When I Was Young

You can’t please everyone… and certainly when it is about being “free”, free to express and think for yourself, and to decide on your own…

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AWARE SAGA

Letter from Gavin Lee

I WAS very disappointed with Today’s decision to feature a four-page answer to the Aware saga from Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng.

I believe civil society has shown unprecedented maturity over the past few weeks. First, the media caught wind of the unsavoury takeover of a women’s advocacy group and reported on it. Second, Singaporeans were alarmed by the religious slant in a civil rights group. Then, Singaporean women voted out the new Exco who had orchestrated a coup to oust several longtime, well-respected figures.

All this has shown that civil society is capable of regulating itself. It is clear that the majority of both Christian and non-Christian Singaporeans wish for a clear separation between civil and religious space. And they took action to ensure that this separation is preserved.

Why is it that in this scenario, Today felt the need for an official conclusion, and Mr Wong still felt the need to step in?

Undoubtedly, the issue of homosexuality did a lot to obfuscate the bigger issues at hand. But if Singaporeans have already shown that they are mature enough to handle the prickly topic of religious versus civil space, why can’t we be trusted to handle issues like sexuality?

I bet many students are memorising Mr Wong’s responses for use in their General Paper works. Bear in mind that these are Singapore’s future leaders.

I, for one, don’t see any point in blaming the youth on being apathetic if society is bent on spoon-feeding them. Let society find its own outlets for handling these tricky issues.

From TODAY, Voices – Monday, 18-May-2009

Their stand is clear: “Aware has never promoted homosexuality”.

In a statement yesterday evening, the 24-year-old Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware) stressed that its stand has always “been identical to that of the Government”.

“We agree that the heterosexual family is the norm for our society,” the women’s advocacy group stated. “But homosexuals are also part of our society and they should be able to live freely and happily, free of any discrimination.”

Their comments come in response to Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng’s comment that homosexuality was “clearly a major issue to both sides” in the Aware saga.

While welcoming Mr Wong’s reminder of the need for restraint, respect and tolerance, Aware said it was “most regrettable” that some people now think it has a “gay agenda”, and that “wrongful allegations” continue to be perpetuated online and through other channels.

“This is totally unfounded,” it stressed. The allegations by Dr Thio Su Mien and those she “handpicked” to take over Aware’s leadership were based “on the strength of bits of information taken out of context and strung together to create an imaginary and inaccurate picture of Aware’s activities”, said Aware.

But, the current executive committee is moving on, they said. With an expanded membership, they are now putting together programmes for the year. ALICIA WONG

From TODAY-Weekend, News – 16/17-May-2009

AWARE SAGA

Observers welcome DPM Wong’s comments, Govt’s restraint in the matter

Alicia Wong, alicia@mediacorp.com.sg

BEYOND being a case that reaffirmed the OB markers between politics and faith, what impressed some watchers was how civil society had jumped into action, when it seemed that religion was involved in the takeover of the Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware).

And equally admirable was that the State held back from intervening for as long as it did. To protest the election of the New Guard to the executive committee, “civil society acted and threw them out”, said political scientist Bilveer Singh.

He was commenting on Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng’s remarks on the need to keep religion and politics separate — which observers found reassuring — and how the Government had been careful in its comments before the decisive May 2 EGM.

Other than proving the maturing of Singapore’s society, said Dr Singh, these events showed that “the State is beginning to have faith in civil society, something which they have been suspicious of all this while”. “And it shows our (citizens’) own OB markers — that religion is out-of-bounds,” he added.

Another academic was “glad the Government held back”. “If they had charged in ... it would have done neither the Old or New Guard any good and reduced the space for civil society,” added the don, who did not want to be named.

Did the previous Aware Exco, in the first place, cross the line by bringing religion into the fray?

Former Exco member Jenica Chua is adamant that they did not. She maintains that none of them had spoken on religion at the March 28 AGM, media reports of which had sparked off the whole controversy.

“The question that bears answering is, who put in the religious slant?” said Ms Chua, who spoke to Today in her personal capacity.

She felt Mr Wong “hit the nail on the head” when he said the media coverage was insufficiently balanced. The reports, she said, “polarised” the election as “that of a secular versus religious tussle”.

She also defended Church of our Sa viourpastor Derek Hong, who had rallied support for those in the Exco team who were part of his congregation; he later apologised for using the pulpit in this saga.

Ms Chua clarified that he had asked for support for them through this stressful time, when they were worried about death threats and job security. “He did not say, ‘go and join as members of Aware and vote for us’,” said Ms Chua.

Mr Wong warned against religious groups using the pulpit to mobilise followers to pressure the Government, as this would lead to trouble.

Netizens at Reach’s forum applauded Mr Wong’s views overall, and especially felt the media should have been more factual.

Dr Singh agreed the coverage was excessively negative against the New Guard, but judging by “coffeeshop talk”, it only reflected the majority view out there which was unsettled by the intrusion of religion into a secular organisation.

While religious undertones did “come across in the media”, said sociology professor Tan Ern Ser, “the key issue could easily be conveyed as one involving differences in values, even secular values”.

What he would take away from the Aware saga: When two value standpoints are diametrically different, compromise can be a “tall order” and robust debates may not always win an argument — “it may end up being decided by strength in numbers, volume and eloquence”.

