It is a revolution in Singapore style: no protesting and no chaos, at least observable ones. Singapore is going through a transformative phase, one which is for once not imposed upon by the government through its campaigns. Its people, the youth especially, are leading this revolution.
The watershed general election in May had shown that Singaporeans are willing to participate in bringing about the changes they wish to see. Facebook notes of their stand and hopes for a more democratic country were written and circulated. At the election rallies, attendance was the highest in history. No longer can the youth be affronted with criticisms of their apathy.
The shifting ground sentiments for a less regimented society is not without opposition. This is recently manifested through an inconsequential uproar over the use of a four-letter expletive F word by a valedictorian in National Technology University. As the video of her speech went viral, it had almost the entire country talking about it – the appropriateness or denouncing the usage of that single word. Media sensationalization aside, this little episode reveals the underlying clash of values belying a society that has for a big part of its history been tolerating, if not advocating, conformity.
Pic:AP
Fun is perhaps the least appropriate word to describe pristine Singapore. It is a place where graffiti can fetch eight strokes of cane and where chewing sweets on the train can possibly result in a fine. Rationality is seen as the only palatable attribute worth upholding, while passions and emotions are inane. Cooling off day, designated as a 24-hour period before election day when campaigning is not allowed, was designed by the government to provide voters the time to reflect “calmly” on their decision.
However, this school of thought fails to recognize the lack of passion disengages one completely from an issue. Jonathan Haidt, a psychology professor from the University of Virginia, found that patients deprived of distractive emotions did not make better rational decisions; rather, they failed to make any at all. Emotions and passions are the underlying attributes in keeping people engaged with the issue, empowering them to make choices.
The government can continue to strive for perfection and pour in millions of dollars into constructing itself into a ‘firsts’ for everything. But it should not forget the words of Rupert Emerson, an American scholar: [a nation] is a community of people who feel that they belong together […] and that they have a common destiny for the future.”
Emotions should no longer be castigated or held inferior to rationality. The national frenzy so rarely seen in Singapore emerged briefly during the World Cup Qualifiers. Whether it was a trip down to the Jalan Besar stadium or a gathering in front of the television, the zealous support shown towards the Singapore Lions was evident. The national pride that emanated was not a product of efforts in constructing Singapore as a ‘sports hub’. It was purely an emotion developed out of latent feelings of solidarity.
Changes that have been besetting the society of Singapore have also been manifested in the theater scene. The Man Singapore Theater Festival 2011 organized by W!ld Rice addresses taboos that a couple of years ago would have crossed the threshold of OB (out-of-bound) markers. The censorship axe does not fall upon these plays as swiftly and brutally as they used to.
The festival includes plays that address ethnic tensions: Alfian Sa’at’s “Nadirah” (2009), about a Muslim daughter coming to terms with her mother’s decision to marry a Christian, and Chong Tze Chien’s “Charged” (2010), a mystery set in an army camp that deals with tensions between ethnic Malays and Chinese. According to the description on the website, the latter is a “refreshing lack of political correctness.”
Theatre’s role is to present a plurality of views that on one hand may be discomforting, but are reflections of the realities within society. The exchange of ideas allows a society, devoid of space and language, to discuss sensitive issues that are close to hearts in order to progress. This is exactly what W!ld Rice does, as it constantly challenges the status quo.
As change is creeping into society, the last thing needed is for a lackluster response from the rest of society and the government, stymieing efforts of the advocators who have taken bold steps to rebel. After all, they are working for a society more fun and passionate.