11th entry - We don't want a cure!
The title of this blog was inspired by the movie, X-Men - The Last Stand (2006). Mutants were offered a "cure" for their "abnormality" by the US government, after a gene that permanently reverses the mutant genes and makes mutants "normal" was discovered. In the story, mutants who saw this as a panacea for their suffering amidst persecution and marginalization in "normal" human society obviously welcomed the offer.
Others felt otherwise. Being a mutant is not like being sick. What there to cure? In the end, the polarised mutants took sides. Frustrated and angry ones joined Magneto in a bloody revolution against their human tormentors. Little did they know that their sacrifice was in vain, for they were merely used and exploited by the equivalent of a real-life heartless terrorist leader - much like the suicide bombers in the Sep-11 tragedy. The level-headed ones defended the humans, and gained not just political victory for the mutants but also won the hearts of many people.
We must have read, or at least heard, about how leaders throughout history had sought to bring about the systematic extermination of people whom they felt were somehow "different". What I feel is truly tragic is not only the many innocent lives were lost because of the abuse of political or military power that was supposed to protect them. The frightening truth that many of us are not even aware of, or would admit to, is that there are people who believed in the basis or source of discriminatory policies because of their own fear or paranoia, of those different from them.
Today, political correctness, feminism, racism, ageism and sexism have been used widely in jokes. But trivialising them is no laughing matter, especially when people still suffer, usually in silence, from various degrees of discrimination and persecution due to their differences or beliefs. Part of the fear and paranoia about people who are different comes from ignorance and phobia - both of which are "diseases" that plagued mankind since the Dark Ages. Ironically, is it not the "normal" humans that need a "cure" from their ignorance and phobia?
We may think that we have come a long way, but complacency is something we can ill afford when the fact is discrimination and persecution in various forms still exist. I wonder if we can ever be rid of it.
I read with interest about the Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE) saga that recently came to a close. The newly elected President of this women's rights/gender equality advocacy group, Ms Dana Lam, commented that she was surprised that the NGO, which was at the centre of much controversy because of its sexuality education programme in schools and its open acceptance of lesbians, received so much support and activism (read related stories reported in Channel News Asia article and the Straits Times forum discussion).
What interested, and indeed comforted, me most was that Pluralism won in this battle, even though by a very narrow margin, and the War still rages on. Scholar Terence Chong commented that "the warning against ‘playing the religious card’ is but a disingenuous attempt to pretend that such Christian activism does not exist in multi-religious Singapore. This is unhelpful. Instead, it would be more constructive to urge the more moderate and liberal Christians to speak out. The local Christian community is not homogenous but one that contains a gradient of values, and its time for those who are more inclusive and tolerant of differing life-choices to stand up and be counted (see full article at Opinion Asia). Like Terence, I believe that no political or social segment of the community should be allowed to dominate the political or social views of others.
How are Singaporeans reacting to the AWARE saga? Many, undoubtedly, will respond with cold indifference - "It's just a cat-fight turned ugly". How many Singaporeans will actually feel joyful for the modest victory of social activism, and breathe a sigh of relief that the development of civic society in Singapore did not suffer a blow because of the political ambitions of a religious minority?
I do not believe that bigotry should be fought with equal bigotry or even bloodshed. What the X-Men achieved could be achieved in peaceful means by the GLBT community as well. It may take time, and perhaps some sacrifice, but surely "normal" people can slowly and eventually open their minds and hearts to be more tolerant and accepting of those different from them. At least, this is my hope. The GLBT community do not need a cure - they just need to be accepted as they are.
Others felt otherwise. Being a mutant is not like being sick. What there to cure? In the end, the polarised mutants took sides. Frustrated and angry ones joined Magneto in a bloody revolution against their human tormentors. Little did they know that their sacrifice was in vain, for they were merely used and exploited by the equivalent of a real-life heartless terrorist leader - much like the suicide bombers in the Sep-11 tragedy. The level-headed ones defended the humans, and gained not just political victory for the mutants but also won the hearts of many people.
We must have read, or at least heard, about how leaders throughout history had sought to bring about the systematic extermination of people whom they felt were somehow "different". What I feel is truly tragic is not only the many innocent lives were lost because of the abuse of political or military power that was supposed to protect them. The frightening truth that many of us are not even aware of, or would admit to, is that there are people who believed in the basis or source of discriminatory policies because of their own fear or paranoia, of those different from them.
Today, political correctness, feminism, racism, ageism and sexism have been used widely in jokes. But trivialising them is no laughing matter, especially when people still suffer, usually in silence, from various degrees of discrimination and persecution due to their differences or beliefs. Part of the fear and paranoia about people who are different comes from ignorance and phobia - both of which are "diseases" that plagued mankind since the Dark Ages. Ironically, is it not the "normal" humans that need a "cure" from their ignorance and phobia?
We may think that we have come a long way, but complacency is something we can ill afford when the fact is discrimination and persecution in various forms still exist. I wonder if we can ever be rid of it.
I read with interest about the Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE) saga that recently came to a close. The newly elected President of this women's rights/gender equality advocacy group, Ms Dana Lam, commented that she was surprised that the NGO, which was at the centre of much controversy because of its sexuality education programme in schools and its open acceptance of lesbians, received so much support and activism (read related stories reported in Channel News Asia article and the Straits Times forum discussion).
What interested, and indeed comforted, me most was that Pluralism won in this battle, even though by a very narrow margin, and the War still rages on. Scholar Terence Chong commented that "the warning against ‘playing the religious card’ is but a disingenuous attempt to pretend that such Christian activism does not exist in multi-religious Singapore. This is unhelpful. Instead, it would be more constructive to urge the more moderate and liberal Christians to speak out. The local Christian community is not homogenous but one that contains a gradient of values, and its time for those who are more inclusive and tolerant of differing life-choices to stand up and be counted (see full article at Opinion Asia). Like Terence, I believe that no political or social segment of the community should be allowed to dominate the political or social views of others.
How are Singaporeans reacting to the AWARE saga? Many, undoubtedly, will respond with cold indifference - "It's just a cat-fight turned ugly". How many Singaporeans will actually feel joyful for the modest victory of social activism, and breathe a sigh of relief that the development of civic society in Singapore did not suffer a blow because of the political ambitions of a religious minority?
I do not believe that bigotry should be fought with equal bigotry or even bloodshed. What the X-Men achieved could be achieved in peaceful means by the GLBT community as well. It may take time, and perhaps some sacrifice, but surely "normal" people can slowly and eventually open their minds and hearts to be more tolerant and accepting of those different from them. At least, this is my hope. The GLBT community do not need a cure - they just need to be accepted as they are.
posted by sunshine wallflower at 8:44 PM
2 Comments:
Indulge me...
Eh, respect your elders! Shut up and sit down. Better yet, get out of my elite uncaring face.
ROFL...
I had fun watching the Singaporean version of desperate housewives, SW. Such an outburst is only exciting when it happens once a while - novelty, you know - but if it becomes a mainstay, then it soon loses relevance.
I think if the Chri-hadists need a platform for crusade, they should just start up a new organisation. Many of our NGOs exist for a reason and their balance should be maintained. We may never know why certain NGOs make certain decisions and we might not want to. But as long as they remain relevant to society and contribute to its larger good, we should let them continue with their work.
To me, there will always be people throwing stones at you regardless how well you perform or do your work. Take heart to build a fortress, so that the rocks fortify your castle when they accumulate; a glasshouse will be shattered.
If I will be one of the mutant in X-men, I really don't want to be cured since this is a totally cool gift. No for the cure dude.
By the way nice post dude...
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