The Best of Times the Worse of Times

Whole of last week I've just been so jittery
Best of times worst of times line by Charles dickens ringing in my head .
In the throes of change
A tipping point
Will things change for better or for worse of just stay the same? 

Thaipusam 2015.. I don't want to forget it. 
Already things are quieter about it.

Last week I felt so much for those three men on trial for the fights
First time ever found myself doubting our justice system.
I felt the difference between knowing something all along and then really recognising something.  Have always known that newspapers twist the news to present only one sanctioned view. Now I really saw it . Online media though messy presented so many different perspectives ideas challenging the sanctioned views.
So often i was  blatantly disgusted at the reporting in ST that ignored calls about people's unhappiness over the unfairness of no music allowed for thaipusam and allowed for so many others like chinghay Chinese funerals st Patrick's day etc. 

Police and ST and ministers boldly claimed the men smelled of alcohol. One of the men denies drinking totally.  So convenient to label Indians as drunkards and then excuse brutish thuggish police behaviour as necessary to contain them. So convenient so despicable.  so frightening too.. if they stoop to this for a fight when else have they done this? What about the riots last year? Inept scared police just blame who they can to explain their pathetic performance. It appears instead of quelling the riots or preventing the fight they likely fuelled it by their stupid boorishness.  So now what?

One of the men claims he shoved a man who pushed his sister in law down.  Now that lady has filed a report against the police themselves.  What bravery! She has done this despite threats from the police that if these allegations are found to be untrue severe action will be taken against her. What utter bravery! Esp when we see the police are totally cool with twisting facts to protect themselves and the government will support the police to preserve the image of a clean government.
Frightening.
Very very frightening.
Utopia turned dystopia just like that
Coz social media reveals different sides to stories.

Then the crazy politicians commenting on this. Advising public not to overreact. Firstly it was the police who overreacted. Then the politicians telling us to remember law and order and policemen must be respected!!! Missing the point. People angry about unfairness of the law. 
People not just Indians but people.
They finally hear us and then go on a wild indefensible defence about privilege.
Public not the police or politicians saw that the rule was unfair and debated that rather than the men who got into a fight. Stupid right? Think it was hard for then to understand what we were mad about. They expected public to say oh good job police you contained the drunkards and the fights. Not wait a minute police why so many plainclothes police why no music in the first place why so rough with devotees etc. Took them by surprise.  Stupid people. 

So now.   We have been asking for music for years. 40 years in fact.  And shanmugam now says we must listen to the people reconsider the allowing of music.  Why you can only hear now , coz the noise is loud.

Then the policing got terrible. 
First ' gag order about the three men and the fracas. That fracas has thrown up gross discrimination and brought about the possibility of music for thaipusam at last after 40 years but we can't talk about them. Apparently we might prejudice the case! Seriously the talking is what might bring about justice rather than prejudice it!  I'm very sure now that without that noise it would have been clear cut throw them in jail the drunk hooligans!  Idiots. So afraid of being shown up as unfair. Idiots 

Then a refusal to grant permit to protest and ask for musical instruments and a public  holiday for thaipusam  . So can't talk online can't talk in  public just shut up and let the powers that be decode everything . Some democracy.  My country!! Filthy.
What are they afraid of? For the first time
Singaporeans getting together to fight for minority rights and they clamp down saying this may divide!  They are just afraid! Afraid the racist policies of the country will be talked about that people will become aware. Like i said filthy! !!

so we are at a turning point of sorts. Will we get musical instruments next year. I think so, though there was this dubious horrendous message from MHA recently about why music and road closures are allowed for ching gay and St Patrick's but not Thaipusam - apparently route is shorter and risk factor is less - what rubbish! they are scared of Indians. that's the problem. and letting the events of 40 years ago cloud their thinking now. cannot grow up, cannot let go. paranoid freakish government. I'm close to despising them. I cannot take them seriously now. I view their actions with suspicion. Race politics in this day and age in MY country. 

