Imagine a battle royale cat fight in tiny Singapore ... no one could have imagined it.
Any talk of cat fights here had always been limited to Caldecott Hill, tai-tai's functions and behind the catwalks.
Now no less than AWARE seems headed for one. My only suggestion to malefolk affiliated to AWARE is to keep a low profile.
Was it a coup d'etat? By no means, though the term had been bandied around freely.
But a coup is an *unconstitutional* means of takeover, and the election was not.
When it turned out the chairwoman who resigned was herself only a year-old member of AWARE, it speaks a lot about the membership of AWARE.
I've been in a Church where comm members remained the same for years, and that's not a healthy thing.
Most of the time though, it's because there's shortage of fresh blood willing to step up, like the AAS (Automobile Assoc of Singapore),
In AWARE's case, what's the whole point of the EOGM if it's gonna be a contest to see which side can recruit the most members in time for the EOGM? What do these new members really know about AWARE except being roped in by their friends to take sides?
And I thought the REDS and YELLOWS in Thailand were messy.
Still, it's about the only thing that might galvanise otherwise laidback complacent Singaporeans into activism.
Surely you jest. :-)
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of which do let me know your schedule in the coming weeks. Maybe we can do lunch or something.
Pencil in something for next Tuesday or Thursday ...
ReplyDeleteSounds good... ^_^
ReplyDeletecatfight over.
ReplyDeleteSince I first blogged about it, the whole thing escalated to a level of citizen activism never seen before in Singapore's history in recent decades.
My take on sexual preference is no secret, but I thought villifying, no, demonising, the opponents is way out of line.
Unless proven, on public forums and on public issues, one should give those you don't agree with the benefit of the doubt that they are doing with good intentions, especially when they have past track records to show for it.
Still, it was an eye-opener for me to see capable and highly educated and successful professionals to make fatal rookie mistakes in public forums.
Then again, I am also one who believes in orderly debates, not mob rule or demagougery, so if faced with such, my reaction would not be to counter with a bigger mob on my side to drown out the voices of the opponents.
I'd probably opt calling for law reinforcements to restore order, or if option not available, wash my hands off rather than engage in shouting match because I don't believe in whoever shouted the loudest wins.
I took a moment to wonder if I made a career mistake in not opting for law - doesn't seem to take much to become a dean in law school, but I suppose the age was a factor, plus probably she hadn't had anyone in her circle seriously disagreeing with her for decades - she had absolutely no idea how to talk to the crowd.
I can't predict how things will develop further wrt AWARE, but I sure wish there will be such citizen activism during the next GE.
There will be if the issues are those that are strike at core beliefs or fundamental ways of life of Singaporeans.
ReplyDeleteI'm not so optimistic.
ReplyDeleteI am thinking the high level of AWARE related activism was possible not simply because of core beliefs or fundamental ways of life, but because it did not directly challenge the government or the political party in power.
In a way, it is an outlet for Singaporeans. Between whether such outlet allows Singaporeans to vent steam or to embark on more active participation in other areas, I'd guess it is the former.