(no subject)
I have had several conversations with many of my friends, gay and straight, in the past few days with regard to the repeal of Section 377A. There were some very heated and passionate pitches on both sides of the fence, and I deliberated their arguements as the conversations ended and a new ones began. Point to moot, we are not of our father's generation. We are no longer consider ourselves to be scions of Oriental Virtues and Values. I have come to realise that the possession of the moral highground is not what's preventing our society to evolve into a more enlightened state of humanity. The themes that come out from these conversations address the issue of apathy from the common Singaporean, be it gay or straight.
I say Apathy, as many Singaporeans choose what is Easy. "Why rock the boat?" A gay friend asked. We have lived our lives in quietitude, ever assuming the fact that the powers that be have choosen to turn a blind eye to our presense and our lifestlye. Just let sleeping dogs lie, the old maxim goes. Inciting change is too much effort, to much work, too much hassle. We have grown complacent over the years, and many advocates of this stance would prescribe patience, as the gay community will wear away the paradigms of bigotry by it's quiet presence.
As I consider this point in arguement, a scenario played out in my mind. I shuddered in horror as I recalled our dear Balaji, and how he advocated hate-mongering and bigotry of the GLBT community through the flimsy excuse of AIDS statistics (3 out of the 10 is bad, but what the hell are you going to do about the 7? Isn't 3<7? WTF.) Forgive me, but now that there is presidence that the powers that be allowed one such as Balaji to come into influence, what is stopping the other fundamentalists to assume the various offices? Can we imagine a life full of Balajis running the city-state? Implausible, perhaps. I can only pray that my fears are unfounded.
I see the parable of the ant and the grasshopper coming into play here. I see the juxtaposition of us as a society embodied in these two characters. The ant works hard even when Life was easy, so that it can ensure it can survive the coming weather. The grasshopper lives but for today, and inevitably suffers due to the lack of foresight. Life is easy now, my friends. It would be easier now for us to seek change, when there are many sympathetic ears sit, watch, and wait for our voices to be heard. Don't wait till the weather changes on us.
I did what was right, for myself, for my friends, and for the future Singaporeans that will inherit our legacy.
Repeal Section 377A now.
I say Apathy, as many Singaporeans choose what is Easy. "Why rock the boat?" A gay friend asked. We have lived our lives in quietitude, ever assuming the fact that the powers that be have choosen to turn a blind eye to our presense and our lifestlye. Just let sleeping dogs lie, the old maxim goes. Inciting change is too much effort, to much work, too much hassle. We have grown complacent over the years, and many advocates of this stance would prescribe patience, as the gay community will wear away the paradigms of bigotry by it's quiet presence.
As I consider this point in arguement, a scenario played out in my mind. I shuddered in horror as I recalled our dear Balaji, and how he advocated hate-mongering and bigotry of the GLBT community through the flimsy excuse of AIDS statistics (3 out of the 10 is bad, but what the hell are you going to do about the 7? Isn't 3<7? WTF.) Forgive me, but now that there is presidence that the powers that be allowed one such as Balaji to come into influence, what is stopping the other fundamentalists to assume the various offices? Can we imagine a life full of Balajis running the city-state? Implausible, perhaps. I can only pray that my fears are unfounded.
I see the parable of the ant and the grasshopper coming into play here. I see the juxtaposition of us as a society embodied in these two characters. The ant works hard even when Life was easy, so that it can ensure it can survive the coming weather. The grasshopper lives but for today, and inevitably suffers due to the lack of foresight. Life is easy now, my friends. It would be easier now for us to seek change, when there are many sympathetic ears sit, watch, and wait for our voices to be heard. Don't wait till the weather changes on us.
I did what was right, for myself, for my friends, and for the future Singaporeans that will inherit our legacy.
Repeal Section 377A now.