Sg slapped over Freedom of Speech

[khaninawatsibai]

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/9670156/ (click link)

i feel there is a need for some ppl ard here to read this article. or most ppl :lol: sorry beforehand if you'v read this b4 go n grab a burger or somethin.

 

[GuitarNoob]

Free speech! ^_^ \/

 

[jumbofret]

Hahaha freedom of speech... It has its pros and cons, go research on it.

I find it very amusing when 3 guys are charged for making "racist" remarks online. I personally feel that these remarks aren't racist in nature, but are very offensive. If you want to know what racist remarks are, head down to the Australia or US and you will definitely hear such remarks from racists. (Remember the film Harold and Kumar? :lol: ) You should read more newspapers as well, on how racism is interpretated overseas. They have a better understanding than S'pore, IMO.

Hmm... Best for me not to type too much... Wait I go over the limit and kena arrested... I am too politically incorrect, fyi.

Singapore got freedom of speech! Where??? At the kopitiam lor!

:lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[lars_ulrich]

i tink having freedom of speech and making racist remarks are 2 very diffrent things. and who says theres freedom of speech in the kopitiam? please la, everytime i say something "wrong" i have so many people calling for my head. freedom of speeh? i dont think so.

 

[vernplum]

I find it 'amusing' that a spokesman (Levin) for a country that epitomises the moral and ethical decline of Western Civilization due to its liberal attitudes and consitutionally enshrined rights and degrees of freedom (the right to bear arms anyone?) should care to suggest that an orderly and well run country should follow in its footsteps...

 

[nebo1981]

Seriously ...~
I like this stand that singapore has taken~!
I'm so glad dat i dun have to face any of the racism, i experienced in Australia, here in Singapore.

I feel it it important that there is a limit to everything ~

And to be brutally honest,
America should take a proper look at itself before critising Singapore.
So wat if US has got "freedom" of speech ?
There's even more segregation and conflicts among races there ~!

Taking into context of the 3 ppl that were charged...
this never happened before, but our government has the foresight to realise that comments like these could lead to irrepairable consequences. How den would we be able to pride ourselves as a multi-racial nation ?

 

[nebo1981]

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/9670156/ (click link)

i feel there is a need for some ppl ard here to read this article. or most ppl :lol: sorry beforehand if you'v read this b4 go n grab a burger or somethin.

the last sentance of the article:
"At the time, Singapore relaxed its ban on demonstrations and allowed a large protest rally to take place in front of the US embassy."

Stupid egocentric journalist~!
All Embassy's land is property of their own country.
The land under the US embassy is owned by the US, and is thus covered under their own laws & constitution.
Dat's why ppl can protest there ~!
Singapore police offered to help incase things got out of hand, and this kindness has been reported in the article as suppression.

Also it is not illegal to protest or rally ...
but ... you have to get a permit from the police (mission impossible)
:roll:
There's also Hong Lim Park...
dat is .. if there's anyone there to hear you ~

 

[jumbofret]

I find it 'amusing' that a spokesman (Levin) for a country that epitomises the moral and ethical decline of Western Civilization due to its liberal attitudes and consitutionally enshrined rights and degrees of freedom (the right to bear arms anyone?) should care to suggest that an orderly and well run country should follow in its footsteps...

Haha there are many ways to achieve freedom of expression/speech, Levin never said that S'pore should adopt the US style. He was simply saying that S'pore should lighten up. That's all, dude.

Haha, comments like those aren't the serious problem. They are the least. They are just mere offensive griping. The serious problem is the attitude, man. Go to any neighbourhood primary/secondary school and you will see racism for yourself. And punishing those guys isn't dealing with the problem, really. I think there is a serious need to recognise the problems and deal with them, instead of putting up a front.

Lars_Ulrich: You are hanging out with the wrong people, check out the old guys at the coffeeshops for political discussions lol. And I feel that you didn't get the gist of what I meant. Perhaps there is a serious need for a reformation in the S'porean education system?

 

[jeremyrozario]

after coming back from japan, every1 should be like the japanese, very polite to every1, and basically very erm....calm? theyre such courteous people, anw ishibashi service rocks ass

 

[jumbofret]

nebo1981: You didn't understand the article. Again, a very good example of how S'pore needs to revamp its education system.

