An Ambiguous Comment?
In response to his daughter's comments on her 'private' blog (I didn't know blogspot blogs had a private function), Ang Mo Kio Grc MP Wee Siew Kim said that 'Some people cannot take the brutal truth and that sort of language, so she (Shu Min) ought to learn from it.' (Straits Times, 24 Oct 2006)
First, I have to say that I have no idea if he has been misquoted by the Straits Times. Certainly the rest of his statement does not show him portraying himself in some sort of elitist light. Secondly, it could be possible that he is actually referring to his daughter being the one who is unable to 'take the brutal truth and that sort of language'. Possible, but not plausible.
What would the brutal truth be here? That in Singapore (as with in most other places, maybe even the whole world) the rich get richer, while the poor and average usually get stuck around that standard for most of their lives? That ALL Singaporeans ARE given the opportunity to succeed in life, but good financial backgrounds and intellect will always have an important role to play? That since Singaporeans are not denied an education, sent for child prostitution etc., those without the additional benefits of coming from a rich family and having a high IQ should strive their hardest to become one of the rich elite should they wish to do so, which upon doing they will be lauded because such an accomplishment is really hard to achieve, instead of venting their frustrations on a 'private' blog where their views can be met with harsh criticism on another 'private' blog?
Perhaps the brutal truth is that Miss Wee and her father are expected to succeed in life. If they don't, they are seen as substandard. If they do, they will just be praised superficially because people just don't expect any less from them. I announced to the opponents in a 3v5 DOTA game today (me on the 3 side with 2 leavers) that if we lost, there would be no shame in losing, but if we won, the glory would be all ours because the odds were against us. I think they squelched me after that because I told them the brutal truth, one that they cannot handle (no, I didn't chase them off with my language, unless the use of proper English on Battlenet has become vulgar without my knowledge; neither did I fling insults at them, or even imply that they were noob).
So it could be possible that Mr Wee was telling his daughter that this was the brutal truth. That no matter what, in the end, if Derek Wee manages to climb up into their elitist society, the glory will be all his, while if he doesn't noone will fault him? That she shouldn't use 'that sort of language' should she be unable to handle the repercussions? Maybe he will clarify this soon, but I seriously doubt it.
Just as an aside point, Mr Wee's view that 'she wrote in a private blog and I feel that her privacy has been violated. After all, they were the rantings of an 18-year-old among friends.' is rather bizarre to me. From one of Shu Min's posts on her class website (link not going to be provided because people will always find something to say about RJC students and I don't feel like adding to this by providing fodder), she obviously knows of Live Journal, which allows for locked posts that only selected people can view. And while it is understandable that previously, only her friends knew of the website, all it takes is for one person to share it with an outsider who doesn't agree with her opinions and the whole of Singapore (well, at least those with an internet connection...) will be invited to view the post of an uncaring elitist who is incapable of feeling sympathy for someone less fortunate than herself.
o.O. Doesn't that mean that it is highly likely that a fellow Rafflesian actually leaked out Shu Min's post? Taking it in the light that it is possible (even plausible) that this Rafflesian (if it is one after all) leaked it because he/she didn't approve of what Shu Min wrote, perhaps people will stop saying that birds of a Rafflesian feather flock together.
First, I have to say that I have no idea if he has been misquoted by the Straits Times. Certainly the rest of his statement does not show him portraying himself in some sort of elitist light. Secondly, it could be possible that he is actually referring to his daughter being the one who is unable to 'take the brutal truth and that sort of language'. Possible, but not plausible.
What would the brutal truth be here? That in Singapore (as with in most other places, maybe even the whole world) the rich get richer, while the poor and average usually get stuck around that standard for most of their lives? That ALL Singaporeans ARE given the opportunity to succeed in life, but good financial backgrounds and intellect will always have an important role to play? That since Singaporeans are not denied an education, sent for child prostitution etc., those without the additional benefits of coming from a rich family and having a high IQ should strive their hardest to become one of the rich elite should they wish to do so, which upon doing they will be lauded because such an accomplishment is really hard to achieve, instead of venting their frustrations on a 'private' blog where their views can be met with harsh criticism on another 'private' blog?
Perhaps the brutal truth is that Miss Wee and her father are expected to succeed in life. If they don't, they are seen as substandard. If they do, they will just be praised superficially because people just don't expect any less from them. I announced to the opponents in a 3v5 DOTA game today (me on the 3 side with 2 leavers) that if we lost, there would be no shame in losing, but if we won, the glory would be all ours because the odds were against us. I think they squelched me after that because I told them the brutal truth, one that they cannot handle (no, I didn't chase them off with my language, unless the use of proper English on Battlenet has become vulgar without my knowledge; neither did I fling insults at them, or even imply that they were noob).
So it could be possible that Mr Wee was telling his daughter that this was the brutal truth. That no matter what, in the end, if Derek Wee manages to climb up into their elitist society, the glory will be all his, while if he doesn't noone will fault him? That she shouldn't use 'that sort of language' should she be unable to handle the repercussions? Maybe he will clarify this soon, but I seriously doubt it.
Just as an aside point, Mr Wee's view that 'she wrote in a private blog and I feel that her privacy has been violated. After all, they were the rantings of an 18-year-old among friends.' is rather bizarre to me. From one of Shu Min's posts on her class website (link not going to be provided because people will always find something to say about RJC students and I don't feel like adding to this by providing fodder), she obviously knows of Live Journal, which allows for locked posts that only selected people can view. And while it is understandable that previously, only her friends knew of the website, all it takes is for one person to share it with an outsider who doesn't agree with her opinions and the whole of Singapore (well, at least those with an internet connection...) will be invited to view the post of an uncaring elitist who is incapable of feeling sympathy for someone less fortunate than herself.
o.O. Doesn't that mean that it is highly likely that a fellow Rafflesian actually leaked out Shu Min's post? Taking it in the light that it is possible (even plausible) that this Rafflesian (if it is one after all) leaked it because he/she didn't approve of what Shu Min wrote, perhaps people will stop saying that birds of a Rafflesian feather flock together.
posted by Shelly at 12:05 PM
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