Like many other Singaporeans, I did not participate in the
protest last Saturday. Don’t get me wrong. I do feel strongly about
the issues. But on the day itself, I did not don my red shirt and
join the ranks of brave protesters.
Yes I feel guilty. And no, telling myself that I am not alone in
playing truant from exercising our constitutional rights does not
make me feel better. Here I feel the need to quote a ‘great’
leeder: ‘What to do?’ Should I just move on?
The answer is NO.
I understand, and others do too, that not everyone has the rare
courage to stand up to an oppressive regime. BUT, that doesn’t mean cowards like me can’t do anything
to help the cause. There are plenty of things we could do to help
advance democracy in Singapore.
Yes, without going into the streets to protest if you are too
afraid to. Here are a list of things ‘passive protesters’ like us
could do:
1) Support SDP and other activists through
donations. SDP has listed their bank account
number on their website (www.singaporedemocrat.org). You can just go to
the bank and deposit money into the account. Without revealing your
identity too, if you are uncomfortable with the idea.
The SDP and other activists sometimes hold
indoor forums (which are 100% legit by the way). You may approach
them during such forums and make your donation then.
2) Buy Chee Soon Juan’s books. You can find a list of his books
on the SDP website. Currently, Kinokuniya and
Select bookshop carry his books. Sometimes, during those indoor
forums, they have a little stand selling the books too.
Buying his books not only help them financially, it is also a
good way to help spread the message of democracy. After you are
done reading them, pass the books around to friends and family
members. And if you are feeling generous, buy several copies of
each title. Wrap them up and give them away as presents. There are
too many Singaporeans out there whose minds are poisoned by the
Straits Times. They deserve to hear the message of democracy
too!
If you are too afraid to march in the streets, surely you can
support the cause by buying his books. That is the least we can do.
I would also like to add that JBJ’s ‘Hatchet
Man of Singapore’ reveals the travesty of justice in Singapore and
provides insight into the workings of a PAP
controlled judiciary.
3) Spread the message within the heartlands. You may have
friends, neighbours and family members who believe the PAP’s anti-democracy message and still have not heard the
SDP’s message of democracy. Talk to them!
Answer their queries as best as you can.
If they have questions too difficult for you to answer, show
them the world of the World Wide Web. The SDP
website, various forums and blogs are good sources of information
not available through the PAP controlled
media.
4) Exercise your votes in a responsible manner. Vote Opposition!
I know there are fears that votes could be traced. My answer to
that is: So What? Thousands of voters voted for the SDP. Was there ever a mass arrest of thousands after the
election? It has been nearly 2 years since the last election. If
any individual voter was threatened or discriminated against, the
forums would be rife with stories already.
I can understand fears about protesting openly in defiance of
police orders, but if you do not even dare to vote according to
your conscience, there is no hope. No hope for you, your loved ones
and democracy.
Crew
