I have refrained myself from commenting on the AWARE saga up till now, after the dusk has settled and new victory won by one of the group.
My congratulations to Ms Dana Lam whom I have the opportunity to know when she was preparing the book on last GE 2006 entitled "The Days of Being Wild". But I am more relieved that the victory is won for Singaporeans at large, not just women, but all true blue Singaporeans in which the very Core Value of our Nation as a Multi-religion and a Secular Nation in public sphere is being defended with much passion and spirit by all those who have attended the AWARE EOGM.
This episode is NOT about how a group of people with a hidden agenda carried out a coup in a NGO, in such a scheming and ambushing manner. Neither is it about Homosexuality and least, victory for the Pink Movement in Singapore. This episode is about how we, as a people of a Nation, view about the precious value of our Nation's foundation as a secular society with multi-religious people living in harmony.
Singaporeans are generally apathetic when it comes to NGO or political activism. Most of us are generally contended with life in Singapore although we always complain about many of the problems and inadequacies of government policies. But the AWARE saga must have raised some eyebrows that when there is a need or a calling for Singaporeans to stand up and be counted to defend what we believe as Core Values as a Nation, many people will become vocal and passionate about it.
It is ashame that the ruling party PAP has not taken this opportunity to make its stand clearly on this episode when it first surfaced. They have lost all secular moral courage to make a clear stand to defend our deep rooted consensus Core Value of a Secular Nation in a society of multi-religion.
If it can happen to a NGO in the public sphere that anybody from any religious segment could just scheme and carry out a coup to take over control of that organization just because such secular organization has different values as their religious one, wouldn't it be a possibility that it could happen to any ruling party that make laws that are against any religious group's belief too? A coup of the ruling party just to assert their religious values and teaching?
Many religion are against abortion. So is it acceptable for these religious groups of fundamental beliefs to plan a coup to wrestle control over the ruling party just to change the law to ban abortion?
This is something for us to think about as a Nation. Someone commented that such acts are just like religious terrorists. At first thought, I cautioned him about using such strong words but after much consideration, in essence, the intend to take over control of an organization or even a country just to impose their religious values unto others, is what religious terrorists are aiming to do! The only difference lies in the methodology, one is by coup of democratic means while the other by force in terms of armed struggle!
It is understandable that why PAP refused to come out straight to reiterate our Secular values for fear of losing support from the Christian community. However, as the ruling party, it should be thinking more about what is RIGHT for the Nation instead of putting party's interests as top priority in consideration. Of course, PAP is not stupid at all and they understand the implicit as well as explicit impact of this AWARE saga. This is why the media is being tasked to become a proxy battle front for them, against the Christian group.
Passion is what we need in our citizens to defend what is dearest to us as a Nation. The initial apathy among AWARE old members has taught all of us a painful lesson about Democracy - Democracy will fail miserably when it is left alone with apathy. Singaporeans should not be apathetic towards the Nation's development else we might just end up losers one day without even knowing why!
Active citizenry should be encouraged and we must not let our passion dies as a people for our Nation. For that to happen, we must first ensure the democratic system must be enhanced or developed.
I read from the papers that this year's National Day's theme would be our National pledge. And I would urge everyone of us to rethink about our current situation as compared to what we have embedded in our National Pledge.
While the AWARE members have basically raised up to defend our Core Values as a Secular Nation, I think there are more to be done for Singaporeans at large to re-enhanced our National Core Values embedded in our National Pledge.
Goh Meng Seng
Singapore's Pledge
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 & progress for our nation
My congratulations to Ms Dana Lam whom I have the opportunity to know when she was preparing the book on last GE 2006 entitled "The Days of Being Wild". But I am more relieved that the victory is won for Singaporeans at large, not just women, but all true blue Singaporeans in which the very Core Value of our Nation as a Multi-religion and a Secular Nation in public sphere is being defended with much passion and spirit by all those who have attended the AWARE EOGM.
This episode is NOT about how a group of people with a hidden agenda carried out a coup in a NGO, in such a scheming and ambushing manner. Neither is it about Homosexuality and least, victory for the Pink Movement in Singapore. This episode is about how we, as a people of a Nation, view about the precious value of our Nation's foundation as a secular society with multi-religious people living in harmony.
Singaporeans are generally apathetic when it comes to NGO or political activism. Most of us are generally contended with life in Singapore although we always complain about many of the problems and inadequacies of government policies. But the AWARE saga must have raised some eyebrows that when there is a need or a calling for Singaporeans to stand up and be counted to defend what we believe as Core Values as a Nation, many people will become vocal and passionate about it.
It is ashame that the ruling party PAP has not taken this opportunity to make its stand clearly on this episode when it first surfaced. They have lost all secular moral courage to make a clear stand to defend our deep rooted consensus Core Value of a Secular Nation in a society of multi-religion.
If it can happen to a NGO in the public sphere that anybody from any religious segment could just scheme and carry out a coup to take over control of that organization just because such secular organization has different values as their religious one, wouldn't it be a possibility that it could happen to any ruling party that make laws that are against any religious group's belief too? A coup of the ruling party just to assert their religious values and teaching?
Many religion are against abortion. So is it acceptable for these religious groups of fundamental beliefs to plan a coup to wrestle control over the ruling party just to change the law to ban abortion?
This is something for us to think about as a Nation. Someone commented that such acts are just like religious terrorists. At first thought, I cautioned him about using such strong words but after much consideration, in essence, the intend to take over control of an organization or even a country just to impose their religious values unto others, is what religious terrorists are aiming to do! The only difference lies in the methodology, one is by coup of democratic means while the other by force in terms of armed struggle!
It is understandable that why PAP refused to come out straight to reiterate our Secular values for fear of losing support from the Christian community. However, as the ruling party, it should be thinking more about what is RIGHT for the Nation instead of putting party's interests as top priority in consideration. Of course, PAP is not stupid at all and they understand the implicit as well as explicit impact of this AWARE saga. This is why the media is being tasked to become a proxy battle front for them, against the Christian group.
Passion is what we need in our citizens to defend what is dearest to us as a Nation. The initial apathy among AWARE old members has taught all of us a painful lesson about Democracy - Democracy will fail miserably when it is left alone with apathy. Singaporeans should not be apathetic towards the Nation's development else we might just end up losers one day without even knowing why!
Active citizenry should be encouraged and we must not let our passion dies as a people for our Nation. For that to happen, we must first ensure the democratic system must be enhanced or developed.
I read from the papers that this year's National Day's theme would be our National pledge. And I would urge everyone of us to rethink about our current situation as compared to what we have embedded in our National Pledge.
While the AWARE members have basically raised up to defend our Core Values as a Secular Nation, I think there are more to be done for Singaporeans at large to re-enhanced our National Core Values embedded in our National Pledge.
Goh Meng Seng
Singapore's Pledge
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 & progress for our nation
