Yushui Village in Lijiang, Yunnan, with snow mountain backdrop and cascading waterfalls.
8/13/2010
Notable quote by Seelan Palay
“Before we begin, I’d like to clarify that I’m in the dock in shackles, cuffs and chains not because I have committed any crime. I am here in this state because of another unjust law administered on behalf of the PAP Government.” Seelan Palay
I copied the above quote from jacob 69er. Seelan was speaking to the judge just before the proceeding of his trial. I totally disagree with the way we treat and handle our political activists with cuffs and shackles. Do we have to be so mean? They are not criminals and not violent. Many are well educated and responsible citizens.
The Americans have their Guantanamo and think it is an acceptable thing. And the world kept quiet about the whole sordid happenings there.
You disagree with the way activists are handled?
ReplyDeleteDo You have the Laws and Power in Your hands?
Can You make Laws yourself?
If the answer is just one Yes.
You win.
Seelan should thanks whoever that provide the free transport he gets to wherever he is transported. He will get free lodgings and foods which many singaporeans beg for.
ReplyDeleteIn Africa and some parts deep in Papua New Guinea or the Golden Triangle, he may not be found anymore.
Palay should be thankful he lives in a FIRST WORLD Cuntry.
Guantanamo is used for terrorist suspects -- i.e. for those who are charged with using violence or the threat of violence against the country.
ReplyDeleteI have problems with the idead of an off-shore "processing" center like Guantanamo.
However to make the comparison to Mr Pillay is ludicrous.
Mr Pillay attacked Lee Kuan Yew, not the country. He did so in film and on the net, not by terror or violence.
Therefore what the state is doing to him is illegal and reprehensible, and not in line with the articles of the constitution which gurantees freedom of speech and expression.
"However to make the comparison to Mr Pillay is ludicrous.
ReplyDeleteMr Pillay attacked Lee Kuan Yew, not the country. He did so in film and on the net, not by terror or violence.
Therefore what the state is doing to him is illegal and reprehensible, and not in line with the articles of the constitution which gurantees freedom of speech and expression".
What can Seelan Palay or his sympathiser do? How can justice be made available for him?
> What can Seelan Palay or his sympathiser do?
ReplyDeleteNothing. Just take it on the chin. You know the score: you tekan Lee Kuan Yew, he'll kick your ass.
> How can justice be made available for him? <
It can't. The justice you get in the country is the only justice you can use or appeal to.
The judicial system is skewed to the state, there is no or very little seperation of powers in the (so-called) "republic".
Until the people "get it" i.e. that THEY are in-charge and the govt is THE SERVANT TO the people, nothing is going to change with regard to dissent against the elite, freedom of speech or expression.
Seems like the beat Seelan Palay and his sympathisers can do are to live and be raped and abused with no recourse. Is that right to say?
ReplyDeleteAre there Human Rights in Sin, are there champions of such Rights?
Is the United Nation defunct?
Will the people rallying for Vui Kong Death Sentence come to rally for Seelan Palay who was shackled and cuffed sadistly for non-criminal case?
ReplyDelete> Seems like the beat Seelan Palay and his sympathisers can do are to live and be raped and abused with no recourse.
ReplyDeleteNot true. You can choose to do other things. To go up against a big, powerful, ruthless and ferocious animal with no strategy is sheer stupidity.
Unless you people know how to fight effectively, it is pointless being martyrs. You will attract more scorn form the public at large if you continue to “sacrifice” yourselves.
I know in your common “collectivist” philosophy many of you see sacrifice of oneself for the “common good” as something “noble”.
The day you awake from your slumber and see this bullshit belief for what it really is, is the day you might realise that “playing the victim to Lee Kuan Yew’s oppression” is a sad and shallow game, and that you will end up dead like JBJ having accomplished essentially nothing.
> Are there Human Rights in Sin, are there champions of such Rights?
No, to the first part. Probably a few to the second part.
To me the good part of Singaporeans in general is that they are productive and mind their own business. As long as there is peace, they can pursue their interests, earn money and look after their families. Very few involve themselves in the pointless tussle of party politics.
