Value of a nation, value of a person

I really love this comment to my earlier post ( http://mathialee.wordpress.com/2009/01/05/justice_law_courts/ ) , made by a person goin by the pseudonym “Peguin”. I think it deserves a post all to itself, and I’ll respond in my next post. Lovely stuff. Sorry if my title is sucky. (Disclaimer: the views expressed in this post are solely Penguin’s and any similarities to mine are purely co-incidental. My sentiments also do not entirely overlap with Penguin’s, i just find it very well argued.)

I share your concerns of outrightly saying anything against the judicial/legal system here (as you mentioned in your comments in the freedom of expression post), but perhaps not so much out of fear than of self-preservation.

Most of the times, I disagree with the “don’t-be-hero” fear that a lot of Singaporeans seem to whip out at every political discussion, but in this case, it’s truly a catch-22 in that we are aware of how vague our legal system can be, and how capable the judicial system is at interpreting it, but how even such an opinion of mine can be considered in contempt of the court.

Which is why I personally am finding so much frustration in trying to effect change in this country, and why I feel so stifled that I feel like I need to leave this country.

When the government mentions that the only way to truly make a change in this country is from within the government, and as you have clearly pointed out, the only way anyone can have a decent political future is by first being one of the politicians that cause the same issues we which to change, I question the purpose of the democratic process. Why vote when we know fully that the people we’re voting for don’t serve OUR purposes, the purposes of the people?

And with such frustration, in knowing that my government doesn’t value me for my opinions, even for who I am and who I wish to love, but solely for whatever economic and physical (think, NS, or baby-making) value I bring, I can’t help but feel like a puppet, or a tool to further our deluded idea of nation-building.

And so I (and many before and after me), am planning to look for distant shores, elsewhere where we can feel like at least we mean something. Of course only to be taunted with names (oh Singaporeans LOVE doing this) like ‘quitter’. But I am indeed a true and bred Singaporean. I know that Hainanese Chicken Rice doesn’t come from Hainan just as I know exactly what Racial Harmony Day and the 5 pillars of total defence are.

Indeed, you are right with this post. There is an issue with the judicial/political system that needs to be fixed. But there is so much more to this issue than jsut a matter of justice, law and the courts. It’s even more an issue that things like civil liberties. It’s the basic value of being valued by the people whom claim represent your interest. Valued by the nation that you call home and that you’re supposed to feel safe in. It stopped being legal and logical a long time ago, and it’s about time people start recognising how the laws and political institutions in this country affect us deeply as human beings.