8/10/2013

The courts of public opinion


 
The rich and power seek justice in the courts of law. They have the money to hire the most expensive and eminent legal experts to bring them the justice they can afford to pay for. Often the loser lost without a fight as they cannot pay for the fight.

The courts of public opinion is a less defined and big grey area. No one can buy justice in the courts of public opinion as opinion is free and the judges are numerous. Everyone has an opinion, rightly or wrongly, fair or unfair, biased or bigoted, but they all have something to say on an issue. And there are many courts of public opinion on a case, some will favour while some will go against the defendant under scrutiny. And one does not need to commit a crime or do anything to be sentenced in the courts of public opinion.

SR Nathan, the immediate past President is awarded the highest honour of the country, the Order of Temasek First Class. This is a very rare honour that is reserved for a very few and very distinguished individuals. Nathan is now among seven who were deemed fit enough to be decorated with this honour.

While this is something that anyone would feel greatly honoured as a life time achievement, what Nathan did not bargain for is to be hauled into the courts of public opinion. In the main media it was a story of great achievements and accolades for a man of distinction, with many great stories to tell of the man. In another court of public opinion in cyberspace, the story is quite contrary and ugly. Being bestowed such an honour is like being set up for scorn. The commentaries were anything but pleasant. Many were questioning what he had done that was so deserving of such an honour. The criticisms and berating were very subjective, very personal and very uncomplimentary.

The courts of public opinion can be very unforgiving especially the wrong ones. Many luminaries may hesitate to even think of accepting great honours and awards and be praised publicly when the courts of public opinions could disfigure all they have achieved and cast smears and doubts, and disparaging dismissed all the good things that were said. Instead of being affirmed and praised, the experience can be quite humiliating and uncomforting.

The courts of public opinion are never just or fair, more like kangaroo courts. It is a bane to any public figure made to stand in such a court to be demolished and diminished. No amount of money can buy the best legal brains to earn a favourable judgement in these kangaroo courts. No matter how high is the office, how powerful is the defendant, there is no defence against the scorn of public opinion if one is undeserving or has a tinge of grey in a white slate.

The world has since become more grey than merely white and black.

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yes, there is the courts of public opinion.

And Redbean is a great, good and popular blogger in the courts of public opinion. And everything complimentary lah.

But does it really matter?

Have you heard of majority public opinion every 5 years on which party is the best to be government?

That's what really matters for public opinion.

Anonymous said...

If I were Nathan, then so be it lah.

What's the big deal about Sinkie's opinion except those at the ballot box, tio bo?

Ⓜatilah $ingapura⚠️ said...

redbean:

>> The courts of public opinion are never just or fair, more like kangaroo courts.

Not true. They an be just, even fair or not. Be careful not to conflate "justice" with "fairness". They can be mutually exclusive. Also "kangaroo courts" are courts where authority is defined, even if it is arbitrary. In the court of public opinion, there is no identifiable "authority".

The key word here is OPINION. As the famous saying goes: Everyone has an OPINION and an ASSHOLE and they both stink.

So unless you are trying to sell a product or idea, one can simply ignore the "court of public opinion".

>> the immediate past President is awarded the highest honour of the country, the Order of Temasek First Class.

Big fucking deal. I can go to Holland V kopitiam and Order Teh Tarik First Class. And ask that pratha man to make me 2 garing, with bawang! Very delicious. First Class!!

SYMBOLS are for the symbol-minded.

patriot said...

Ex President Nathan deserves every honour.
In Sin, he is probably the Only One that has proved to be better than any of the Three Prime Ministers in Sin.
Nathan is soft spoken, gentle and humble. He is kind and have done a lot of charity works. And he will surely do more.

What have the Ex Prime Ministers and the Incumbent did in comparison with Nathan?
Only the Daft cannot see the Good that Uncle Nathan had done for Sin and Sinkies.

Congratulations to Uncle Nathan , our great Ex-president.

patriot

Anonymous said...

I know that Life is not fair but still I want to know why that I cut more ribbons and carry more babies than this useless millions dollar clown, how come I did not get conferred with Order of Temasek ? This is grave matter of public interest and hope redbean can write more about number of ribbons to cut and babies to carry to qualify for that title. We must demand transparent, accountability on this matter.

Anonymous said...

Anyone can confirm if Nathan's hokkien name is NaBei , and Japanese name is NaBeiC***B** ?

Anyone ?

oldhorse42 said...

The ex President is also writing a book about the his stories of Singapore. RB can borrow a copy from the library to read about the Ex President's many achievements. In the many stories I heard that there is a chapter of the tale of two cities in sinkie land. In one city live the rich and powerful elites who rule the land and benefit from the many laws operating in the city. One of the law allow them to buy as many cars and amenities with their wealth. The other city is inhabited by multitude of lesser mortals in crowded communities struggling to get by with their daily lives.

patriot said...

My apology!

In my Comment Above at 1:11pm; 'In Sin, he is probably the Only One that has proved to be better than any of the Three Prime Ministers OF Sin.

'in' be replaced by of.

patriot

b said...

'The world has since become more grey than merely white and black.'

- All along it is grey. only naive people believe that it is/was white and black. Any pancake has two sides whatever the shapes or tastes.

Anyway, an award is just an award. He is not going to be immortal. No need to get bitter about it. The day of reckoning will be coming soon. The old man is already 89 yo, frail and weak.

Anonymous said...

He apparently has done more for Singapore the Toh Chin Chye and Ong Pang Boon who were awarded the Order of Temasek (Second Class). What does the court of public opinion say?

Anonymous said...

President Ah Nehthan is a good President.
Very obedient.
More obedient than redbean.
That's why he get Order of TummsySick Award.

He makes your Tummy Sick.

Anonymous said...

Yah lor, at his age he is still active in charity works. Where to find old people so kind hearted one.

Richard said...

Puhleeese! nathan deserving of the award? This fella can't even hold a candle to President Ong Teng Cheong, much less award recipients President Wee Kim Wee & Goh Keng Swee.

Anonymous said...

"This fella can't even hold a candle to President Ong Teng Cheong, much less award recipients President Wee Kim Wee & Goh Keng Swee."

But PAP and 60% of Singaporeans disagree with you.
When you have 60% then you can decide.

Anonymous said...

If I were Nathan, I love the 60%.

I also love the WP.

To put it more simply for those daft Sinkies, I love those that really matters.

Anonymous said...

Because of WP, there is the 60%.

Because of the 60%, there is a PAP govt.

Because of the PAP govt, there are many foreigners coming here.

Because of the many foreigners coming here, some Sinkies who had served NS lost their jobs to them. Jobs for foreigners and NS for Sinkies, that is.

So now can you see the root cause of the problem and how to solve it?

Anonymous said...

How to make WP as strong or even stronger than PAP?

Or failing which, how to have a new party as strong as PAP?

Strong meaning can contest 100% of seats as one party during a General election.

If can ah, 60% Sinkies sure respect the new party one. Currently PAP is the only one so 60% Sinkies bo pian (no choice) have to respect lah, tio bo?

patriot said...

In GE 2011, National Solidarity Party(NSP) contested in almost all constituencies.

HOPEFULLY VOTERS WILL BE AWARE AND GIVE THEM SUPPORTS IN THE NEXT GENERAL ELECTION BEFORE 2016.

CHEERS.

patriot

Anonymous said...



2016 ELECTION

PAP = 80% VOTES

Anonymous said...

These days, awards are given to people in the hope that they will do good - think Obama Nobel peace award.