“Mind your own business”, is a great philosophy.
Occasional tyranny from the state is to be expected if you’re going to have a state. The way these “democrat fetishes” come across is that they believe “everything will be alright” once true democracy (whatever the fuck that is) is established in Singapore.
The fact is everything will NEVER be alright – there’s always some shit to deal with, Such is the nature of existence. You get glimpses of perfection, beauty, love and happiness now and then -- but they are rare and therefore because of that they mean a lot and are precious.
So, if I were you, cure your “utopia addiction”.
Seelan Pillay got smacked. CSJ got smacked. JBJ got smacked... as did many others. Sure I know the importance of documenting such reprehensible tyrannies and injustices of the state, but hey, it is not the end of the world.
If you are silly enough to involve yourself in politics or religion, you delude yourself if you don’t from the outset accept the risks involved.
> Is the United Nation defunct?
I hope so. :-) (but that would be wishful thinking)
As far as I’m concerned, the terrorists flew the planes into the wrong buildings on 9/11. If they took out the UN building instead, I don’t think the US would be at war now, and tragic as a large loss of life is, many people would be secretly celebrating the smashing of the UN – the world’s largest bullshit organisation...ah, there I go thinking wishfully again...
A notable quote from Pastor Martin Niemoller:
ReplyDelete"They came first for the communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.
Then they came for me and by that time no one was left to speak up"
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI prefer the Edmund Burke quote:
ReplyDeleteAll that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.
Here’s the difference between your quote and the one I’ve just posted:
Burke’s action verb is DO.
Pastor Martin’s action verb is SPEAK.
It might be apparent to you, or it might not, that ACTION trumps SPEECH any day. Any fool can speak, but it take ACTION to change situations.
I’ve been shooting my mouth off against the PAP since the 70’s. Do I do anything to change it? No. But I do act in my own self interest and mind my own business.
Why? Because it is pointless going against the SHEEPLE – those who are asleep and believe the bullshit the PAP dishes out, election to election to election. It is the people who keep their govt in power. And to repeat myself again The people get the government they deserve.
Why does a person ACT? To improve his own circumstance. Back to my previous point: you can choose your actions to serve you or you can talk about it.
How do you bust tyranny? By acting in your own self interest FIRST to protect yourself from the ill-effects of that tyranny, and then you have a better chance of changing the staus quo, if you so feel inclined to do so. Or you can just mind your own business – which is my preferred option.
Lee Kuan Yew and his ilk will continue to wallop and sue those who oppose them. The people have given this tyrannical behaviour their sanction.
Making yourself a martyr is a silly choice. You want respect – especially in political matters, you must win. In politics, no one pities the losers. History forgets them very quickly.
BTW the “Ghandi” mindset of peaceful resistance won’t work in S’pore. It worked in British India because in English culture there was a tapestry of being a decent human being, and that continually whacking an opponent who offers no violence in return for your brutality is morally unsettling.
However it is a different case in S’pore: the “weaker” and more “martyr-like” you appear to be, the less support and respect you will garner from the public.
It is not that S’poreans are in some way “heartless”...they know, in general, that at the moment, despite the problems of liberty, justice, and an elite plutocracy associated with the PAP, the PAP is the best choice for them and their family.
To understand politics, you might consider revisiting Nicholo Machiavelli's "The Prince". Politics is about doing "bad things" and making them "legitimate". Which is why it is important to grasp "The Art Of Being Bad, And Looking Good".
No wonder mankind has to seek solace in gods and heavens. It seems impossible to have good ruler. Humans are hopeless.
ReplyDeleteNot at all.
ReplyDeleteAll humans have to do is on each and every individual basis: rule yourself.
The problems start when people try to rule over other people.
And there is no valid objective reason to look for something "super natural" like gods or heaven -- again to play "the victiim" and avoid personal responsibility...
... unless of course that is one's intention :-)
True, Patriot did say Nature needs no science and man needs no religion.
ReplyDeleteLive and let live.
No science, the world still goes on, no religion everything still exists.