From TODAY-Weekend, News – 16/17-May-2009

Zul Othman, zul@mediacorp.com.sg

THE daily coverage by selected media of the month-long leadership tussle at Aware was, in the words of Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng, “extensive” and “breathless”. However, he also found some of the coverage “excessive” and “not sufficiently balanced”.

In response to questions from Today regarding the coverage by selected media during the Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware) saga, Mr Wong said that although there were important issues to be addressed - such as the proper limits for religious activism - it was “surely not the most important challenge facing Singapore”.

“Whatever happened in Aware was not going to change Singapore or the Government’s social policy,” said Mr Wong, who is also the Home Affairs Minister.

Mr Wong said the Ministry of Information, Communication and the Arts had analysed the objectivity of the coverage of the Aware episode and “found it wanting in some respects”. Mica has given its feedback to the relevant editors.

Singapore Management University Assistant Professor Eugene Tan said that “it was possible” that some reporters “were caught up” in the month-long Aware drama that began on March 28 after a team of newcomers seized nine out 12 positions on its exco.

“Perhaps, it a natural reaction because of their (reporters’) own personal views. Still, this is when professionalism comes in - to separate personal views so one can report on the events objectively,” he said. These views, Asst Prof Tan said, led to reports that polarised public opinion.

Some felt that selected media had adopted a very liberal attitude and denounced the Old Guard exco’s strong views on homosexuality.

But gays and their supporters might have felt that “the papers did not come down hard enough on what was perceived as a religion coming into a secular space”, Asst Prof Tan added.

In his email interview with Today, Mr Wong warned against the importing of “culture wars between the extreme liberals and conservatives” common in countries, such as the United States.

To ensure that Singapore remains a “communally peaceful society”, there is a need to observe “the rules of engagement”, Mr Wong said. This also applies to the media - when reporting on the issues, journalists should do it “dispassionately and impartially”.

As for those who participate in the Internet, Mr Wong said: “Ultimately, he remains no less accountable for the consequences of his actions in cyberspace as he does in the physical world”.

From TODAY, News; Friday, 15-May-2009

By Alicia Wong, TODAY | Posted: 16 May 2009 0741 hrs

AWARE's new exco - elected at EGM on May 2, 2009

SINGAPORE: Their stand is clear: "AWARE has never promoted homosexuality".

In a statement on Friday evening, the 24-year-old Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE) stressed that its stand has always "been identical to that of the government".

"We agree that the heterosexual family is the norm for our society," the women's advocacy group stated. "But homosexuals are also part of our society and they should be able to live freely and happily, free of any discrimination."

Their comments come in response to Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng's comment that homosexuality was "clearly a major issue to both sides" in the AWARE saga.

While welcoming Mr Wong's reminder of the need for restraint, respect and tolerance, AWARE said it was "most regrettable" that some people now think it has a "gay agenda" and that "wrongful allegations" continue to be perpetuated online and through other channels.

"This is totally unfounded," it stressed. The allegations by Dr Thio Su Mien and those she "handpicked" to take over AWARE's leadership were based "on the strength of bits of information taken out of context and strung together to create an imaginary and inaccurate picture of AWARE's activities", said AWARE.

But, the current executive committee is moving on, they said. With an expanded membership, they are now putting together programmes for the year.
- TODAY/so

From ChannelNewsAsia.com; see the source article here.

Channel NewsAsia - Saturday, May 16

Homosexual groups, pro—family groups call for tolerance on gay issue

SINGAPORE : Homosexual groups and pro—family groups may not see eye—to—eye on sexuality, but many in both camps agree with Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng’s call for tolerance and accommodation on the subject.

The AWARE saga brought many divisive issues to the forefront, and sociologists doubt these will be resolved despite their airing.

Associate Professor Paulin Straughan, a sociologist, said: "In a conflict, where values are involved, there is never a win—win situation. If you push on one side, the other side would have to retreat. So then you force the polarity, I don’t think that is very healthy.

"When you have these kinds of heated exchanges, especially when it goes into cyberspace under the cover of anonymity, strong words are heard, and there is always the danger that you push somebody who is normally apathetic to take a stand. And at the end of the day, it does polarise."

This is one reason why analysts said the government decided to give a response.

DPM Wong said that while Singapore is a conservative society, homosexuals are entitled to their private lives. He stressed the importance for different groups to live and let live — a view welcomed by many, including homosexuals.

Said Stuart Koe, CEO of gay portal Fridae.com: "The gay community is pro—family. We have families. We love our families and our families love us. But as a result of what’s been happening in the press and the public media, a lot of abuse and offensive words have been hurled with impunity and I think the people around us are quite hurt about that.

"I’m really concerned that the pendulum in Singapore seems to have swung so far to the right. What he (DPM Wong) said to the press is very important because it is what brings Singapore to the centre. That is very heartening for the gay community to hear because we feel like we are being cornered.

Dr Carol Balhetchet, director of Youth Services at the Singapore Children’s Society said: "I agree with the government that the two critical values we need to have is respect and tolerance. Just as much as the small conservative group’s views should not be forced on the mainstream, similarly, the liberal’s views should not be forced on the rest of us."

And all said it’s important to agree to disagree. — CNA /ls

From Yahoo! News; see the source article here.