Sunday, August 19, 2012

Democratically Speaking, The Truth Hurts



He was (still is) put in a bad light or ignored by the local press and TV. After learning of him being sacked by NUS in 1993, I thought Chee Soon Juan was an idiot. Well, I live and I learn.

活到老学到老
Pronunciation:
Huo Dao Lao, Xue Dao Lao 
Translation:
Living to Old Age and Learning to Old Age 

For many years my impression, through the main stream media, of Mr Chee Soon Juan was that he's a nut case. It was in 2006 when I was invited to a NUS political forum by a graduate friend that I met Chee Soon Juan, Denise Phua, Perry Tong and Catherine Lim amongst others. I saw CSJ in person and come to realised the poison that's been fed to my brain by the msm for so many years. It was then that I realised the reasons why a man with a beautiful wife and 3 young kids would spend time in and out of jail taking on the mightiest of the mighty in Singapore to do what most Singaporeans consider stupid and hopeless. It was then that I realised that he is not the demon that the msm portray him to be.

In fact, he is brilliant in sharing with us his thoughts in his latest book, "Democratically Speaking" which I'm reading now. Far from being "near psychopath" his writing is so lucid that the truth hurts!

On page 34 of "Democratically Speaking", Chee Soon Juan wrote: "Martin Luther King Jr once said, "True peace is not merely the absence of tension, it is the presence of justice." And justice can only exists when people are free.

With the latest embarrassment in parliament [Link] and what's written below of Lee Kuan Yew,  what kind of justice do we have in Singapore?

On page 35 and 36 he wrote: The  PAP plays on Singaporeans' fear of being surrounded by Muslim countries and that we need a big defence budget to prevent any hostile takeover by our neighbours. Lee Kuan Yew's constant baiting of the Muslim community seems to be aimed at maintaining this psyche. He inexplicably questioned whether the Malay-Muslim community would help other Singaporeans, say, during a famine: "Will your Malay neighbour give you the last few gains of rice or will she share it with her family or fellow Muslim? He also told that Singapore could "integrate all religions and races except Islam". When Indonesia and Malaysia react to his racially offensive remarks, it stokes the sense of vulnerability and reinforces the siege mentality of Singaporeans, thus rallying support for the government. . Is positioning ourselves in constant tension with our neighbours to the north and south healthy for the future of our nation? Again, how can we debate this issue and vote for a more enlightened foreign policy? We can't. Not without democracy.


If there were equal justice in Singapore would not Lee Kuan Yew be charged under the Sedition Act [Link] for causing racial and religious disharmony by such anti Malay-Muslim statement?
  • Was Lee Kuan Yew raising discontent or disaffection amongst the citizens of Singapore or the residents in Singapore? 
  • Was he promoting feelings of ill-will and hostility between different races or classes of the population of Singapore?
As the Police and AG Chambers did take any action, may we infer that justice and equality is nothing more than "Different strokes for different folks" in Singapore?

On this day, 1 Syawal 1433, 19 August 2012, I wish all my friends and readers Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Fitri. I also like my Malay-Muslim friends to know that Lee Kuan Yew speaks for himself when he said:"Will your Malay neighbour give you the last few gains of rice or will she share it with her family or fellow Muslim? He also told that Singapore could "integrate all religions and races except Islam". I would like to ask Lee Kuan Yew, if he has the last few grains of rice, would he share it with the Malay? Or even Indian or Chinese who are not members of his family?

Unlike Lee Kuan Yew, most peace loving Singaporeans of all races of different spiritual background would not play with such offensive incendiary rhetoric. It can only divide and bring a country down!

As I have recommended everyone to view the speech by Sylvia Lim [Link] to learn the meaning of truth and courage, I would urge all to read "Democratically Speaking" (available at Kinokuniya or call 645 645 32) by Chee Soon Juan. Do not be surprised if you find much more than 'Hard Truths' in this book!

No, I'm neither a SDP member (or any political party) nor do I get a commission in recommending this book. It's just that hard truths from racist or msm may just be nothing more than propaganda and wayang. It is through alternative media and literature that we get to know the truths that powerful elites do not want us to know. It's time to get our heads out of the sand. We are not ostriches!

Meanwhile, happy holidays and Selamat Hari Raya!



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