Freedom of Speech?
More and more people are being featured on newspapers bcos of their blog entries... the most recent one is of course that of Chen Jiahao (former comrade of GCS) vs. AStar.
Anybody knows what he talked about exactly? I have no idea. Juz wondering what great things he said made Philip Yeo so mad, requiring him to employ the usual defamation tactic.
Apparently despite all the commotion about making the youth speak up and stuff like that 卢老师's “不可以这样写” is still the only truth. Singapore can never become a place where policies can be directly and openly challenged and scholars grow to maturity.
Yes, the Singapore government keep on saying that it allowed the expression of different views during the casino debate. It has to because even its MPs and ministers hold different views, and undeniably it is a decision that affects Singapore deeply. The views expressed are highly expected and within the boundaries set. Demonstrating freedom of speech??
People in power can easily activate various administration and legal machines to curb any voices they do not like to hear. In many other places laws involving public security and defamation charges exist, some even stricter than Singapore's; it is just whether would the government leaders use them against people that oppose them.
People here like to use the term "lack of political sensitivity" and say things like "freedom of speech comes with responsibility". Like that might as well cut the crap and ask us to all shut up. Given the sensitivity of our poilitical figures which cannot even tolerate themselves being featured in satires, there is no point in saying anything. They are smart people who can come out with those "opposite views" that we can express within this "responsibility and sensitivity" boundary themselves. We don't have to say anything.
Especially we are scholars... we are constantly being watched. Yah GCS still waiting for your stories.
6 Comments:
To be honest, I think certain allegations or insinuations that Chen Jiahao made, constitute defamation.If you want, I can send an email to you, telling you what I do know. However, to clamp him down with the hammer of the law is both counterproductive and ungraceful. Defamation as a political tool aganist certain inane, combustible political figures is reasonable to me. For Hey!, this is politics afterall. But, to use it against a student, in the name of DEFENDING Astar and Singapore's reputation and integerity is well, beyond my puny little brain...
Yes please, I would like to know what you know...
An inane, combustible political figure can be a nuisance indeed. However being a nuisance does not mean that he should be charged.
There's still the censorship laws... Even newspapers like International Herald Tribune had its circulation restricted once because of certain negative comments it made about Singapore.
This is just simply our culture. Most Singaporeans know where the line is drawn hence they prevent themselves from stepping across. My question is, why bother asking the people to speak up and make a fuss out of Singaporeans' political unawareness when the line shows no sign of retracting?
The world needs idealists to progress. Pragmatism should incorporate some idealism to achieve success.
haha, we can talk more about this on the phone then. I have not heard your sweet voice for quite some time. I have a bloody midtem this thursday. So i can arrange a phone conversation with you anytime after this thursday. Send me an email about the time and the phone number to call.
Hey which one is your email? Did u receive my msg? Mine will never change...
yeah, i tried calling you just now it didnt work, i will call you on sunday morning your time at 11
Hey sorry don't call me at 11 on sunday... my tuition student changed his timing last minute and wanted me to go at 10am. I would be free the whole day after 1pm. Call my hp if you are calling after 9pm... Or otherwise I would be fine anytime after 9pm weekdays on my hp.
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