Since I live in Singapore, I fully support the state and consider the definition of a marriage to be between men and women as well, since physically, we have matching "parts" much like jigsaw pieces.
To my madly in love gay friends, if you want to get "married", I'd endorse a new legislation of "long term partnerships" to symbolize your union. And to be really frank, when it comes to institutional marriage, it's not exactly as sacred or life-affirming as it used to be (my parents fought. A lot. Physically. Like fists and flying pots.).
Sensibility is KNOWING change is coming. Sensibility is KNOWING that not only is change inevitable but that eventually, you'd need to find equitable foundations (legally & socially) for that change.
It happened during President Lincoln's Emancipation proclamation. It happened after Universal Suffrage (Go women power!). It happened after Martin Luther King. It happened after Rosa Parks rode in the front of the bus.
But today, after her press conference. I realise that MORON has a new name. It's Thio Su Mien.
Dr. Thio, like others of her ilk, Maureen Ong and other self proclaimed feminists are an embarrassment to their professions and to the concept of suffrage.
Suffrage according to Wikipedia: The feminist movement is essentially one that has worked and continues to work against the status quo in American society. According to bell hook, “Feminism is a struggle against sexist oppression. Therefore, it is necessarily a struggle to eradicate the ideology of domination that permeates Western culture on various levels, as well as a commitment to reorganizing society so that the self-development of people can take precedence over imperialism, economic expansion and material desires.” [4] America’s culture is one that is measured on a patriarchal scale. Countering these standards is part of the Feminist Movement’s agenda and, although differing during the progression of waves, it was a movement started to also challenge the political structure. In thinking of a social movement as a collective, organized, sustained, non-institutional challenge to authorities, power holders, or culture beliefs or practices it can be said the Feminist Movement in all aspects a large and long lasting social movement.
Men of the era believed that women were too emotional and prone to irrational decision making to be entitled a vote- It's true. Go look it up. That was discriminatory. Fact is before the rise of the feminist movement, suffrage was all about abolishing slavery, it was after the 1st World War (lots of men died) where the equal importance of women started to become more evident. Many men and people in power at the time felt that the family unit was all about DAD wearing the pants, making the decisions and bringing home the bacon. Women had their role in society as a supporting element of care-giver to the little ones. It was a patriarchal structure and those in power were SURE that the foundations of society would crumble should women ever achieve equality.
Boy were they wrong.
Just as they were wrong on the slavery bit, just as they were wrong when they thought equality to the blacks would lead to disaster.
The issue here is not that the new Exco engineered a coup de tat of AWARE. It's that the new Exco, in their crusade to protect the family unit should have started their own grassroots organization rather than hi-jack another.
I repeat- the big deal isn't the coup de tat. But that while proclaiming to "feminists" (equal rights!), they've not only disrespected the views of another group but practicised in-equality.
And nothing could be more ridiculous then what I heard at the press conference when the new honorary secretary Ms Maureen Ong spoke.
" I came into the picture because somebody told me that something is happening that affects children and I am a mother of three children. I don't want my children to say that oh, it's all right to go and experiment with homosexuality, to experiment with anal sex, to experiment with virginity or the pill or even pre-marital sex"
According to the Straits Times-THIO Su Mien explained that her concern about the direction that Aware was taking was partly prompted by a letter from a parent who was concerned that the society was promoting a homosexual agenda.
She wrote to the Today newspaper in 2007 to ask why Aware’s choice of a movie for a charity show was Spider Lilies, about two lesbians who fall in love.
Dr Thio said she went on to discover that in Aware’s comprehensive sexuality education programme, which is taken to schools, homosexuality is regarded as a neutral word, not a negative word.
Yes. DANGER! WARNING! Because I’m sure I’ll be tempted to turn gay after too many episodes of Queer Eye for a Straight Guy.
Here are the facts: When I watch my gay friends or shows involving gays. One thought DOES CROSS MY MIND.
“Wow that’s stylish.” or “Yes, that’s a more refined way to do something.”
IT IN NO WAY MAKES ME WONDER- if it’ll be cool or nice to experiment with a penis in my anal cavity.
Nor does it make me, in anyway, wish to touch or fondle a male reproductive appendage other than my own.
You don’t experiment with homosexuality, you are inclined or you’re not. Period.
Dr. Thio and Ms. Ong’s cognitive abilities and brain function are malfunctioning in such a way that renders me speechless on how someone that mentally challenged can ever be elected to power.
No wait.. 66.6 but that’s another story..
Oops.. lost my train of thought- Bottom line- Watching gay themed shows makes me want to be more stylish or buy better fitting clothes.
It in no way makes me want to be more gay.
To be honest, I want that level of stylishness to “advertise” myself to Krista Allens, Elizabeth Hurleys and Sienna Millers of the world.
Other men need not apply. Thanks very much.
