Despot - Deport - Depot

des·pot

n. A ruler with absolute power. A person who wields power oppressively; a tyrant. [French despote, from Medieval Latin despota, from Greek despots, master. See dem- in Indo-European Roots.]

For my more politically correct friends who aren't familiar with such politically incorrect terms, I have kindly attached the meaning of despot. (Not deport or depot ok?)


I've been to these forums, how come things never get exciting when I'm there? So what happens when you call our dear mm (that's mentor minister, not mother mary - but hey they're pretty similar aren't they?) an enlightened despot? We'll just have to wait and see. (Isn't enlightened despot an oxymmoron of sorts? How can a despot (read: tyrannical ruler) be enlightened? Then again, a despot will probably think he/she is enlightened, whilst the rest of us plebians grope in the dark, awaiting the saving grace of our englightened ruler.) So what do we make of Jamie Han? That's the guy who called mm lee a despot for those who aren't quite in the know. Gutsy or just plain stupid? Straddling somewhere between I believe.


For those who haven't quite taken a sociology 101 class at NUS, calling our mm a despot might seem somewhat radical. If you've never heard of the Internal Security Act or the Newspaper Printing and Presses Act, well then, I'm happy for you. I think the Singapore you live in and the Singapore I live in must be fairly divergent. Just for the sake of those who live in a rose-coloured Singapore, here's a brief lowdown on the ISA (that's Internal Security Act) and the Press Act...


The ISA's main prescription is the "preventive detention" of a suspect(s) without trial in an open court for a period of two years. The Act also allows the police or more specifically, officers from the Internal Security Department (ISD), to arrest and detain suspects pending investigations for a maximum period of 30 days. The Press Act provides the government the right to suspend or revoke printing and publishing permits. And its decision is not subject to review, or be challenged in court. The Act also requires the annual applications of all printing and publishing permits, keeping the press on a short leash. On top of all that, you can be charged with disseminating "false news" whatever "false news" means. Now that we are a little more in the know about our sunny little isle, let's move on.


So what do we make of our history honours student Jamie Han? Stupid? Reckless? Bold? Brave? Like I said, somewhere in between. I don't blame the guy for saying what he did. Its standard fare at any sociology/history/anything to do with critical thinking 101. The entire point of having a graduate education is to help us to think critically. And yes, legislation is also on the plate. And quite honestly, take any social science class, and you'll probably find your tutor fervently talking about these issues. And judging from the academic background of Mr Han, he's probably heard it many times over. I too was taught to question the same few acts during my days as an undergrad, it shows you how little has changed. My hunch is that 10 years from today, our undergrads will be given the same fare.


So was Jamie Han a radical? Hardly in my books really. Grab a year 1 sociology student and he/she should be able to recapitulate the same thing. But telling it to our mm, now that's quite another thing. Brave? Yeah I guess so. I've been to those forums and my ass has never left my seat, except to leave of course. So for that, I give it to him. But stupid? Yes too. What on earth makes this guy think the forum is anything more than a platform to say :

1) "I'm your mm, and yes I am smart" and
2) "yes, we've met with our creme de la creme, let's move on". 

Does he honestly think he is even going to go... "hmm that's a great suggestion, I've never quite thought of that. Good, let's go do something about it." And yes, it takes guts to come out, say it, but it looks terrible on you if you're going to say in some later interview that nah I won't waste my time volunteering and getting involved in politics. I just want to be a teacher (read: civil servant). God then why the heck did you stand up for other than to blow your mouth off? NATO - No action, Talk only. And quite honestly, we have enough talk only people. And if you are just going to talk, at least say something less antithetical in your post-question interview. Don't shoot yourself in the foot. Lie if you have to. Geez...


Ah that brings the buck back to me. I lament about a lot of things. And no I'm not starting another political party. But I am steering my life in ways that allow me to participate (without losing the shirt off my back) in what little civil society we have. Can't say more about it cos its not a sure thing for now (hopefully it will be soon). No I'm not that big of a pompous ass, and I'm not calling our Mr Han here personnel of NATO and putting myself in the opposite end of that spectrum. All I can say is, I would have lied about wanting to be a teacher.