reflections: on JBJ's candlelight vigil, perspectival space, and the future of Singapore

A candlelight vigil was held (see previous article) on the night after the funeral for Joshua Benjamin Jeyaratnam a few days ago, and which i attended.

The first thing that I noticed were 2 crowds.  One group, observing the vigil for the first opposition member to get into parliament, and only member of the opposition who managed to irk the ruling party enough for them to have him booted out of parliament on charges which the Privy Council in the UK expressed their ‘deep disquiet’ and viewed as a ‘grievous injustice’,

…and the other, less than a hundred metres away, enjoying a display of chinese martial arts. 

The former had less than 50 people, whilst the other, what seemed to be a few hundreds.

(tragically amusing indeed, since, sociologically speaking, I would attribute the failure of the opposition to the predominance of a culture that sees subservience in the face of authority as a virtue)

Said I to an acquaintance, “Just look at this man.  Just look at it.  This is a pathetic country isn’t it.  They prefer entertainment to honouring the best example of ‘supposing otherwise’ in Singaporean history (i.e. honouring the idea of being critical in the face of an established authority or idea).

Thinking about it now, locating an open-air entertainment centre close to Hong Lim Park (the designated spot for ‘free speech’ - I always thought that the ‘designated spot’ for free speech was dependent on the location of my mouth on my person and not on my location on a small designated patch of grass) is, I have to admit, a very clever perspectival flourish on the part of the government that affects the collective subconscious.  I have to say that I’m impressed.  Firstly, placing a large entertainment centre right next to a free speech ‘corner’, basically forwards the latter as part of the ‘entertainment’ milieu and not something to be taken seriously.  Secondly, having an elaborate construction for the open-air entertainment centre which is placed next to a patch of grass for ‘free speech’ that is no bigger than a basketball court implies that the latter is of little relative consequence.  I have to say that that is a damn good perspectival sleight of hand.  Wonder how many realise this.

*Perhaps there ought to be a ‘Sociology of Perspectival Space’ where ‘space’ is studied for how it is utilised to control and influence people, or how it reflects the traits of a culture.  In brief, space is not just a place where something is located, but a phenomenon that exerts control over our thoughts and feelings by its appealing to all of our senses. 

Well, It was a sad day for the people of Singapore, despite their appreciation of its significance.  In their not honouring this Lion of the Idea of Critical Thought, their own fates are sealed.  Thus, they will be more empowered to attribute whatever evils they face in the future to ‘fate’, the ‘global economy’, ‘not working hard enough’, or, simply to dismiss it with an, ‘aiyahhh, it’s like that one lahhh’ (a phrase which is commonly used by the Chinese in the face of complaints).  The people in this country fail to appreciate that the evils of tomorrow are founded on the apathy and ignorance of today.  And, as a consequence, they question nothing and just ‘work hard’.  That is their laughable ‘pragmatism’ – which I aptly term ‘short-sighted pragmatism’ that simply serves to strengthen the chains that bind. 

Some days before the candlelight vigil for JBJ, there was much ‘hoo ha’ over the formula 1 thingy - frankly, I couldn’t see the pleasure in seeing metallic contraptions whizzing by noisily at high speeds.  The day after the vigil, the neighbourhood coffee-shop was packed with people watching and cheering on some football team on the telly.  Not once did I hear anyone speak about JBJ’s passing.  Nobody seemed to take a second look at the armband I was wearing in mourning for JBJ.  Only 2 singaporeans (in their early 20s..and the future of singapore) happened to mention it, and all they had to say, whilst pointing at the badge on my armband was, “ummm….what is JBJ”.

ed