Why Booing is perfectly acceptable on certain occasions

[scroobal]

I was dismayed when I read Joshua Chiang's article in TOC. Firstly Joshua has to understand that we already have the Straits Times and there is not need to have another one.

Booing is generally regarded as poor conduct and an act not associated with a civil conduct. What happened on nomination day is a separate issue.

The PAP has muzzled the voice of Singaporeans over 46 years. The press is not free. Free expression has never been part and parcel of this island state. With such limited or generally non availability of a means to express their views, any opportunity to make their point, they grab it.

Booing of candidates is not rare and occurs regularly in the civilised world. The Prime Minister of Australia has been pelted and booed. The same has occurred in the US, UK etc.

Why Tony Tan then?

Firstly, despite various claim, he was endorsed by the govt of the day, various govt linked and govt friendly associations, clans, trade bodies including NTUC. The people who turned up at the nomination day were NTUC members. This is not a govt endorsed or backed candidate only in the eyes of the dumb and blinds. Even a moron knows that he is the Govt's candidate.

Secondly the 7 months of NS served by his son and the continued refusal to come clean has shown Singaporeans that we are dealing with a dishonest and corrupt individual. Singaporeans have lost their lives fulfilling the obligation of National Service. Parents have lost their sons, siblings their brother and we all know of NS mates who have been maimed for life.

Thirdly booing has always occurred in the past. It was however never reported in the press. Not anymore. The social media has stepped into the void. The gag over freedom of speech is being removed and we like to say our piece. Tony Tan as the recent Chairman of SPH epitomises the oppression of free speech more than anyone. It about time that he got the message.

Fourthly having sued a number of people including a helpless housewife of her home, I am sure the booing pales in comparison. I am sure if he was close enough, I won't be surprised that some would spit at him.

Singaporeans let your voices be heard. Do not be shy. If they treat us like sheeps lets us make it clear that it will not be for long.

I am sure that because of the booing, there will be pressure on the govt to behave more appropriately.

 

[byleftcan]

Politics is a dirty entertainment contact sport like the WWE that's why booing and cheering are accepted. Like you said, booing is also common in UK and Australian parliaments even.

 

[PTADER]

I was dismayed when I read Joshua Chiang's article in TOC. Firstly Joshua has to understand that we already have the Straits Times and there is not need to have another one.

Re: Tony Tan Booed at Nomination!

Phony Tony's appeal to the vanity and self-importance of The Online Citizen and some of the blog writers have paid of.

Refer to TOC's report at http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/08/...about-nothing/

TOC's Shawn Danker is so observant and sharp-eyed and has such a phenomenal memory that he was not only able to count the number of jeerers but was also able to recognise the jeerers as being the "same people" who booed Tan Pei Ling.

The TOC writer, Joshua Chiang, has been so honoured by Phony Tony's appeal to TOC's vanity that he has been struck dumb and has been unable to explain why this "same people" did not boo another PAP man, Tan Cheng Bock or the other candidates but instead politely applauded them. Instead, he sought to trivialise the booing incident as an insignificant "much a-boo about nothing"

As despots everywhere know, all you have to do is either persecute or bribe your critics and appeal to their vanities and self-importance and most, like the vanity-stricken, preening peacocks in TOC, will forget the original purpose of their existence and start fawning and falling in line.

The price required to buy off the TOC staff and the likes of them? Invite them to a press conference and buy them a cheap lunch at NUSS Guild House.

 

[PTADER]

Re: Tony Tan Booed at Nomination!

After getting an invitation to Phony Tony's press conference and a cheap lunch at NUSS Guild House, the TOC goes one up on the PAP prostitute press.

Phony Tony's cheap lunch treat must have been pretty delicious.


*****

http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/08/...about-nothing/

"Much a-boo about nothing?
Posted by theonlinecitizen on August 18, 2011 51 Comments

The jeers that greeted Presidential candidate Dr Tony Tan as he took to the stage to give his speech on Nomination Day were loud enough that those who were watching the live broadcast on Channel Newsasia could here.

