Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Whipping A Dead Horse

Everyone has his own conspiracy story about how student Reuben Wang ended up apologising to DPM Teo Chee Hean for telling the minister to "go fish" (euphemism for expletive deleted).  Some said he was read the riot act at a Saint Andrews Junior College (SAJC) closed doors "counseling’ session". Since his father is purportedly also a teacher at the school, the stakes were high.

But it was factual event the Straits Times printed a lengthy editorial that lashed out at the 17 year old, calumniating him as a "keyboard thug" who lacked "proper" upbringing. The latter accusation was obviously an uncalled for smear on his innocent parents, emulating the spare no quarter blitzkrieg tactics of one pink blogger.
“Are we ready for this generation of keyboard thugs? The local media often receives flak for not highlighting or spinning government issues in a positive light. The truth is, every news piece we put up has to have evidence behind it. We do not rant or rave, we simply present the issue.”

I can do this all day
The issue that was not presented was how the DPM cowardly evaded the awkward queries from other 17 year olds at the Pre-University Seminar. The "what do you think" replies were reminiscent of Sarah Palin's cringe worthy responses to "gotcha" questions. Unfortunately for Sarah, she did not have an orchestrated compliant press at her beck and call. If Teo were addressing another crowd, he would have received worse than the shoes flung at George Bush.

We thought former Nominated MP Zulkifli Baharudin summed up the shameful episode pretty nicely when she tactfully noted that young people do not feel as beholden to the ruling party as older folk, "For some of them, being a politician is just like being in any other profession, no need to be so deferential".

Instead of letting it rest, they have come up with another editorial ("Swearing off the profanities", ST 18 June) quoting, of all people, Glen Matlock of the Sex Pistols, on the proper etiquette of spewing vulgarities. Apparently it was a sin to expect answers to national issues from the minister on the podium, who is older than 17, and drawing a fat salary. The poor students were gathered there, we are told, to provide views on said issues for the minister's edification. Expletive! Expletive! Expletive! Expletive! Expletive!

35 comments:

  1. Great piece about the shameful behaviour of one who is overpaid and devoid of values.

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  2. ST did not lie. It just did not want to tell you the other part of the story. Its their prerogative. Thats is life. Sigh!

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    Replies
    1. I am sure "Freedom House" factored this in for ST and is just one of many considerations used for worldwide ranking.
      Hence a worldclass ranking of 150th for ST can only imply it has this incredible ability to make BullShit more palatable.

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    2. I have unsubscribed to ST. But I haven't unsubscribed my internet connection yet. And what do you call an ex-editor-turned-blogger who annoying keeps telling you to go buy BT, buy TNP, buy ST blah blah blah...she should stick to summarizing her pov and stop all that silly cross-selling of papers whom no one is interested to pay and read!!

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  3. While I think it was not proper for expletives to be used in this manner, I believe the mainstream went much overboard in its attemp to save face on behalf on the DPM.

    The fact remains that the DPM did not have the right skills to engage the young audience and had come across as overbearing, cocky and intimidating perhaps.

    The final score:

    Rueben 0: one point given for daring to speak his mind, but taken away for wrong choice of words

    DPM -1: deduct one point for epic fail at engaging the youths

    MSM -1: deduct one point for blatant ass polishing of their political paymasters

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    Replies
    1. In the army no one says "No" to the General. Det it?

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    2. I don't think it is a matter of saving face, it is a matter of providing warning to those who want to bring PAP to acountability. The White PAP think they are beyond questioning and accountability.

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  4. The world, offline and online, is broken up into many different spheres, not simply the “public” and “private” as some old media pundits wish to imply
    Communities create their own social dialects, or sociolects and employ language, at times, in unique ways only understandable to members.
    Denizens of different spheres use it variously and adaptably. Children of different upbringings these days can even pick up profanities from comics, movies, mtv lyrics, or even during NS in a daily freaking discourse!! So WTF is this hypocrisy all about!

    To highlight a term that is taboo for taboo’s sake is inane. Such societal revisionism on the part of MHA or MOE or MSM is untenable and, in the internet era, can only be counter-productive. IT is a phase, and this too will pass. Just don't do it on your farking exam papers! Get a grip!

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    Replies
    1. And don't use it in your public speech like NTU valedictorian Trinetta Chong did!

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    2. tempest in a teapot.

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  5. "I've tried to reduce profanity but I reduce so much profanity that I'm afraid not much could come out. Perhaps we will have to consider it simply as a profane book and hope that the next book will be less profane or perhaps more sacred. --- Ernest Hemingway

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  6. Most politicians are simply sly and cunning. That is a basic fact, no need to be hard or soft like those semi-truths.

    Obviously when they can't think of a proper answer, the best way is to ask your way out. Like the old taiji master who once asked a young lady, "what school do you come from" as if his answer will vary depending on which school she graduated from ?

    Many bloggers has commented that there is really need to be rude or use "Fuck You" but if these politicians are still playing with words to fool us, do we have need to be patient or polite to these hypocrites ?

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  7. Wow, seriously?
    They are still picking on the 17yrs old pre-u student?

    How about a critical piece on the 23yrs old university scholar who introduced his own cussing insulting words to the whole of singaporeans humanity? Go on, please feel free to tell me what is the teachable opportunity here? I recall even MOE do not wish to step in and intervene. I don't recall however, that the foreign talent and his parents were told off that it reflects on their poor upbringing?! In fact, we were chided by some PAP MPs for not reflecting on ourselves.

