I do not remember rape being part of the song called Purple Light. (I never even knew the song was called Purple Light – it was always “My rifle, my buddy and me”).
Several of my peers think the words in question were added in the last 10 years or so. Shame on the commanders who thought it fit to add that in. And shame on those who think there’s nothing wrong with the lyrics.
As proud members of the Singapore Armed Forces, it is your duty and honour to defend everything this country stands for. We may be trying to figure out what it is that this country stands for, but condoning and belittling the use of rape as something you do out of spite is definitely not in our book of values. Can?
Given the amount of air time multi-culturalism and multi-racialism is given here, it is easy to forget that there are prejudices and plain cockeyed discrimination in this country.
People of high standing in their professions can suddenly come out and spew the most ridiculously baseless rubbish, and the scary thing is, they have thousands of followers who will continue to overlook the truths of the matter.
I’d go so far as to say this group that purports to save our children from the horrible things they are taught in school are: English-speaking ethnic Chinese born again Christians of churches less than 30 years old.
I’d also say from their Secret Squirrel God Squad actions, that these people are completely nuts. But a schoolmate of mine puts it rather more sensibly:
[1] Support the new ex-co, and you are effectively saying that you condone its quasi-corporate act of infiltration, with related strategies of secrecy, disinformation, moral coercion, and fear-mongering. You are saying that you support its less-than-Christian covert moves more than traditionally Christian ones like dialogue, open engagement, honesty, and clarity.
[2] Support the new ex-co, and we will go down a slippery road with wide-ranging repercussions for all. Don’t believe for a moment that the manoeuvring will stop here. What this invites others to see is that infiltration is the most effective way for small groups of like-minded individuals to seize power quickly — and where will this end? What is to stop any religious or ideological group from doing the same to any social institution at every level? In the long run, who do you think loses?
[3] Support the new ex-co, and you potentially make light of the freedom that is God’s gift to every human being. Against your best intentions, you may send out instead the message that we Christians think that we know better than everyone else and that we are willing to outflank, overpower, and overwhelm if we do not get our way.
[4] Support the new ex-co, and, if they stay and behave as predicted, you will be directly responsible for undoing the trust that many Christians have taken years to build with their non-Christian friends. This is a trust built on mutual respect. You will have made the Gospel of Christ more difficult to hear for years to come because people will think that they know what it is about. You will have created a new generation of Christ-haters.
So, Christian soldiers, don’t go joining AWARE just to vote at Suntec tomorrow in support of the ‘Christian’ leadership.
Sneaky little b*@F*$s, hor? Take advantage of a lax constitution to hijack an organisation that was previously quietly plugging away for women’s rights in Singapore.
The scary thing is how the rest of us normal people haven’t until now realised the sheer number of rabid, fear mongering conservative religious zealots among our middle classes.
They’ve got their clammy hands on the nation’s pulse, but they haven’t strangled the life out of it. Yet.
So. If you’re a woman of any linguistic background, any belief, any sexuality, and are free on 2nd May between 2 and 5pm, make sure they don’t. Go:
First Choice Auditorium
3 Lorong 6 Toa Payoh
#01-01 HSR Building
Singapore 319378
Other things to note:
1/ Only FEMALE members who are Singaporean & PRs above 18 years old are allowed to vote. However, men who are associate members are welcome to come and observe the proceedings.
2/ Sign up at www.aware.org.sg
3/ For those who signed up online and did not receive their membership card, please print out your confirmation email and receipt and bring it along for the EOGM.