“I think it is deeply disappointing to have people who will not even listen. I hope that during this campaign, Singaporeans will listen to views of all the candidates,” Dr Tan told the press afterwards.

According to Today, it was the supporters of rival candidate Mr Tan Jee Say who jeered at Dr Tony Tan. The Online Citizen’s volunteer photographer Shawn Danker who was present at the Nomination Centre concurred.

He estimated that there were 50 Tan Jee Say supporters in the crowd of roughly 500....


*****

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stori...147538/1/.html

PE: Tan Jee Say wants to be govt's auditor
By Imelda Saad | Posted: 17 August 2011 1813 hrs


SINGAPORE: Presidential candidate Tan Jee Say has said that if elected, he would like to play the role of an "auditor and gatekeeper" to the government.

Speaking at a news conference on Wednesday afternoon, Mr Tan said he would like to remind Singaporeans about the primary role of the Elected President, which he said is to act as a check on a possible rogue government.

But Mr Tan stressed he would like to have a "good working relationship based on mutual respect and frankness" with the government to discharge his duties under the Constitution.

Earlier, Mr Tan was accompanied by a few hundred supporters at the Nomination Centre...."

*****

 

[PTADER]

If he had any pride or sense of shame, Phony should step down as a candidate immediately.

A fluke outcome may see him being President. What will happen then is that he will bring the institution into disgrace and disrepute.

Come every August 9, the stadium and other National Day venues will erupt into thunderous jeers and boos whenever he makes his appearance.

 

[kingrant]

Welcome to the real world where realpolitiks is what's it all about!

Heckling, booing, jeering, demonstrations and throwing shoes at govt figures or VIPs are generally accepted in a First World democracy. The only places where they are not allowed are North korea, Burma, African dictatorships, Communist China. Even Putin gets booed.

C'mon, it's time Sinkies grow up and stop muzzling themselves. People like Joshua have been listening to too much govt propaganda on Confucian values, deference to elders and superiors and all that bullshit. Those values help dictators hold on and justify their hold on power.

Someone shouting "Where's the money?" shouldnt be sued or clamped up; but the person to whom the question was put should be asked to answer. The question was simply to know if we had given a big loan to a dictator who was a friend of the Family while the poor and homeless and jobless suffer in Singapore.

 

[yellowarse]

Booing may be considered boorish and uncivil, but at the end of the day it's still the right of a people to express their pent-up frustrations and unhappiness at an individual who's been a pivotal pillar of the repressive regime.

What other avenues of expression does a neutered and muzzled people have anyway, with the Sword of Damocles hanging over their every word and deed?

 

[saratogas]

If Dr Tony Tan isn't use to public scrutiny he should remain in his comfort zone...

Wondering how cum after so many years in top management he still haven't got thick skin?

He should reply "what booing?, I didn't hear any..."

 

[Confuseous]

I think it is because they have been in top management for so loooooooooooong that they have a thin skin. Surrounded by sycophants, eunuchs, por lam pars, boot lickers and people who have forgotten the word 'NO' all your life and believing all the press releases that he reads in the Brothel's Press, you think you are the one, the greatest.

If Dr Tony Tan isn't use to public scrutiny he should remain in his comfort zone...

Wondering how cum after so many years in top management he still haven't got thick skin?

He should reply "what booing?, I didn't hear any..."

 

[captainxerox]

I think it is because they have been in top management for so loooooooooooong that they have a thin skin. Surrounded by sycophants, eunuchs, por lam pars, boot lickers and people who have forgotten the word 'NO' all your life and believing all the press releases that he reads in the Brothel's Press, you think you are the one, the greatest.

that is the probably the best and simplest explanation.

 

[mojito]

I think it is time these self-righteous twits like Joshua Chiang (and by extension, one presidential candidate) to realise that jeering is a perfectly acceptable manner to show dissatisfaction and frustration, especially for those who have little skill with the written word. As scroobal has pointed out, the crowd is not jeering at TT because he is a stronger/better candidate (as opposed to jeering at an opposing team in sports), but because of his various antics during his stint as a PAP Minister.