Final note: Truthfully, I'm slightly homophobic.. I'd give a brotherly hug to a straight guy friend but I feel uncomfortable if my gay pals try to reciprocate. But that's my irrational fear due to societal conditioning. I love my gay pals, they're funny, they're bitchy and they have the best taste in clothes.
'You don’t experiment with homosexuality, you are inclined or you’re not. Period.'
ReplyDeleteSure, you would not experiment with homosexuality. But are you so sure that young boys would not?
Well written and humorous.
ReplyDeleteHmmm.. As a youth, it's hard not to remember the first time I caught a glimpse of a lingerie ad from COSMOPOLITAN.. I might say.. at age 9.. the glimpse of frilly clad cleavage caught my imagination forever..
ReplyDeleteAs for a cousin of mine, slightly younger than myself, he was a bit less enthused with the ad in question and gravitated towards male oriented imagery before coming out of the closet in his mid 20s..
I will concede that one might question their sexual preferences but it's pretty easy to determine from the onset, the attraction to the specific gender :)
'You don’t experiment with homosexuality, you are inclined or you’re not. Period.'
ReplyDeleteSure, you would not experiment with homosexuality. But are you so sure that young boys would not?
________________________________________________
I think what you quoted answered your own question.
The hijack is high-handed and objectionable. But the episode also alerted me to old Aware's homosexual slant.
ReplyDeleteFrom its name, I will think Aware is a mainstream organisation purportedly to advance the equality and well-being of 50% of the population.
Little can I imagine that a mainstream organisation can be carry a controversial fringe homosexual initiative behind its mainstream facade.
You may say that homosexual cues play little influence on one's sexual tendencies. So, impressionable and malleable kids aren't at danger even when baited with a homosexual cue.
But the point now is why did Aware get itself involved with this topic? Is Aware a suitable platform or vehicle to carry this topic? What has it to do with women rights? Does the majority of all Singapore women approve of this controversial slant adopted by Aware?
Dr Soin was one of the founding members of AWARE, and the president of AWARE from 1991 to 1993. She had also served as a Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) in Singapore from 1992 to 1996.
ReplyDelete“As far as I know AWARE has not deviated from its original purpose,” Dr Soin said.
Dr Soin had made it clear that AWARE had been founded on the principle of inclusiveness, and clarified the misconception of AWARE being pro-gay. “We cannot condemn, deny or exclude any woman because of her sexual orientation, because she’s been abused by her husband or because she’s a single mother. And so we accept people for what they are,” she said.
Dr Soin said that AWARE is an organisation for women that supports the idea of women choosing the lives they want in another founding principle of ‘Women’s Lives, Women’s Choices’ or ‘Women’s Choices, Women’s Lives’. Dr Soin added that AWARE will offer support to women who approach the organisation for assistance.
Corinna Lim rubbished the talk that the screening of the lesbian movie Spider Lilies showed that AWARE is single-focused and gay-oriented. Lim pointed out that AWARE had also participated in other movie screenings such as the wholesome local family film Singapore Dreaming.
Lim explained that film distributors have approached AWARE to tie-up for charity events and sees this as a good fundraising activity for AWARE. Terms and conditions vary requiring AWARE to sometimes purchase advance tickets or publicising the membership, with AWARE taking a small profit.
Dr Soin also explained there’s a need to address the issue of homosexuality in its sexual education programmes if the programmes are to be comprehensive: “AWARE cannot be an ostrich and buries it head and pretends that it [homosexuality] doesn’t exist. But we don’t go out with this programme and say it’s okay to be lesbian.”
LOL every time someone with a christian agenda comes round, it is so obvious I no longer get angry.
ReplyDeleteDo YOU actually think people still take you seriously any more?
I hear you Anon 5:50 :)
ReplyDeleteMy religious beliefs aside, it saddens me as a human being that as a Christian, Dr Thio has indulged in such an act of socio-political terrorism.
Sigh, the beginnings of our very own Jesus Camp I suppose?
To the first Anonymous commenter who posted this question:
ReplyDelete"Sure, you would not experiment with homosexuality. But are you so sure that young boys would not?"
I am curious as to why you would even ask such a question. Please correct me if I am wrong.
Without being disrespectful, my guesses are:
(1) You were disturbed/fearful when you first realised your sexual orientation did not reflect the norm. You felt confused why you were not curious about the opposite sex. You were startled that you felt inclined to "experiment" with a member of the same sex.
(2) You are an over-protective parent who thinks that your child is incapable of even the most instinctive thought process.
I lean towards #2 as parents can be over-protective no matter how old their children are.
Lisa (heterosexual)
If you support the old Exco be sure to register at http://www.we-are-aware.sg
ReplyDeleteThere is a lot of supportive talk on blogs and in forums but it's hard to know how many of those voices will be attending the EGM. Registering will also help them plan and organise the logistics for the day, and to make sure that the event goes as smoothly as can be expected under these circumstances.
Thanks.
I hope the right questions will be asked on Saturday's EGM; and that the right questions will show up what has to be shown.
ReplyDeleteKM