What do we have then? We have vocal activists and opposition politicians (though not that many of them). We also have those who, interpellated by the State’s seductive call, fancy themselves balanced, rational, constructive critics who, more often than not (and I think they might lash their constructive whips on me here) spout wishy-washy pseudo-criticisms and are on stand-by 24/7 to cane those whom they deem unreasonable, i.e truly political. “You must be fair to the PAP. Not everything they do is wrong.” These are the people who believe that when you have a kilogram of criticism, you must balance it with a kilogram of praise and acknowledgement of good work. (Admittedly, this is an exaggeration, but do I not have the right to use hyperbolic language to make a point, however imbalanced and unfair it is?)In bold is a perfect description of the people who make me want to punch walls. (Disclaimer: no walls were harmed in the making of this post.) Their obstructionism is only ever placed in the way of those who are trying to make things better. Never is it directed at those silent and invisible but nevertheless tangible and forceful - even violent - forces that keep the burdens of prejudice, abuse and deprivation where they are.
What we need are Political Uber-bitches. And what they need is some real space in which to exist, not an abyss in which they are constantly hurled prescriptions of sedatives to cure them of their perceived excesses.
"It is a good aim in theory, but your methods are bad," they utter from a reclining position on a sedan chair, never raising so much as a little finger in service of any allegedly superior methods to promote the aims they supposedly support.
Kudos to Molly for turning those sharp feline eyes onto this.
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Wonderful Molly! I was just about to do a Life Stories post on the procine mum whom I had an argument with over the Notorape campaign. While she had A Point, I do believe they were nevertheless situated in this status-quo supporting, non-contrarian to a fault place that's born more of fears of change and an absolute belief that the government has done everything to arrive at The State of Best Interests.
ReplyDelete- BDP
Yes, and what intrigues me is the intellectual contortions to which some people will go to stay in this place (thus rationalise avoid standing up for change). I know someone who will concede every argument you can throw at him regarding censorship and state control of the press, and yet continue, "But what if things go wrong after restrictions are lifted?" My dear friend, things are going wrong now.
ReplyDeletenon-contrarian to a fault place
And then some have developed perfect contrarian instincts, which they unerringly exercise only on activists. They will spend hours of time and immense amounts of energy on arguments for why activist work fails to achieve aims they claim to support - but not a second or joule on those aims themselves.