August 2007

Proudly Targeted

One local bank, which pitches itself as “the world local bank”, has this as a selling point: “Different points of view are welcome here.” Know why that sounds desirable and unique a proposition in Singapore?

An editorial Review in The Straits Times about “taxi woes in Singapore” (and there are such woes only when the press says so) carries the headline – “Keep cab fares simple” (July 4, 07). It also states that “Singapore is one of those rare countries where taxis come under the direct purview of the Government”. Eh, that’s why we’re Uniquely Singapore… In any case, what doesn’t come under the authorities’ purview here? Anyway, taxi woes will never cease in Singapore. This is so because our country got off to a very bad start in education (vocational licenses needed in a hurry, that’s why) and nobody around here knows the true meaning of service. How can they when Big Brother bandies blanket-all pragmatism through material gain!

Since day one, our system has always resorted to a ‘cross the bridge when we get to it’ quick-fix solution. And when they do get to it, it’s the patchwork mentality of stuffing the piggy where it’s bleeding (hence, the mind-boggling number of taxi-fare surcharges), never really bothering with the fundamental problem, which they hope will work itself out in the end. That or leave it to the Master to decide. Who else would dare to bear sole responsibility for a hefty decision?

My point is – cab woes here will never cease cuz nobody can or dare ask the relevant questions, as with most problems, actually! There may be 23,000 taxis plying the roads in Singapore but where are they when you need them in town between 8pm and midnight? Peak demand? Since when has demand & supply not been the Government’s purview in Singapore? Oh, of course, Big Brother always knows better and only He knows what the problems and best solutions are. Cab-drivers just happen to mute themselves out of a voice in a supply-&-demand situation.

How times have changed. ST senior writer Andy Ho writes about the homosexual debate in Singapore and the headline is “Let the religious have their say too”. It wasn’t very long ago when the moral right’s condescending view towards the subject would more likely be – let the gays have their say too. So, what’s brought about the change? Very simply – the Internet! Let’s not ever take it for granted.

Front-page feature story in ST’s Home section on Jul 20: “Let students have $500 credit card?” and presenting answers both Yes and No for the topic. Let me ask you, is that something we need or want to know as a news item? The story is clearly one to elicit public opinion. Evidently, our people are clueless when it comes to issues as fundamental as raising your kids and controlling them. We just don’t know anymore. How can we, when Big Brother can turn the opening of casinos into “not a religious issue” and have the last say! Morality is at his full disposal to determine!

Why, in the first place, would Big Brother even condone issuing credit cards to students (presumably) under 18? Well, in Singapore, materialism = pragmatism = survival. That is the very basis of our entire system and society. Any First World country would balk at such a flaky fabric that overruns the values of a system, but we’re… Uniquely Singapore! We have it our way, and are proud as hell of it!

Front-page feature story of The Sunday Times’ Lifestyle on Jul 22 is about Muay Thai or Thai kickboxing catching on now. Naïve Singaporeans, do ask yourself – really, just now it’s catching on??? That’s what I mean… Something as seemingly pedestrian as a Thai boxing hobby is put down to ‘national’ security, in the same way that jukeboxes, F1 Formula Racing and casinos are. They all need Big Brother’s approval FIRST! My beef, since day one when I uttered the first words in my first spoken-word CD X’ With An X – Me All Good No Bad, has always been “Not fast enough for me, babe!”

So, hip & funky? Not to me! Everything is 20 years too late. And so insidiously regimented that we don’t even dare ask questions. When we do, don’t forget, it’s only because Big Brother allows us to!

Last month, I wrote about certain coincidences but forgot to mention one where shortly after I set up a profile of myself on myspace.com (yes, I’m a late starter), The Sunday Times ran a feature about Friendsters, myspace, etc. The piece elicited feedback about how vacuous having Net friends is. Was that a negation of my exciting new cause on myspace? I may be a late starter on myspace, but what’s ST’s excuse on covering such a subject this late in the bargain? Coincidence? Let’s just rest it at that since nothing can be proved.

The reason I got on myspace isn’t really to network, though that has ended up as an attractive bonus. It is to showcase my new songs from my forthcoming album – a first with me playing guitar and singing protest-style folk. Look at some other mere coincidence!

A Jul 23, Monday-feature interview with local musician Joe Ng has this write-up: “Indie music crusader and former frontman of the Padres, Joe Ng has no time for ageist folk. The 40-year-old now works as a film-score composer…” Ageist folk? Why not ageist rock? Mere coincidence? I can only deduce one thing. They have their coincidences, I have my affirmations. And that leaves me with the comforting thought that I’m really SOMEONE for them to reckon with and take on. Somebody in The Straits Times is really after my goat thinking that in this age of the Internet there are still just sheep left in all Singaporeans.

That and the comforting ‘coincidental’ facts that tell me – they hate me, they really, really hate me! Boy, do I feel ‘embraced’ and hush-hush important! - X’ Ho