Let's take a look at the bigger picture, ok?

"US-Singapore relations have improved steadily since late 1980s, when Singapore accused the US of interfering in its internal affairs by alleging that the US embassy had secretly provided financial support to an opposition politician.

At the time, Singapore relaxed its ban on demonstrations and allowed a large protest rally to take place in front of the US embassy."

You see, US was alleged of supporting an opposition politician secretly. Of course, by the 80s, US is known as the "global policeman" (remember the Korean War, Vietnam War, the Cold War, etc?). S'poreans were very angry that US had meddled in domestic affairs, and they wanted to show their frustration. So, S'pore relaxed its ban on demonstrations for the pissed-off S'poreans to protest. And it was written "allowed a large protest rally to take place in front of the US embassy." The land in front of an embassy in any nation is still considered national property. So, in this context, the land in front of the US embassy is S'pore territory!!!

Pseudo-intellect, you.

 

[vernplum]

after coming back from japan, every1 should be like the japanese, very polite to every1, and basically very erm....calm? theyre such courteous people, anw ishibashi service rocks ass

How quickly history fades through the generations...

<Edit> I retract and apologise for this remark. Let's just stick with Americans, eh?

 

[vernplum]

Haha there are many ways to achieve freedom of expression/speech, Levin never said that S'pore should adopt the US style..

I know.

But it's a slippery slope - freedom of speech one day, Nazi germany the next. just kidding...

 

[jumbofret]

Nah, the Nazi Germany scenario is least likely to happen, since S'pore is an impt member of the world and so the UN & the US will do everything they can to prevent that.

You have a point. Freedom of expression/speech can lead to moral and ethical decay. It's a very risky policy, and not everyone will benefit from it.

Usually, people who push for freedom of expression/speech are those who are involved with politics, arts and media. For them, it's important. For us, nah...

 

[nebo1981]

nebo1981: .

infront - could mean at the doorstep (still on their land) or outside it's parameters.

And i do agree with you on looking at the larger picture.


watever it is,
Guess i got too emotional over reading the article.
i wasnt there, but i assumed.... my bad.

 

[jumbofret]

Well, The embassy's territory usually extends to the gate. Land outside the gate belongs to the country. Here's an example. When Koizumi (Idiot! He did that again recently! Argh... And I am now in China lol) visited that damn Yasukuni shrine long ago, you saw Chinese protesting in front of the Japanese embassy at Beijing.

Protests against a certain foreign country is usually done in front of the embassy. Just outside of the gates. Cause it's homeland.

Sorry if I have offended you, just don't take me too seriously. I am a bit crazy, really. :twisted:

 

[rottenramone]

..

Haha, comments like those aren't the serious problem..

I totally agree with you, Jumbofret.

I would say that racism is ever present, and to put up a false front instead of readily admitting of its existence would cause much disaster.

 

[nebo1981]

Sorry if I have offended you, just don't take me too seriously. I am a bit crazy, really. :twisted:

Hey dude,

none taken.
infact, i'd like to thank you for bringing my view into perspective,
i really was abit too emotional while reading the article.

 

[jumbofret]

rottenramone: Yeah... I think that kids should be punished for making insensitive racist remarks... So that they don't carry such an attitude when they grow up... Or something like that.

I think that the education system is somewhat flawed, where heavy emphasis is placed on academic success instead of intangible values such as morality, ability to think, etc.

People define nations... Any nation may have skyscrapers, natural resources etc but at the end of the day, it boils down to its people. That's why S'pore is doing so well compared to its neighbours...

 

[hifi_killer]

haha in your face. Singapore government.

Seriously i think the govt is abit too uptight, the white elephant incident really cause too much controversy than it should! The police getting so worked up at something as harmless as a piece of cardboard? People need a permit for a protest? What kinda logic is that? People protest on the basis of free will, they shouldnt protest because the government allow them to.

 

[lars_ulrich]

as with everything in life, freedom of speech shudnt be taken to the extremes. of course u cant have everybody running about doing and saying what they like. they are still things that are wrong. but u cant have a situation like it is here. i mean, you need a permit to protest against something? and the moment you say bad stuff about a certain person(we all know who) u get thrown in jail? .