The Son Rises
[From the Economist]
Strange how the new Mr. Lee looks remarkably like the old one.
(Excerpts)
“He is the son of Singapore' s founding father, Lee Kuan Yew, and shares his father's measured, practical and technocratic approach to government. He also shares a somewhat condescending, didactic bent, and a tendency to chide and admonish rather than charm and encourage.”
While Mr. Goh reminds me of that friendly old principal you often find in primary schools, always willing to offer sagely advice with a smile, Mr. Lee Jr. resembles a young hotshot discipline master, ever-ready to thwack you across the knuckles for tapping your fingers on the table.
“He claims to want a more vigorous public debate, but promises to “demolish” any critic who undermines the government's standing.”
And you wonder why Singaporeans don’t have an opinion. I don’t see how he can realistically expect any sort of vigorous public debate when some of the participants will constantly have the possibility of “demolishment” hanging over their heads. Yet another case of “Only Hear the Good Stuff” by muting the bad.
“As an example of how the government is prepared to open up, B.G. Lee (as he is often known, thanks to his spell as a brigadier-general) cites a recent relaxation of restrictions on busking and bungee jumping. He also points out that it will soon be easier to register a society, although the government stopped short of doing away with the registration process altogether.”
I suppose People Like Us and other similarly oriented groups shouldn’t get their hopes up just yet. But at least they get to be entertained by the sound of roadside music and the sight of screaming lunatics dangling from giant rubber bands.
Strange how the new Mr. Lee looks remarkably like the old one.
(Excerpts)
“He is the son of Singapore' s founding father, Lee Kuan Yew, and shares his father's measured, practical and technocratic approach to government. He also shares a somewhat condescending, didactic bent, and a tendency to chide and admonish rather than charm and encourage.”
While Mr. Goh reminds me of that friendly old principal you often find in primary schools, always willing to offer sagely advice with a smile, Mr. Lee Jr. resembles a young hotshot discipline master, ever-ready to thwack you across the knuckles for tapping your fingers on the table.
“He claims to want a more vigorous public debate, but promises to “demolish” any critic who undermines the government's standing.”
And you wonder why Singaporeans don’t have an opinion. I don’t see how he can realistically expect any sort of vigorous public debate when some of the participants will constantly have the possibility of “demolishment” hanging over their heads. Yet another case of “Only Hear the Good Stuff” by muting the bad.
“As an example of how the government is prepared to open up, B.G. Lee (as he is often known, thanks to his spell as a brigadier-general) cites a recent relaxation of restrictions on busking and bungee jumping. He also points out that it will soon be easier to register a society, although the government stopped short of doing away with the registration process altogether.”
I suppose People Like Us and other similarly oriented groups shouldn’t get their hopes up just yet. But at least they get to be entertained by the sound of roadside music and the sight of screaming lunatics dangling from giant rubber bands.
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