    So our children and their parents now must reflect and genuflect. And the Minister get to deflect criticisms. Everyone is equal under the same law...tsk tsk.

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    Replies
    1. Difference is that the foreign talent cursed the Sinkies.
      This is acceptable.

      Reuben Wang cursed a (gasp) Pro Alien politician.
      That is not acceptable.

      Delete
  8. Only these students bothered to come to listen to those politicians talking. They're great liars. Believe in yourself, listen to your hunch. When politicians tell you to sit and talk, you better run.

    No need to throw vulgar words at them, just vote them out and you will not hear any of their nonsense about asking you to provide answers to your own problems!

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  9. MSM does not have the moral authority to point out the lack of decorum in someone else's speech. The boy may have used foul language but the MSM use language to protect the interests of the elite at the expense of the worker. There is no difference between foul language and language by MSM to further the interests of a select group of people at the expense of others.

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  10. A little boy goes to his dad and asks, “What is Politics?”

    Dad says, “Well son, let me try to explain it this way:

    I am the head of the family, so call me The President.
    Your mother is the administrator of the money, so we call her the Government.
    We are here to take care of your needs, so we will call you the People.
    The nanny, we will consider her the Working Class.
    And your baby brother, we will call him the Future.
    Now think about that and see if it makes sense.”

    So the little boy goes off to bed thinking about what Dad has said. Later that night, he hears his baby brother crying, so he gets up to check on him. He finds that the baby has severely soiled his diaper.

    So the little boy goes to his parent’s room and finds his mother asleep. Not wanting to wake her, he goes to the nanny’s room.
    Finding the door locked, he peeks in the keyhole and sees his father in bed with the nanny.
    He gives up and goes back to bed.

    The next morning, the little boy say’s to his father, “Dad, I think I understand the concept of politics now.”

    The father says, “Good, son, tell me in your own words what you think politics is all about.”

    The little boy replies, “The President is screwing the Working Class while the Government is sound asleep. The People are being ignored and the Future is deep in crap.”

    Unfortunately this happens in many countries I know, including mine. Adieu!

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    Replies
    1. Thought should the the government screwing the working class and the president sleeps. Sound familiar?

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    2. The analogy is more appropriate for the USA.
      In SinCity it is actually a mind-boggling orgy.
      You can have a threesome with the govt, business community and workers' union in the same bed or just the president and govt sleeping together or mass foreplay to show solidarity amongst them.

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  11. The students came in to expect a bit of wisdom from TCH since he is a paid $3m dollar a year politician. But instead, they keep getting the standard throwback to you line from TCH "What do ou think?". Cannot really fault them from getting exasperated.

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  12. Dear Millionaires-In-Waiting

    Reuben Wang will be defending your million dollar properties soon.
    When he serves his national service.
    Think about that before you pick on him.

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  13. Me am not sure that the students went voluntarily to see the DPM. Understand that they were required to be properly attired and probably told to be respectful to the VIP as well, me thinks. However, along the way, the respect diminished and a student got irated, due to repeated throwing back of questions when they(students) expected answers to their(students) questions.

    The said Student had since apologized and had taken down his blog. For the ST Editorial to revive the Issue again is indeed whipping a dead horse. The Straits Times appears petty and unforgiving to me.

    patriot

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    Replies
    1. Right, very petty (small people)!

      Anyway, what is new?

      I have seriously not been reading my copies of the ST the way I used to read it sans the Sports & Classified years ago.

      Have warned my family that I may dis-continue the subscription.
      Can always buy a copy if needed.

      By the way, the free-to-air channels (why not called free-to-receive? ) are also not my favourite.

      Delete
  14. No swearing needed in response to 'What do you think?' A simple 'I think you don't deserve my vote' or a more polite 'I think you're ill prepared for this dialogue session' will do.

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    1. Let me guess how the white think =

      "'I think you don't deserve my vote' or a more polite"

      So ? We still win by gerrymandering and smearing through state media on the whole. That is all it matters. What difference does your vote make anyway ? You are just a nobody.


      "'I think you're ill prepared for this dialogue session' will do."

      So ? What do you think ? I'm still collect my millions in the end, preparation or no preparation , right ?

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    2. Personally, I like "Fuck you, Sir".
      It best describes all the feelings we have for the Millionaires-In-White

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  15. This is not good...

    During reservist i have men telling me if there is a war...they will shoot the PAP first...the enemy second...

    How dammit! How!!!

    Is the farking PAP gov't crazy...or the people in charged of the PAP gov't farking retards!!!

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  16. Where's your respect for our leaders?

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    Replies
    1. Leaders must lead.

      What do you think?

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    2. DPM Teo doesn't deserve any respect at all. How can we ever give any respect to this Tai Chi Master Black Belt?

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  17. they have yet to earn it and from the look of things, not likely until the next century

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    Replies
    1. We are paying millions of salary.
      For what I don't know.
      But definitely not leadership.
      But what do you think?

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    2. DPM Teo learn to "siam" and "chiak chua" in the SAF. That mentality still exist in him.

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  18. DPM Teo: I would love to stand on your head and fart in your face. Don't ever evade a question with a question. Your are paid millions to answer questions and that's your job.

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