The common folk is complaining the rising costs of living, price hikes for basic necessities and GST, overpriced public housing, high inflation, depressed wages, lack of a social safety net, a job market that discriminates in favour of cheaper younger foreigners.

I truly fail to see how ‘Ours is a fascism that bestows us the good life. Ours is a fascism that works.’

Thanks for the recommendation. Truly a thought-provoking article. I will also recommend his site to others.

It is only right to trace back the problem, then we will know how to tackle it. If a problem is not being addressed, the probable outcome could just be to make the best of the consequences and live with the problem. That could very well be the issue of singapore today.

32) theforgottengeneration

I do not agree with you that ‘anyone cares about a clear definition of fascism or whatever.’ Of course we care or at least I do. If we do not know the meaning then how are we going to find out the root causes and solve the problems.

One thing I have observed is that most people, especially most Chinese are only concerned on matters/issues that affect them. I have yet to see any Chinese truly fighting for the rights of the minority in singapore. And,I am also guilty of that.

Your definition of ‘practical’ is based on ignoring the oversights of the ongoing past and just focusing on being ‘practical’ about dealing with its consequences. You must have heard that those who don’t learn from the mistakes of the past are doomed to repeat them. So if people here are not concerned about the definition and the means by which fascism is perpetuated, then toc might as well shut down because they are actually whining about its consequences.

If you could not see this point, I wonder how much you have understood from A2ED’s article.

You’re right, you don’t have anything of substance to contribute, but how great it is that you still are FREE to come an post here. Just like I am.

I do not know who this royal “we” is you refer to, but hey…I don’t and won;t tell you what language to use because your own brain (if you have one) is your business.

Thank you for making me feel welcome ;-) Come visit my blog sometime.

Matilah_Singapura!

I found the link provided as lots of words but little substance. Don’t get me wrong though. In a literal sense it is certainly thought-provoking but the TOC article deals more on the practical aspects that Singaporeans are currently facing; I doubt anyone here cares about a clear definition of fascism or whatever.

The author of that link indicated his/her last experience of Singapore was in the 1980s — much have changed since then, very much. His/her notion of “we majority what” and “we minority what” is just a poopr imitation to sound Singaporean. Unfortunately, the ground situation is much more than
words in a clever (and beating-round-the-bush) piece of literacy. If you are similarly aware of what the common folk is facing now, you would certainly be enlightened.

Why I found so. The 2006 elections saw 44% of eligible voters unable to vote due to the GRC system. The GRC system is supposed to ensure “minority” representation in Parliament. But minorities are only about 22% in Singapore. Marginalizing 44% of the population for the sake of 22% certainly doesn’t sound like fascism in the sense that the author made it to be. Note that there are fair amounts of “minorities” in that 44% excluded group. Just ask to them if they feel good about the GRC system or really sore that they didn’t get to vote as citizens (aka your fascists?).

A sore point here is that large influx of foreigers are Chinese, yet the “majority” true-Singaporeans, of whatever races that had served NS is “sore” about these “minority” free-loafers. Perhaps you can give an analysis of such behavior, minus the narrative of course. Presumably of course also, you’ve gone thru NS + 13 years reservist cycle to know what everyone is talking about. So, are reservists/NSF right-wings, left-wings or….. center-backs?

Maybe the author, presumably British, should write on colony masters over their colonial servants. I understand the Brits have much experience in that field.

Here’s a link to an article ‘Is Tolerance Anathema to Fascists – the case of singapore’ (dated 17th Oct) that i strongly recommend to all

http://www.according2ed.com/2009/10/is-tolerance-anathema-to-fascists-case.html

Very thought-provoking and analytical article.

Hope you feel enlightened as much as i do.

I agree to what (25) said of the 7 points of “achievement” of PAP, That is PAY and PAY as TAX and Tax.

But, we need not to use a nick name such as “26) Matilah_Singapura”

For Singapore belongs to Singaporean, and not PAP, so we shall not curse our motherland

How stupid of me. It reminded me of the Sinkapoor story.

if you are truly curious my best suggestion will be not just to take my words for it. Go to NLB and request for the microfish or if you are determined enough ask for a view of those exhibits even if it might not be on display now.

I am afraid that the more I try to clarify the more confuse and curious you will be. But are you curious enough ?

