- Joined
- Oct 30, 2014
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This is the genocide memorial of the 1911 killing of 1.5 million of armenian christians by ottoman turkey. Convert or die. Its their ultimate solution! The memorial culminates the genocide museum that provides documentation.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1735106146525365&set=a.1068416529861000&type=3
I just came from jurong police hq at their invitation to be interviewed following a report made to the police following my FB discussion with a Azhari Ali.
This was after i posted on FB a picture of the Genocide Memorial i visited in Armenia recently. I reported what i saw and learnt of the 1,500,000 Armenian Christians exterminated by the Ottoman Turks in 1911. It was a case of convert or die. Azhari objected. He felt that i unfairly singled out islam though i had no such intention. I was merely reporting what i saw.
Someone made a police report on what transpired on FB and i was called up to explain my motives. I explained to the police that my role on FB is educational and i explained what i said that seemed to have upset Azhari Ali. I dont know who made the police report and i am not suggesting that Azhari did. I just dont know.
I had said in my intelocution with Azhari Ali that no sacred text of whatever religion can be taken literally. Because once such text is rendered in human language the denotations and therefore connotations of language cannot be avoided and therefore texts have to be interpreted in context and meaning.
For example marrying a 9year old girl child was ok in times past but not ok today.
To go by literal interpretation fails to recognise that times and social practices have changed and therefore readings of texts have also to take into account new conditions.
In my statement to the police i urge the Chief of Police and the Minister of Home Affairs to together establish guidelines to ascertain what should be appropriate responses to complaints made by the public as to their import. If a complaint is substantive, meaning that the issue complain ed about is of such importance which might lead to violence and major social unrest then action is called for not otherwise.
In cases which represent only some irritation felt by an individual then such reports can politely be set aside. Otherwise as in my case so much time and inconvenience is wasted for so many people just because someone is intolerant of views that dont accord with their own
Worse, the complainant has used the police as a weapon against people whose views dont agree with them. Lets not allow the law to be weaponise against academic discussants just to satisfy an individual's ruffled feelings. Modern Singapore i hope has matured enough to accept robust, sincere and polite discourse.
I should conclude that my police interlocuter acquitted herself very professionally and courteously which made the encounter with the law rather pleasant to my relief!
I just came from jurong police hq at their invitation to be interviewed following a report made to the police following my FB discussion with a Azhari Ali.
This was after i posted on FB a picture of the Genocide Memorial i visited in Armenia recently. I reported what i saw and learnt of the 1,500,000 Armenian Christians exterminated by the Ottoman Turks in 1911. It was a case of convert or die. Azhari objected. He felt that i unfairly singled out islam though i had no such intention. I was merely reporting what i saw.
Someone made a police report on what transpired on FB and i was called up to explain my motives. I explained to the police that my role on FB is educational and i explained what i said that seemed to have upset Azhari Ali. I dont know who made the police report and i am not suggesting that Azhari did. I just dont know.
I had said in my intelocution with Azhari Ali that no sacred text of whatever religion can be taken literally. Because once such text is rendered in human language the denotations and therefore connotations of language cannot be avoided and therefore texts have to be interpreted in context and meaning.
For example marrying a 9year old girl child was ok in times past but not ok today.
To go by literal interpretation fails to recognise that times and social practices have changed and therefore readings of texts have also to take into account new conditions.
In my statement to the police i urge the Chief of Police and the Minister of Home Affairs to together establish guidelines to ascertain what should be appropriate responses to complaints made by the public as to their import. If a complaint is substantive, meaning that the issue complain ed about is of such importance which might lead to violence and major social unrest then action is called for not otherwise.
In cases which represent only some irritation felt by an individual then such reports can politely be set aside. Otherwise as in my case so much time and inconvenience is wasted for so many people just because someone is intolerant of views that dont accord with their own
Worse, the complainant has used the police as a weapon against people whose views dont agree with them. Lets not allow the law to be weaponise against academic discussants just to satisfy an individual's ruffled feelings. Modern Singapore i hope has matured enough to accept robust, sincere and polite discourse.
I should conclude that my police interlocuter acquitted herself very professionally and courteously which made the encounter with the law rather pleasant to my relief!
