Lost in thoughts

what's wrong with being a conservative?

Monday, April 20, 2009 making-sweetness

i'm sure most people in s'pore are aware about the whole AWARE fiasco. (oooo...i've been wanting to type that lame pun for a long long time!) for those who don't read the newspapers, watch the news and stay under a rock away from civilisation, it's the latest news about town now and proves that s'poreans aren't as PASSIVE about social activism as gp and eng teachers like to think so. =) AWARE is about fighting for women's rights and equality, if you don't really know....

anyways, it's about a bunch of women who have joined AWARE for about a year but TROUNCE the old guards to get almost ALL the places in the executive committee. obviously the older members aren't too happy, especially since they are kept out of the loop and the new exco changed the current heads of the subcommittees, even though the heads are "doing a good job". the thing that gets the public (and quite apparently, the media people as well) in a flurry is that these women are CHRISTIAN CONSERVATIVES who want to make AWARE more exclusive. to me, the public seem to fear that the new exco would ban those of 'unusual sexual preferences" (homosexuals lah...) from joining, going against the all-inclusive nature of AWARE.

well....so jane gives her 2cents worth, since i'm quite a feminist myself...(hahaha...yp and f can probably tell...) and i'm a conservative. in fact, i'm probably MORE conservative than those people in the new exco since i consider the church they come from as from the CHARISMATIC movement! i'm just not as vocal as them lah, i don't go and write into forums and stuff...or join AWARE..hahah. heck...the new pres is my sister's ex-classmates mum lah! uber rich girl!

BUT I MUST SAY THAT I DON'T APPROVE OF THEIR ACTIONS TO OVERTAKE AWARE AH.... like so rude lah! as good as kicking people out and slamming the door in their face. just taking over an established organisation just to get your cause known is not the proper way to do things. GET YOUR OWN ORGANISATION MAN! so what if no one knows about it or wants to join it? that's just because it's new....i'm sure if the exco puts in the effort, it will become a successful organisation backing a worthy cause in time to come.

the thing about the whole fiasco that annoys me is the public's reaction to the 'takeover'. sure...the new exco may be wrong in using such hard-handed methods, but the media and public are quite biased against them, giving them labels--the worst one is 'christian taleban'. ok....so what if one thinks that being homosexual is a sin (it is btw...)? AWARE is a secular group, i'm sure these people have more sense than to bring religion into a secular organisation. if such is the case, why make such a big fuss over their religion? doesn't the govt promote RELIGIOUS FREEDOM? they aren't there to convert EVERYONE and to identify and kick out homos right?

of course, when i hear them say that they are "pro-family", it kinda implies pretty christian-ish values. like having the family as a basic unit of society with a father, mother and kid(s). it also implies a anti-homosexual stance, if one reads into it very very carefully. maybe that's what the public is afraid about.

yet.....this whole affair smacks of DOUBLE STANDARDS. on one hand, the media is trying to show how open the singaporean society is, praising the old guards of AWARE for their open attitudes towards accepting members into this group and criticizing the new exco of devious schemes to take over AWARE, undo what has already been done and turn it into an ultra-conservative organisation out of touch with the modern singaporean society. ON THE OTHER HAND, the singaporean society is really a very conservative one that's trying to kid itself (borrowing from how mr yeow always tells us not to kid ourselves). they may claim to be 'very open-minded' about stuff like homosexuality in society, yet, in real life, they are prejudiced against such people. reminds me of an article in the economist...IT'S WHAT THEY DO THAT COUNTS, NOT WHAT THEY SAY! like honestly, i'm sure there are people who say they are fine with homosexuality, but if their son/daughter/spouse/best friend/colleague says they are homo...they would be absolutely horrified and aghast even if they do not show it. just look at the way the guys in my school go out of their way to avoid some other guy hitting on them....and what they say about that guy. DOUBLE STANDARDS. either you just say that you're really uncomfortable with it and stop judging other people or you mean what you say.

JUST STOP PUTTING LABELS ON PEOPLE IF YOU ARE GUILTY OF SUCH ACTIONS YOURSELF! sheesh.....

ok....this is probably one of my 'heavier' posts. hahahaha....but it's interesting to follow the news....ohmy ohmy....more than 800 words leh!

POSTED BY mysticmalady AT 9:51 PM |

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