“The People Get The Government They Deserve”.

If you pay more attention to the various political economies of the world, FASCISM is very popular that its even adopted a “softer” term — CENTRIST politics. Neither here nor there — private property, but state controlled definition of what the word “private” actually means.

The govt is there to “level the playing field” and also becomes a big player in business, finance, and now even gambling.

And the people LIKE this — begrudgingly for some –but believe (as in supernatural belief – aka “faith”) that this system of all-powerful govt who allows some free market is the best compromise and in the short to medium run, it seems to work — at the HUGE PRICE of surrendering individual freedoms and civil liberties in exchange for the state dictating what your freedoms and liberties are.

Grin and bear it. Fascism is here to stay.

PAP UBER ALLES!

HEIL HARRY!

singaporeans:

1) pay high income tax

2) pay high property tax

3)pay high gst

4)pay high town counsil

5)pay high SP bills

6)pay high transportation fare

7)pay high medical fee

singaporeans are force to accept lower paid jobs

so this is what basically singaporeans are paying for the rest of their life and with low income how do you expect singaporeans to have even a small amount of savings for the future to retire old age?

or is there a retire for us singaporeans? we don’t see that yet.
the pap and the goverment have made a way that singaporeans are to earn within the limit as not to allow us to have savings and our saving is in the hand of the goverment and it is up to them if they wish to give it to us or to pocket in the own banks.

with low income and no savings..singaporeans are merely a slave working harder and harder each day to survive and what we earn are basically not ours, we only see the digits of our pay but do we really own it? NO!!

this is to contain singaporeans in this country as not to allowed any of us lower income earn to flee the country. the goverment knows well what it would be is one singaporeans were to give enough money and savings.., resulting them not wanting to live in singapore and flee away. why is this so? ask the goverment!!

so this is why poor singaporeans have no choice but to accept the indirectly of human slavery and torture and to let us live in pain despite knowing that we are suffering they simply doesn’t care as all this long in their mind is….WHICH SINGAPOREANS DARE TO VOICE UP?? the answer is NONE!!

vote after vote singaporeans blindly give in and hoping the goverment will pity and the old folks and the child to help them come up in live and feel the life they dreaming to live in. but the goverment simply do not have this time for us singaporeans

all their concern is:
you work you pay us
you sick you pay us
you want a house a place of shelter you pay us
you want help? sorry goverment has no money for us singaporeans

this is what will happen if singaporeans keep voting for them and they think we fear them
singaporeans think opposition will make our life more worst.
so are our life now any good? NO!!

as lky says..look at singapore now..yes singapore is beautiful!! with casino,F1 track, hotels,lots and lots of tourist attractions,lots and lots of entertainment for tourist

and what is singaporeans citizen getting out of all this? nothing. we have to keep sweating out daily to support and give the goverment the money they need to make more of this to attract tourist, foreigner working here and to give them support and welcome them with an open heart and help them even to land here with a high paying jobs and living in luxuries properties.

we singaporeans are carrying their loads.

ukrain in the ns?well…why not put the whole china national ,indian ,vietnamese ,japanese, korean and more.. into our army? must as well call in osama bin laden to join our army too as things would be easy for singapore to be destroy in any country finger tips. is this what we call defending our country?
STUPID LEE KUAN YEW!! you are exposing our country to disaster and open our country and selling piace by piece to foreign landing here. is this the promise you made for us singaporeans to vote you for the past 50years??!!

WE WILL VOTE YOU OUT THIS TIME AND WOULD NOT CONSIDER OVER YOUR GOODIES BAGS!!

What “works” for one person may not “work” for another.

Like to add, without any qualifications, Hitler did built up Germany in the 1930s into a powerhouse. Unfortunately, what he built, he saw it fit that he himself had the right to destroy — Stalingrad, Tunisia, etc.. The common folk were just digits to him. Similarly, was there any consensus amongst Singporeans to have, say 36%, foreigners here? What about Singapore having the highest paid leader in the world — did we have a say? Policies were just rammed down our throats, like “father knows best”.

Besides the Nazis, valuable lessons were also learnt from their wartime Japanese Allies — Nanking massacre and comfort women never existed if one stone-walled it long enough. Like, was the 2-is-enough policy a long-term disaster to a small country with no natural resources except its people? No? Blank face? Let’s move on…