WTF USA

Watched the US Election results today while I was at work.

I felt sick to my stomach watching it.

I had to take a painkiller because I felt the onset of a migraine.
(ETA: I later found out that Shoes got a headache too).

What an absolute shitshow of an election.

To make matters worse, I've discovered people around me who...well, who would've voted for the Donald if they could vote. Being anti-HC is one thing...but they were actually supporting some of the ideologies of the Donald. Which makes me sick.

The only thing that manage to make the day a little better was that Doof is in town, and we met up for drinks.

I'm not sure what exactly made it better: Doof, or the G&Ts.

i think it was more the G&Ts. Mmmm.

Went to the Esplanade after, where we said hi to Bella, had another drink and three different desserts, all while enjoying the spectacular view.




It helped to momentarily forget the absolute shitshow that was this year's election. But I have the privilege of being able to forget about it, no matter how temporarily. My heart goes out to those who don't quite have that luxury.


We really are living in interesting times.

LGBT in Singapore (and the opposing forces)

What with the "wear white" campaign against Pink Dot 2014, and the hullabaloo over LGBT-friendly books in the National Library, the objecting parties against "normalising homosexuality" have grown in number and volume.  The debate has been heating up, in various forums, in mass and alternative media.  I have been both saddened and disheartened by this.

But.

It just occurred to me.  The voices against the LGBT community have grown louder. In response to the ever-increasing volume of the LGBT community and their supporters.  Which can only be a good thing, really.  With more debate comes more awareness.  With more awareness, hopefully comes more support.  Eventually, there might even be change.  For the better, for equality, for love.

I'm not holding my breath just yet, not here in Singapore with its antiquated ideals and laws.  Not with the Prime Minister saying "Why is [Section 377A] on the books? Because it's always been there and I think we just leave it."  (Which, ugh, angers me so much, but that's an argument for another day...) The same Prime Minister who thinks that "we have also been right to adapt, to accommodate homosexuals in our society, but not to allow or encourage activists to champion gay rights as they do in the West."  He also claims that "it's really best for us to just leave [gay rights issues] be, and just agree to disagree.  I think that's the way Singapore will be for a long time."

With The Powers That Be making such public declarations, what hope do we have?

We have plenty of hope.  We have more reason to hope than ever.  What with the colonial-era Section 377A being challenged in court, what with the Pink Dot movement growing in leaps and bounds, with noted Singapore celebrities speaking out (e.g. Ivan Heng, about his marriage to his partner of 18 years), we now have voices.  And our voices are being heard.  Not just in our tiny city-state, but around the world.

What a time to be alive!

Waves are being made.  The boat is being rocked.  The tide is turning.  The winds are changing.  The metaphors are being overused.

And the times, they are a-changin'.

It is with a heavy heart that I shall go to bed.

Singaporeans just don't know what's going on. Stupid media puppets having their strings pulled by the ruling party.

So sad.

ETA:
I am somewhat mollified by the affirmation for Saturday, aka Election day.

Everything happens in the perfect time/space sequence.

Vote 2011

Singapore goes to the Polls today.

I've refrained from posting anything on this blog; all my political statements and opinions have been on my Facebook page. But for today, I will make a special blog post.

Singapore goes to the Polls today.

It was mentioned to me by a friend who's a US citizen, just last week, that it seems like the big election news isn't so much the issues at hand, it's that there's an election at all! As I explained to him, the general election happens once every 5 years. But the ruling party has been in power for the past 50 years. Most people never had to vote, for there was no contest in their constituency, and the ruling party has managed to instil fear in our people. That if you don't vote for them, that if you speak up against them, the law will come down on you and your family. That your family will be blackmarked for life.

Well, all that is changing now. We now have credible opposition candidates, full of brain and full of heart. We have sincere opposition candidates, with the courage to stand up and say "I want to make a difference." The ruling party is being shaken up, and perhaps finally, finally! the voices of the common people might get heard. This is the most highly contested election since Independence, and it has its place in the history of Singapore.

Singapore goes to the Polls today.

With all the restrictions in the tightly-controlled mainstream media, our people could never get the full picture, could never make an informed choice. In the last election, political bloggers had to still their fingers. People spoke in hushed tones about the government. This year, I look around, and I see a change. With the loosening of the reins on the Internet, Singaporeans finally have a glimpse at what freedom of the press could possibly be like. Online newspapers have been telling the news that doesn't appear in the mainstream media. Political bloggers have been typing furiously. And the people have been making their voices heard through social networks.

Will the ruling party lose their mandate? No. Will they lose the power that they have over Singaporeans, especially the older generation who feel that they should be grateful for all that the ruling party has done? No. Will the margin be narrowed, will more alternative voices appear in parliament to speak up for the areas of society that have been left behind? Oh, I do hope so.

Singapore goes to the Polls today.

I can see my Polling Station from my bedroom window (also, my dining room window and my balcony, but I'm in my bedroom right now). There's a pretty good queue now, and voting doesn't open for another couple minutes.

I am a first-time voter, having been unable to vote in the last election for my constituency went uncontested, and in the election before that, I just wasn't old enough.

In the past 10 days, I have been inundated with information. I have participated in countless discussions. I have scoured the internet for articles and videos. I have attended rallies. I have reflected, and I have made my decision.

Singapore goes to the polls today.


Today, I vote for Singapore.

General Election 2011

I must confess, this is the first time in my life I've ever been excited about a GE.
It has a lot to do with the fact that this is the first time in my life that I might actually get to vote.

Nomination Day is April 27. Singaporeans go to the polls on May 7th.

Sure, it means that I'll have to postpone going to The Lion King with Mum (I'm glad I didn't get tickets yet), but election!

There's so much buzz about it, so much contesting going on. I have, for the first time ever, starting taking an interest in the proceedings. It seems I'm not as apathetic as I'd originally thought. In a mere two weeks, the landscape of politics in Singapore might just change!

Got Election Issit?