Will we get a holiday next year. No - some ministry came straight out and said no but I respect them for addressing the issue head on, no stupid excuses about privileges, just facts and their honest fear that if we give this holiday, we'll have to give holidays for many more religious events and that will become a slippery slope. I respect that. It's acknowledging in fact that maybe a holiday should be given but that it can't coz of other consequences now. at least treats the reading public as educated and understanding. 

Unlike MHA with blanket statements about one being more risky than the other. What a load of bull. cowards. how to respect them like this. bums. 

How bout those three men? I pray for them. everyday we all need to pray for them. in my eyes, they are the heroes of this play - the ones who got the whole thing moving so that at least 40 years later the gov is at last acknowledging the rules need to be changed. if they are imprisoned and punished, they become like sacrifices for this good thing to happen. I pray for them everyday. 

so... yes... best and worst of times no? 

Thaipusam 2015

Possible change in the air
Chagrin at ban of musical instruments
Call for holiday on thaipusam

Change a possibility
Depends how we do it

Yesterday I was hopping mad
Today I am amused and a little excited.
I like watching things unfold
I am afraid too - it's a gentle balance .

Are civil servants not allowed to attend speakers corner events? 

Two things recently that I feel so strongly about are coming to the fore
One was nlb and censorship and book pulping
Now this.
The blatant unfairness
The arrogance of the government
The ostrich head in the sand
The sheer power of mass media to highlight news that is reported in mainstream media and news that is not
The high handed treatment of things
The political police bullying
The extent to which the government will engage in cover up to protect its own kind
It's like a film or play unfolding day by day .
Best part for me
Singaporeans together against unfairness of government towards Indians
Unlike anything before
Police araganai
Everyone sees the ridiculousness of shanmugams comments
Privileges indeed
I wouldn't detest all other music if thaipusam music was allowed
I feel so strongly about this i want to do something be there be as brave as all these other people
I want Singaporeans to stand united and for me to be part of this change inducing movement

Reading shanmugams tirade makes me feel like I've entered Orwell's world of 1984 with double speak double think all around us. Bewildering rubbish. 
"Understandable for people to compare lion dance and Malay kompongs"... ah he hears us we think. .. "but these are by the ignorant."

So we wait with bated breath for enlightenment to spill out of his lips...

The difference... One set are social community events. The other religious. 
I think we are expected to say "ah! Of course! " at this point. Except we scratch our heads' chinese funerals are social community events huh?

Next big qn. Even if there were some random arbitrary invisible only visible to the trained shanmugam eye difference between social community events and religious events.. why would music be allowed in one and not the other? 

Before we can ask off he launches into a diatribe now- about the privileges of the Hindu community in Singapore. 

Orwell Orwell Orwell. .. do you long to jump out of your grave now - the world you saw is here today! All hail the herald of this world ' shanmugam vazhga!'

But better than getting mad is getting funny to expose the ridiculousness of things and that's what the online citizen and other websites are doing.  Like pretending drums are cancelled for lion dance troupes that they will dance to piano music cos drums are violent that all races deserve privileges so better ban all drums! !  And banning the triangle in kindergartens . Too funny really .

No offense to shanmugam by the way. I doubt he believes the convoluted nonsense he is sprouting . If he does. . I am deeply sorry for him. If he doesn't. .. I still feel sorry for him
To be the mouthpiece of our government .. and then I get angry again. If this was the stupidity of one individual it can be forgiven. Everyone is entitled to be stupid sometimes
. But.. if it is as I strongly suspect it to be ... the government's stance voiced through a convenient scapegoat.   Then I am furious. This is my country but it doesn't respect me or my race of people. My forefathers helped build this country as i am doing too now trying to develop respect for literature. ... but this country ... my gov believes i should be grateful for being able to practise my religion.  It's " I've given you so much you can't appreciate  that you fool, you are lucky to even be allowed to celebrate this festival. " my music is their noise. 

St's Patrick's- bring it on. Thaipusam - go hide.
Will things change? 

Time just flies

Early morning
Seems like we have a lot of time
Then it just zooms past
Gone
5.30 time for rush already!