Ladies and Gentlemen,
In most countries it is up to the people whether they fly their national flag on special days of the it's history. They may want to show their loyalty by this. But even those who are deeply loyal, may not think it necessary. It is matter of choice. And surely you will not be punished if you don't. Second, in most countries their governments don't have to make a deliberate effort to persuade their citizens to do this.
Not so in Singapore. In Singapore's state controlled newspaper the Straits Times on line edition of July 15, 2009, Lee Kuan Yew's dictatorship has prominently put out a notice headed "Fly the Singapore flag", urging their citizens to fly the island's flag during the country's fortcoming national day celebrations. Odd as it is for any government to go out and deliberately ask their citizens to do this, since this is always a personal choice and not legally mandatory; in Singapore it is even worse, since when the government puts out any "request" such as this in their state controlled media, it is usually not a "request", it is in fact an "order".
In Singapore, unlike anywhere else, even though the flag denotes the country and not any political party or government; because Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore's dictator has been ruling the country uninterrupted for the last 50 years, the flag in effect personifies not Singapore but Lee Kuan Yew and his government. Therefore, in Singapore, when you fly the national flag, you are showing your loyalty not to Singapore but to Lee Kuan Yew and his family for ruling over you. This "order", to fly the Singapore's flag in his state controlled newspaper is a demand that you show your appreciation particularly for him, his family and his government.
And what if you refused after this demand has been put out in the newspaper? Singapore being a country run on fear, that is fear of Lee Kuan Yew and what he will do to you if you oppose, the people fear government agents going around the island marking the names of those who do not fly the flag. Next thing, these "ungrateful citizens" may lose their jobs, they may lose their pensions, they may lose their career promotions, their children might be thrown out of schools, and a litany of misfortune may happen to them.
Even though these terrible things may or may not happen to these flag refusers, the fear itself is sufficient for them to do as they are told. Surely it is not hard to fly the flag. So why take the risk of Lee Kuan Yew's ire by your refusal?
In Singapore, it is hard to live as men and women with free will, because you don't have it. Everything you do, including the apartment that you live in, depends on the patronage and good will of the supreme Lee Kuan Yew and his family. They virtually own each and every "digit" (what Lee Kuan Yew has called the citizens of his country) of a Singaporean.
It is easy for me, from the comfort of my home in California to ask Singaporeans to have more backbone and refuse to fly the flag, because it will be a clear signal to Lee Kuan Yew and his family that you want them out. But as you are prisoners of the dictator Lee Kuan Yew in his island, it would be wrong to expect too much from you.
If there are those who despite these dangers still refuse to fly the Singapore national flag during national day celebrations, I would think you rightfully deserve the Victoria Cross or some other medal for bravery beyond that normally expected of a soldier in battle!
Salute.
Gopalan Nair
39737 Paseo Padre Parkway, Suite A1
Fremont, CA 94538, USA
Tel: 510 657 6107
Fax: 510 657 6914
Email: nair.gopalan@yahoo.com
Blog: http://singaporedissident.blogspot.com/
Your letters are welcome. We reserve the right to publish your letters. Please Email your letters to nair.gopalan@yahoo.com And if you like what I write, please tell your friends. You will be helping democracy by distributing this widely. This blog not only gives information, it dispels government propaganda put out by this dictatorial regime.
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12 comments:
You're right, flying the flag means showing loyalty to the dictator and his family. Flying the flag would be the most despicable thing Singaporeans can do.
National Day is not about Singapore, its about LKY and his family.
Most Singaporeans, especially that unpaid army of 'volunteers' dragooned into ensuring a successful outcome, will privately tell you they have little time for the dog-and-pony show that is the National Day Rally.
Even grizzled heartlanders have finally wised up to the fact that it's no more than a thinly-disguised party political platform. That accounts for the dearth of flags draped proudly over balconies - ordinary people are simply sick to death of the antics of a geriatric government frozen in the politics of the 1960s, demonstrably long past its sell-by date. The only flags that do appear will have been placed by the PAP-run Resident's Committees. The Party cadre, in other words. Unlike the 4th of July in the USA, very few will put up a flag out of pride in their nation. Lee Kwan Yew's policies have seen to that.
