I have no right to berate you for believing in whatever it is you believe in. That means you can't do that to me either.
We, the citizens of Singapore,
Pledge ourselves as one united people,
Regardless of race, language or religion,
To build a democratic society,
Based on justice and equality,
So as to achieve happiness, prosperity,
And progress for our nation.
'Tis real interesting, y'know... take another look at this pledge of ours... look at it...
Notice the words used... "race, language or religion" instead of "race, language or beliefs"... and I believe quite a few people notice by now that the word "freedom" is missing from the red highlights (from the entire pledge, if you see it that way).
Not meaning any disrespect to the guy who wrote this (the dear man recently passed away), but somehow there are a few loopholes here that have been taken advantage of.
"Freedom"-- This one I won't really bother about too much. I've mentioned before, our strict regime-despite our being a democratic society-is a main pillar for the basic survival of our tiny little island country. In fact, I'd say this "enslavement" has done us much good. Look around. Almost everything is air-conditioned. Almost everyone can afford to be extra picky about food and shampoos and detergents and clothes and hairstyles. Almost all of us (I'm technically still one till next year) teenagers are pampered and oh-so-cocky (okay, I guess this doesn't really count as "good". But you know what I mean... I hope).
However, it has occured to me just now that while most of us now live in harmony with everyone of different races, languages, cultures and religions, not much support has been given to condoning the different beliefs.
For example: Social Studies, I believe everyone agrees, is brainwash. So I shan't waste time on this and assume you understand why I bring this up as my proof, and say what I say.
The matter that brought this whole internal-debate (okay, well... so maybe it wasn't quite a "debate") to mind was the repetative sight of a newspaper (due to scary defamation laws, I will not state the the name of the paper... but I'm sure you'll know it if you see it) with a green front page proclaiming the bust of a drug ring exclusive to gays.
Like, okay... you hotshots busted a drug-syndicate of some sort... sure, that's big news... but... why was there this emphasis on the fact that the drug-ring was "by gays for gays"? With wording like that, excuuuuuse me if you accuse me of reading too much into it... if you people treated that as nothing more than an interesting fact, it wouldn't be in big, bold letters on the front page, it would only be in the article... the thing is, it IS in big, bold letters on the front page. You even made a point of mentioning (ON THE FRONT PAGE) that some police were masquerading as gays, instead of "buyers" or "customers".
Come ON. Are you trying to suggest that ecstacy is a gay-activity drug? Just like SOME people have tried putting up the STUUUUUUUUUU-PID idea that HIV was a gay disease? It's total bull.
This kind of thing is just like what some other people do that sometimes make me feel embarassed to call myself a "christian", ie, walking up to someone else of different religious background/freethinker and saying something to the point of, "THOU ART UNCLEAN AND BLASPHAMOUS!!! THOU WILT NOT SEE SALVATION IF THOU DOEST NOT REPENT THY THINKING!!!" or even proclaim something like, "THOU HAST BEEN TAINTED BY HARRY POTTER!! THE DA VINCI CODE IS THE WORD OF THE DEVIL!! POKEMON ARE THE SPAWNS OF SATAN!!"
Apparently, these people don't recognise how ridiculous this thing is. And hence, extremists are born.
I'll admit that, given what I understand of the lessons of my religion, I do not approve of homosexuality. That said, I also do not believe in the existance of Shiva, Buddha nor Zeus (aka Jupiter in Roman context), and yet I know for sure that I have no right to berate others for believing in whatever it is they believe in, just as others have no right to attack me for believing in what I believe.
So why, then, can't we just leave well alone, and just let homosexuals go their way? If they see nothing wrong in what they do, and with the knowledge that all parties involved are not involved against their will, then that's their opinion. Society shouldn't punish them for their opinion.
Oh my... whose fault was that? I can't recall (due to very scary sedition laws)...
Our pledge had been written to unify us and encourage all of us to hold on to our beliefs and our ways, as well as to respect others for holding on to their different beliefs and ways. People, please read it, understand it, and truly adhere to its spirit of welcome to all.
