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?