I get this nagging feeling that ex-establishment types like TJS never got rid of their innate bias to thumb down on the masses. He did not have to answer the reporter's question directly, yet it is a lack of political acumen or some warped sense of self-righteousness that made him put down his own supporters on national tv.

 

[jw5]

Someone shouting "Where's the money?" shouldnt be sued or clamped up; but the person to whom the question was put should be asked to answer. The question was simply to know if we had given a big loan to a dictator who was a friend of the Family while the poor and homeless and jobless suffer in Singapore.

The woodpecker did answer the question - by pointing sarcastically to his pocket.

 

[neddy]

Welcome to the real world where realpolitiks is what's it all about!



Someone shouting "Where's the money?" shouldnt be sued or clamped up; but the person to whom the question was put should be asked to answer. The question was simply to know if we had given a big loan to a dictator who was a friend of the Family while the poor and homeless and jobless suffer in Singapore.

My 2-cent view:
It is no longer business as usual.
These are legitimate concerns and it is time that people realise that they have a voice.

When a freak like Tin Pei Ling becomes a peoples' representive, it is hard for people like me looking from overseas not to laugh. Even another ex British crown colony, Hongkong legistrators have built up battle-scarred hides from their public service. Thin-skinned PAP need to grow hides.

In the end, the jeerings is good for the future of Singaporeans. TJS aim is to keep the govt honest, he does not need to apologise for people's spontaneous response to TT (it is a way to keep him honest).

 

[yellowarse]

I get this nagging feeling that ex-establishment types like TJS never got rid of their innate bias to thumb down on the masses. He did not have to answer the reporter's question directly, yet it is a lack of political acumen or some warped sense of self-righteousness that made him put down his own supporters on national tv.

TJS had no choice. If he had kept quiet, the press would go to town with it and claim that he tolerates hooliganism and boorish behaviour among his supporters. He can then kiss his campaign goodbye.

Off the record TJS actually told the reporters the booing was no big deal.

 

[zeddy]

Millionaire Football players being booed... Political leaders from the UK and US have been booed too.. Remembered John Presscott the ex Labour DPM being being pelted with an egg by a protester.. Even Tony Blair and Gordon Brown were victims of hecklers and the boo boys.. The state car of Prince Charles had also bore the brunt of their dissatisfied citizens when those protesters attacked the car with the Royal Couple in it.... These PAP fuckers are behaving like special big headed elites... Citizens are not allowed to air their frustrations towards the PAP Lords... F*ck them... in fact I had a great time with my fellow Sporeans booing Wong Kan Seng during Nomination day last May...

 

[Patriot]

If a public figure welcomes & can accept the cheers, he must also be ready to face & accept the jeers!

 

[shittypore]

Akan datang, by law no jeering and booing at Nomination
Centre, breachers will be fined Sing 300......end of story.:*:

 

[GoldenDragon]

I wonder if the people upset that TT was victimized would feel the same if booing was reserved only for TCB, TJS and TKL. I vividly recall CST being given the same treatment and it was in Parliament. The guilty ones were MIWs. How? Double standard? TT lucky to just kena booed. No throwing of slippers, rotten eggs etc.

 

[PTADER]

I wonder if the people upset that TT was victimized would feel the same if booing was reserved only for TCB, TJS and TKL. I vividly recall CST being given the same treatment and it was in Parliament. The guilty ones were MIWs. How? Double standard? TT lucky to just kena booed. No throwing of slippers, rotten eggs etc.

Not quite sure what Phony's problem is with the booing. It is not as though his wife and children were being terrorised like what Phony Tan did to his political opponent's wife and child. Phony and his merry men did after all destroy many lives and families by throwing their political opponents and supporters into jail on trumped-up charges under the ISA.

 

[steffychun]

I disagree with you and agree with Joshua.

Go Boo at Barack Obama and see what happens. Or Sarah Palin--even worse.