And for bloody goodness' sake, stop exploiting its bloody loopholes.
Pledge ourselves as one united people,
Regardless of race, language or religion,
To build a democratic society,
Based on justice and equality,
So as to achieve happiness, prosperity,
And progress for our nation.
'Tis real interesting, y'know... take another look at this pledge of ours... look at it...
Notice the words used... "race, language or religion" instead of "race, language or beliefs"... and I believe quite a few people notice by now that the word "freedom" is missing from the red highlights (from the entire pledge, if you see it that way).
Not meaning any disrespect to the guy who wrote this (the dear man recently passed away), but somehow there are a few loopholes here that have been taken advantage of.
"Freedom"-- This one I won't really bother about too much. I've mentioned before, our strict regime-despite our being a democratic society-is a main pillar for the basic survival of our tiny little island country. In fact, I'd say this "enslavement" has done us much good. Look around. Almost everything is air-conditioned. Almost everyone can afford to be extra picky about food and shampoos and detergents and clothes and hairstyles. Almost all of us (I'm technically still one till next year) teenagers are pampered and oh-so-cocky (okay, I guess this doesn't really count as "good". But you know what I mean... I hope).
However, it has occured to me just now that while most of us now live in harmony with everyone of different races, languages, cultures and religions, not much support has been given to condoning the different beliefs.
For example: Social Studies, I believe everyone agrees, is brainwash. So I shan't waste time on this and assume you understand why I bring this up as my proof, and say what I say.
The matter that brought this whole internal-debate (okay, well... so maybe it wasn't quite a "debate") to mind was the repetative sight of a newspaper (due to scary defamation laws, I will not state the the name of the paper... but I'm sure you'll know it if you see it) with a green front page proclaiming the bust of a drug ring exclusive to gays.
Like, okay... you hotshots busted a drug-syndicate of some sort... sure, that's big news... but... why was there this emphasis on the fact that the drug-ring was "by gays for gays"? With wording like that, excuuuuuse me if you accuse me of reading too much into it... if you people treated that as nothing more than an interesting fact, it wouldn't be in big, bold letters on the front page, it would only be in the article... the thing is, it IS in big, bold letters on the front page. You even made a point of mentioning (ON THE FRONT PAGE) that some police were masquerading as gays, instead of "buyers" or "customers".
Come ON. Are you trying to suggest that ecstacy is a gay-activity drug? Just like SOME people have tried putting up the STUUUUUUUUUU-PID idea that HIV was a gay disease? It's total bull.
This kind of thing is just like what some other people do that sometimes make me feel embarassed to call myself a "christian", ie, walking up to someone else of different religious background/freethinker and saying something to the point of, "THOU ART UNCLEAN AND BLASPHAMOUS!!! THOU WILT NOT SEE SALVATION IF THOU DOEST NOT REPENT THY THINKING!!!" or even proclaim something like, "THOU HAST BEEN TAINTED BY HARRY POTTER!! THE DA VINCI CODE IS THE WORD OF THE DEVIL!! POKEMON ARE THE SPAWNS OF SATAN!!"
Apparently, these people don't recognise how ridiculous this thing is. And hence, extremists are born.
I'll admit that, given what I understand of the lessons of my religion, I do not approve of homosexuality. That said, I also do not believe in the existance of Shiva, Buddha nor Zeus (aka Jupiter in Roman context), and yet I know for sure that I have no right to berate others for believing in whatever it is they believe in, just as others have no right to attack me for believing in what I believe.
So why, then, can't we just leave well alone, and just let homosexuals go their way? If they see nothing wrong in what they do, and with the knowledge that all parties involved are not involved against their will, then that's their opinion. Society shouldn't punish them for their opinion.
Oh my... whose fault was that? I can't recall (due to very scary sedition laws)...
Our pledge had been written to unify us and encourage all of us to hold on to our beliefs and our ways, as well as to respect others for holding on to their different beliefs and ways. People, please read it, understand it, and truly adhere to its spirit of welcome to all.
And for bloody goodness' sake, stop exploiting its bloody loopholes.
posted by 2P | 12:44 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home