theonlykami123

I've been discussing this issue for a long time with other people, and learnt many insights to how local Singaporean males react to discussions such as these. I have experienced polar cultures first hand as a citizen of Australia and an enlistee in the Singaporean army.

One thing that that your commentary strikes as naive to me is how you don't comment on how deep rooted the problem is, and the solution you suggest for the people is to just simply change their actions, and the wheels of fate will spin the rest.

Imo, free speech has to be bled for. Without blood, pain or suffering, there will never be an incentive to resist. You can sit in Hong Kong all you want, be an academic and publish books overseas in an attempt to break into this already heavily reinforced culture, but without taking up a stance locally and inciting violence there will never be change.

There are people who have power(both monetarily and politically) that greatly benefit from this hive mind mentality in Singapore. It is in their interest to maintain this kind of status quo and to change up the system will require the people to shed the blood of these oligarchs.

After releasing the word wall above and fuming slightly at your naivety, my question to you is:

Do you really think that you can achieve change by supplying tools that people are unwilling to pick up?

Which leads to the ultimate question:

Do you believe there needs to be change?

If yes, how so? and how will you enable this change?

If not, then why did you write this book?

Would it be correct to classify you as more of a passive person towards this issue? Many of the people whom I've spoken to also share the same perspectives as you(albeit not as intelligent), disdain for the situation but unwilling to follow through with sacrifice.

May I ask a personal question? As to why you've chosen the path you have instead of a more active, central role (family, friends, career)? From what you've said about assuming an "agnostic" position, would it be right to assume that you're so risk adverse that sacrifice for failure would be a catastrophe to you? And that if there was a right way you would give up everything to achieve it? Would be right to say that months writing a book is incomparable to a death for the cause?

I bear no good will to Singapore and would personally prefer to contribute to it's demise. But one thing that strikes me the most is that most Singaporeans are passive in their contribution to their society, and would prefer to live in harmony with small pains than a utopia through great pains.

Would you agree that "Lee Kuan Yew would not have brought Singapore to become his utopia if not for his sacrifice, but because of passive aggressiveness of the culture in Singapore means it will never escape his shadow."

" There are only 9 meals between Mankind and anarchy." - Alfred Henry Lewis.

I would contend that Singapore is unlike many of the countries that you have in mind, and will continue to refute your efforts.

Perhaps an example to refute the example of peaceful change in law would be the recent lgbt protests and culture that assimilated during the last 2 years in several countries. I would argue that lgbt is of a less significance than freedom of speech and yet, the cost underlying these reforms were bloodshed and widespread dissent. Many lives are still sacrificed in the beginning and in current times in spite of the idea continually propagating in Muslim countries. The parallels that I draw from this example would be how the initial radicalness of lgbt laws appeared to common folk in reformed countries and the similar notion of free speech (and lgbt ideologies) in Singapore.

An attempt to align the extremism of Muslim countries with the heavily reinforced cultures within Singapore would be extremely easy. And a highlight to prove this point would be the whole Amos Yee debacle. Even the law ('disruption of peace') is outrageous and serves to prove the discreet yet self serving cultures that assimilates even the highest echelons of the law (who have a duty to be just).

I understand that your efforts are valiant and just, but ultimately I disagree with the notion that your methods are sound.

There are an enormous amount of underlying problems that a book, or an AMA or intellectual efforts will not solve, ranging from propaganda in the young minds of the nation to the Stasi-like surveillance system set up in the guise of National service.

Singapore is not a country depraved of something to read or of intellect, but they will never ever turn to 1984 or Animal Farm by George Orwell for leisure, and neither will it ever be taught to developing minds.

I would like to point all these out as a person who share your ideals, but as someone who is constantly ostracised as an outsider and no vested interest in improving this country, perhaps many have tried your way and have been shunned.

Perhaps you can comment on my thoughts?