Re: Boys Will Be Boys
I will reply to this, hate mail notwithstanding.
How was TPL bullied? By hearing the truth??
At the risk of sounding like some AWARE femi-Nazi, I am coming out to say that I did not or do not approve of the way criticisms were leveled at Tin Pei Ling. The way netizens dug out pictures of her posing with that now-infamous Kate Spade box was uncalled for, as was the way she was accused of being a gold-digger after photos of her and her alleged ex were EXposed (pardon the pun). I have nothing good to say about the girl's complete lack of policy sense and her infantile way of answering questions, but I stop at that. The personal potshots taken at her private life were, quite frankly, sexist and uncalled for. I know there will be some who insist there is nothing wrong with doing so, and will go on to cite all the instances of LKY doing the same to his political opponents. I disagree, and I don't see any pride in stooping to those levels.
So yes, to cut a long answer short, it WAS bullying. Saying that her immaturity makes her unsuitable for public office may be telling the truth - notwithstanding the subjective definition of what constitutes "truth". But saying that she's a gold-digging slut who dumped one boyfriend for another to get herself unlimited numbers of Kate Spade bags - which was what many netizens led by the erstwhile Temasek Review was doing - is plain catty.
Are volunteerism and politics mutually exclusive?
No, they aren't, but they are not the same thing either and the sooner we are able to distinguish between the two, the better it is for us. I have nothing against Nicole Seah - at least she has the guts to stand up and be counted (and have people on Hardware Zone wax lyrical about how good she looks when she's sweating), which is much more than I could ever do. But it takes more than sincerity to make a politician and, to that end, I find it laughable how virtually the entire Singapore was cooing at her self-introductory video where she tried to pass off the community service she did in JC as "grassroots work". Given that most of us will have to fulfil some form of community involvement project as part our extracurricular activities, I found it disingenuous that she actually thought she could pass one off for the other. It's not outright dishonesty, but she certainly is taking liberties with the truth.
I think it behooves us all to scrutinize our politicians, PAP or otherwise, equally. A system whereby no contrary opinion can be taken of an opposition party politician - or indeed, when no praise can be leveled at a member of the ruling party - when justly deserved, is no better than what we have now.
Happy belated New Year, everyone.