I just want to mention a few more things.
Let's for a moment take politics out of this Amos Yee case. When we politicise Amos Yee, he inenvitably becomes a pawn, regardless of who you support, PAP or opposition, each side will hold him up as either saint or sinner and BOTH will want to make an example out of him.
Spare a thought for his parents. Spare a moment to think about how they feel about all this.
As a father, I feel for his father. You work your ass off everyday, come home late, tired, but still have the energy to go and by supper for your family.
You love your child, which father wouldn't? And you hope like crazy day after day that every cent you earn will help make your family's life a little bit easier, a little bit better.
You are no child rearing expert, so you do the best that you know in bringing up that little treasure that used to run to you when you came home from work and hug your legs as if it were the whole world. There is no instruction manual for being the best father, but those days when your child looked at you and gave you that smile that said that your were his hero would make all the tonnes of burdens you carried all seem like a feather at that moment. You are not a man with deep pockets, but when you see your child growing up and showing talent for something, you pour everything you can afford to make sure he does the best that he can. When it pays off, you allow that moment of deep pride, that tear of joy, to just blip the surface and perhaps crack a smile on you face to bask in a moment of happy indulgence.
I believe that as parents, they did what they thought was best. For better or worse, we cannot judge them lest we can honestly say that we are better people.
So now to see his flesh and blood, that little treasure whom he once meant the world to, embroiled in controversy, played as a pawn, abused by strangers, he tries to find peace, reconciliation, and no doubt he asks himself day after day where could he have gone wrong with his son, he sheds a tear now, but with each tear that burden is hardly lifted.
But if I may say to you Mr. Yee, you did your best, you did what any parent could do with whatever they had, don't blame yourself, be strong and live for the day when Amos finally understands what being a filial son and loving child means once again.
I feel for his parents too, every time I see them, they just avoid eye contact with the neighbours.
Used to see his father work late and still tah pow dessert for his family.
Can't imagine the pain he has to bear as both a the man in the family and parent.