Get S'pore creative? Action speaks louder than
words
Sat, Nov 24, 2007
The Straits Times
I REFER to the article, 'Clever video or bad rap?' (ST, Nov 22),
which discussed a four-minute video depicting the Media Development
Authority (MDA)'s head honchos rapping in an effort 'to get
Singapore creative and connected'.
I applaud the MDA for reaching out. However, action speaks louder
than words. Thanks to it, Singapore is now known as the only
country that banned the video game Mass Effect. Yes, it repaired
Singapore's reputation somewhat by retreating swiftly and applying
an age rating - but the message is the same.
Singapore has to decide whether it wishes to join the 21st century,
or whether it wishes to cling to 'traditional values'.
Creativity promotes economic development, but it also offends. So
long as MDA does not accept that fostering creativity can succeed
only when it does not reach for its censorship scissors the moment
it sees anything remotely offensive to the sexual mores of the
supposedly conservative Singaporean society, all its efforts will
remain less than successful.
John Rachmat
