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And what do ordinary Singaporeans think of Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing’s remarks on elitism? At the closing panel discussion at a conference marking the 30th anniversary of local think tank, Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), the minister cautioned that a distinction must be made between elites who give back to society, and those with elitist attitudes who have closed themselves off from the rest of society.
He sounded rational. The Trade and Industry Minister, described by a journalist at the panel discussion as a member of the elite, explained: “I agree if the group is monolithic and uncaring, by all means call them elites and bash them up. But if the group succeeded and come from diverse background? Don’t pigeonhole people into groups that we find comfortable to do so.”
If we look more closely at what he was saying, he was, in fact, defending elitism by offering two non sequuntur. Of course we are not against any successful person who gives back to society. Of course, we can also spot those with the wrong attitude, who think they are a class apart All this is not rocket science.
The real danger is to allow elitism of any sort to pervade and embed itself in Singapore society. The RGS case is just another example of the mindset prevalent among, if not the elites themselves, their families and people who serve them in the whole ugly system. The system breeds lackeys and functionaries who will out-PAP the PAP and even the PAP elite.
This is precisely what has been happening in the ding dong between Workers’ Party secretary-general Pritam Singh, one of the MPs in Aljunied GRC, and a PAP grassroots adviser over the “political double standards” practised by the PAP.
Read more here... http://theindependent.sg/rgs-condes...itism-the-ugly-side-of-politics-of-dominance/
He sounded rational. The Trade and Industry Minister, described by a journalist at the panel discussion as a member of the elite, explained: “I agree if the group is monolithic and uncaring, by all means call them elites and bash them up. But if the group succeeded and come from diverse background? Don’t pigeonhole people into groups that we find comfortable to do so.”
If we look more closely at what he was saying, he was, in fact, defending elitism by offering two non sequuntur. Of course we are not against any successful person who gives back to society. Of course, we can also spot those with the wrong attitude, who think they are a class apart All this is not rocket science.
The real danger is to allow elitism of any sort to pervade and embed itself in Singapore society. The RGS case is just another example of the mindset prevalent among, if not the elites themselves, their families and people who serve them in the whole ugly system. The system breeds lackeys and functionaries who will out-PAP the PAP and even the PAP elite.
This is precisely what has been happening in the ding dong between Workers’ Party secretary-general Pritam Singh, one of the MPs in Aljunied GRC, and a PAP grassroots adviser over the “political double standards” practised by the PAP.
Read more here... http://theindependent.sg/rgs-condes...itism-the-ugly-side-of-politics-of-dominance/