When citizens step from their homes and have to struggle against a relentless tide of foreign workers for the meanest jobs, jostle to become yet another sardine on costly public transport, see their health costs spiral out of control, watch their lives become a daily battle to survive while government ministers gorge themselves on millions even in the teeth of the greatest recession since independence - who can blame them for showing a lack of enthusiasm for a rah-rah-we-are-the-champions show? Just what is there to celebrate for the 400,000 on a budget of less than $500 month?
The faked patriotism is plain to see and we all know who has engineered it.
I would rather go fly kite than fly Sinkapore flag
an apple a day keep the headache away. lets live to fight another day. We need health, money and strong backbone to fight, no need to break our back over a flag, fly the flag and keep the unnecessary harm at bay.
At least you know who are responsible to keep the dictators in power, just look for the flag outside the flat.
Singapore is not about Singapore and its people but it's about LKY and his regime.
Fly the flag halfway to show some mourning to remind of the oppression the people have been enduring.
or fly it upside down!
Shame is on you LKY!
renaldi
I hope it is okay that this is off topic here. First, I would like to thank the person (a few articles ago) for contacting australian immigratin authorities regading kangaroo judge Judith Prakash's possible migration to Australia.
This is the latest legal imbroglio involving another kangaroo judge and SDP members:
http://www.yoursdp.org/index.php/home/2569-judge-dismisses-complaint-against-police-
Please especially watch the videos linked to the article.
The full name of kangaroo judge Christopher Goh is:
GOH ENG CHIANG CHRISTOPHER.
Job Title: District Judge
DID: [1] 64355895.
I googled for the above infrmation but was unable to find more information on him, especially information on people who have worked with him professionally so that they could be informed about his proclivity towards kangarooism.
If anyone has any information on him, please post it here.
Thank you.
I hope it is okay that this is off topic here. First, I would like to thank the person (a few articles ago) for contacting australian immigratin authorities regading kangaroo judge Judith Prakash's possible migration to Australia.
This is the latest legal imbroglio involving another kangaroo judge and SDP members:
http://www.yoursdp.org/index.php/home/2569-judge-dismisses-complaint-against-police-
Please especially watch the videos linked to the article.
The full name of kangaroo judge Christopher Goh is:
GOH ENG CHIANG CHRISTOPHER.
Job Title: District Judge
DID: [1] 64355895.
I googled for the above infrmation but was unable to find more information on him, especially information on people who have worked with him professionally so that they could be informed about his proclivity towards kangarooism.
If anyone has any information on him, please post it here.
Thank you.
To anonymous of July 19, 0627,
Thanks for the info on Christorher GOH ENG CHIANG. I called that number which is just an Inquiry Number at the General Office of the Subordinate Court. They refuse to give his own number. However his assistant's number at the civil registry is 6435 5005. If you want to give him a piece of your mind, do it at this number. He should be told off as a Lee Kuan Yew lackey. Just as all the judges of Lee Kuan Yew's First World Singapore.
Thanks
sorry but i hate to say this. i used to enjoy reading your articles but i think things are getting out of hand.
since when we MUST fly our flag on national day even though posters are urging us to? since when it is an order? i never put out the flag and i've NEVER been punished whatsover.
hope you get your facts right. you seem like a bitter man. it is the behaviour of oppositions like you that make people turned off. i respected chee soon juan initially but the way he dealt with things against the government is outrageous. you guys don't deserve my respect eventually.
BB,
Sure, noone in Singapore is ordered to fly the flag. But is not the the perception in the public minds that not flying it would result in some harm, enough to make people fly it even if they hate Lee Kuan Yew and his PAP? Obvioulsy you do not know Singapore even if you claim to live there.
yo,flyin the damn flag is not a must. someone seriously asked me if going to jail is the consequense of not puttin out the flag and i looked at her and asked her if its a joke...well, it wasnt.
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