Friday, September 19, 2014

Best Left Unseen, Unheard, Unread

peering into the darknesss....
... with photoshop magic
The first photographic image accompanies Heng Swee Kiat's Facebook post:
"Grateful to Mr Lee for making the time for his former PPSs and some staff to celebrate his 91st birthday with him tonight. Not many people see this side of Mr Lee, but I have always found him to be caring to his staff."

It must be a very dark night indeed, either that or nobody is allowed to see who/what has been cropped out of the picture. Grassroots devotees fallen out of favour? Former comrades uninvited from the occasion?  Maybe the Minister for Education has a lesson plan in mind.

According to textbook author Thanom Anarmwat, the Thai Ministry of Education had ordered that the name of Thaksin Shinawatra be expunged from new history books. The Education Ministry’s instruction is seen as part of a broader effort to instill patriotism in Thai youth, along with a new school curriculum that underlines the unifying themes of the monarchy and the glories of the ancient kingdoms of Siam, as Thailand was formerly known. Inglorious basterds have no place in such history.

In Asia, government deletions of undesirable facts and faces from official archives are not uncommon practice. In China, history textbooks do not mention the military crackdown in Tiananmen Square. One lass recruited from PRC simply excused herself from awareness of that nasty bit, because she was not born yet. She will be well taken care of in Singapore for 11 years, 1 year to learn English, 4 years in university, and 6 years to serve out the bond. She sure knows which side of her bread is buttered.

The grand daddy of guided education and censorship has to be Joseph Stalin. Russian books were rewritten, censored and introduced to teach everyone the ideas of Stalin in schools. He also had all the history of the old communists/exiles erased from education books and reprinted to sanitised versions that gave him more of an elevated role than he deserved. This ultimately gave Stalin control over the young generation of the Soviet Union, as they were led to believe in what was taught to them.

There are skeptics who believe the age of the internet is going to be different. “This is very much the usual practice of Thai elite,” said Charnvit Kasetsiri, former rector of the prestigious Thammasat University. “But it will be difficult because of social media and because it is not that easy to control the thinking of the masses, especially educated youth.”
... it's always hard to stem the enquiring minds

21 comments:

  1. Curiouser and curiouser. You need to blacken the whole background to eliminate a glare? Why doesn't Heng post the original photo to prove his point? LKY and GCT both have offices at the Istana. GCT stated that in the morning he went to LKY's office to wish him happy birthday and he was wearing his casual red jacket. He is then photographed wearing a black coat, definitely not the colour to wear on one's birthday in Singapore. Why did GCT deliberately report that the crotchety old man 'looked well and sharp and spoke with a strong voice"? The posting of that photograph and GCT'S statement appear to have the prepared goal of leading the world to believe that the old man is very much kicking and alive. Surely there is no need for this rigmarole. Just show him speaking "live" on TV. Makes you wonder what is going on.

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  2. Photoshopped to insert those 'glaringly' missing but present at his deathbed because the photo was taken before he passed out?

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  3. Black background, black coat, no family's members, and without those last year birthday's porlumpars , celebrating birthday, what do you think?

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  4. Photoshop is their software of choice. Remember those fake cheering crowds at the YOG and the doctored picture of Prince William and Princess Kate during their visit. It is the digital version of the correction fluid which was used to white out the long hairs of male subjects in newspapers and magazines in the 70's. A deceitful and conceited bunch till the end. Control freaks no less.

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  5. Are there ghosts in the 2nd picture ?

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    Replies
    1. Don't get morbid, it's just skeletons popping out of the cupboards.

      Delete
    2. Are these our "groomed & mentored" Leeders?

      Delete
  6. from peanut to comedian wang's "son", suddenly everyone has become the minister of truth? election rumour is strong, just met two groups of alternative walkarounds this morning. people aren't dumb, but old yoda will somehow "stand" up again for pap.

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    Replies
    1. People are not dumb but are the people in control of parliarment?

      Parliamentary seats = 87
      PAP =80

      Unless the people have 45 seats... the people remain dumb.

      Delete
    2. 87 is not the upper limit.
      There is no legal ceiling.
      Wanna bet Pinky will increase 87 to 100+ seats very soon?

      This will have the unintended consequence of making it even more expensive for an alternative party to win the majority since Singapore's election deposit is one of the most expensive in the world.

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deposit_%28politics%29

      Delete
  7. The Destiny of Man lies in age. The Destiny of Citizenry lies in the Ruler. In the Case of a country rule by folk with concerns only for his power and fortunes, the Country shall only lasts as long as the Ruler.

    So, do be very frightened when the Ruler celebrates his sunset years. The Land he rules shares his sunset. Darkness is setting in for certain.

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  8. Weird - no family members at all at the birthday party?

    And where is the ubiquitous kee chiu?

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    Replies
    1. Kee Chiu quite quiet lately like another young general.
      Could it be that the Cabinet Members are beginning to realize that they together with big nose and $8 guys are pissing off sinkies.
      Now, the aunties in the Cabinet are doing the propaganda. But, they too are also just as pissing and could be even more damages.
      So, wither PAP?

      Delete
    2. Q: Weird - no family members?
      A: Too ugly to be included in such a beautiful occasion..

      Delete
    3. His grandchildren are not returning to Singapore LOL...

      Delete
    4. Q: Who's responsible for this inherent ugliness?
      A: It's the gene genie.

      Delete
    5. Let it be a reminder to the Vain that infamy affects many generations.
      Dont pray pray.
      There are of course
      Successors who care
      not about the Stench of the Family Name in history, so long as they inherit huge fortunes.

      Delete
  9. You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.
    Abraham Lincoln

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    Replies
    1. Well, that doesn't seem to stop the keechiu general from trying to con a SMEs (Small & Medium Enterprises) engagement and networking congregation into buying a shitload of sponsorships for the SG50 programs.

      Delete
    2. Spore already so rich from their greediness and yet wants to solicit donations from SMEs.

      Does this not make the whole 50th anniversary celebrations so commercial yet cheapskate event?

      With such tactful approval from our greedy PAP leaders ?

      Delete
  10. Beggings are on 24/7 in Singapore.
    From the President of Sin down to grasslooters and students, many beg to sustain Sin.

    ReplyDelete