- Joined
- May 6, 2009
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Should Rony Tan be detained, charged, fined, CANED ?!
Are Christians persecuted ?!
Are non-Christians over sensitive & the actual intolerant ones ?!
Is this again the work of the 'MILITANT SECULARISTS' ?
What does the outburst of extreme remarks & insults tell us about the reality of simmering undercurrent of unhappiness between adherents of different religions ?!
Does agreement of this ISD action equate to endorsement of the hated PAP ?!
************************************************************************
Below are some of my thoughts on this episode :-
There is a spectrum of views ranging from one extreme end (a) to the other extreme end (z):-
(a)
Pst Rony Tan (henceforth RT) did nothing wrong.
Freedom of religion. Freedom of speech.
it is all the work of 'Militant Secularists'.
ISD/ Police all should not get involved.
Christians are persecuted !!!
(b)
As in (a) except that RT should have been more sophisticated & not project a 'mocking' image. Christian are badly represented by RT, no persecution. Healthy debate & 'community interaction' will resolve everything.
.....
(m)
Govt position. call up & told official stance : that his action was 'offensive' & 'disrespectful'. Should not comment on other religions in such a manner detrimental to harmony.
Apologies made & accepted. Promises made never to repeat & accepted.
....
(y) RT should be charged
(z) RT should be fined / jailed / caned. Extreme name callings from both sides.
The portrayal above is a bit simplistic but generally fairly accurate.
I agree with the middle position taken by the Govt.
On both ends, all the repressed unhappiness of ongoing unspoken prejudice or smug snooty behaviour erupted to attack/ defend their respective faiths.
Whether it is healthier to let a truly mature society emerge by allowing a free-for-all is IMHO a very naive sentiment.
As in M'sia, Singapore society will never be the same again if that were to come to pass.
Simply because so-called ' healthy debate' cannot happen due to human nature & the volatility of the subject matter, sensitivities & civic self-control are very fragile.
Even if matters were to go to court, the repercussions on society outside of the courtroom - the damage in ill-will & community distrust will simmer & gather - cumulatively, all it takes is one lighted matchstick in a dry prarie plain.
Just witness how this thread has developed from post #1. Emotional energy will be charged up inevitably.
Theological engagements also not productive. One side can simply produce the 'ierrancy of the Bible' argument & end-of-story. Witness the baiting & inflammable remarks made by extreme Christians here & equally venomous retorts of their opponents.
Human Nature & the Nature of Religion make useful debate a futile exercise.
The important thing to note here is NOT mere expediency or Political correctness or basic freedoms.
It is recognizing the nature of human society.
There WILL be different religions & faiths.
Lack of mutual respect & drawing up some zone of peace, freedom & neutrality is essential & not a cop out.
OB markers not necessarily an affront to 'mature society' utopia.
However imperfect, ISD & its arbitrary powers has its place in Singapore whether in the past or in the future.
I rather put up with the possibility of abuse in the wrong hands rather than face the inevitable consequence of free-for-all contention leading to the worst scenerios.
Are Christians persecuted ?!
Are non-Christians over sensitive & the actual intolerant ones ?!
Is this again the work of the 'MILITANT SECULARISTS' ?
What does the outburst of extreme remarks & insults tell us about the reality of simmering undercurrent of unhappiness between adherents of different religions ?!
Does agreement of this ISD action equate to endorsement of the hated PAP ?!
************************************************************************
Below are some of my thoughts on this episode :-
There is a spectrum of views ranging from one extreme end (a) to the other extreme end (z):-
(a)
Pst Rony Tan (henceforth RT) did nothing wrong.
Freedom of religion. Freedom of speech.
it is all the work of 'Militant Secularists'.
ISD/ Police all should not get involved.
Christians are persecuted !!!
(b)
As in (a) except that RT should have been more sophisticated & not project a 'mocking' image. Christian are badly represented by RT, no persecution. Healthy debate & 'community interaction' will resolve everything.
.....
(m)
Govt position. call up & told official stance : that his action was 'offensive' & 'disrespectful'. Should not comment on other religions in such a manner detrimental to harmony.
Apologies made & accepted. Promises made never to repeat & accepted.
....
(y) RT should be charged
(z) RT should be fined / jailed / caned. Extreme name callings from both sides.
The portrayal above is a bit simplistic but generally fairly accurate.
I agree with the middle position taken by the Govt.
On both ends, all the repressed unhappiness of ongoing unspoken prejudice or smug snooty behaviour erupted to attack/ defend their respective faiths.
Whether it is healthier to let a truly mature society emerge by allowing a free-for-all is IMHO a very naive sentiment.
As in M'sia, Singapore society will never be the same again if that were to come to pass.
Simply because so-called ' healthy debate' cannot happen due to human nature & the volatility of the subject matter, sensitivities & civic self-control are very fragile.
Even if matters were to go to court, the repercussions on society outside of the courtroom - the damage in ill-will & community distrust will simmer & gather - cumulatively, all it takes is one lighted matchstick in a dry prarie plain.
Just witness how this thread has developed from post #1. Emotional energy will be charged up inevitably.
Theological engagements also not productive. One side can simply produce the 'ierrancy of the Bible' argument & end-of-story. Witness the baiting & inflammable remarks made by extreme Christians here & equally venomous retorts of their opponents.
Human Nature & the Nature of Religion make useful debate a futile exercise.
The important thing to note here is NOT mere expediency or Political correctness or basic freedoms.
It is recognizing the nature of human society.
There WILL be different religions & faiths.
Lack of mutual respect & drawing up some zone of peace, freedom & neutrality is essential & not a cop out.
OB markers not necessarily an affront to 'mature society' utopia.
However imperfect, ISD & its arbitrary powers has its place in Singapore whether in the past or in the future.
I rather put up with the possibility of abuse in the wrong hands rather than face the inevitable consequence of free-for-all contention leading to the worst scenerios.
