February 28, 2006
What if...?
Where would Leijonakapunki be if things were different in the 50s and 60s? Would it be a slum ravaged by conflicts, a place full of racial hatred, a country torn apart by opposing political parties? Would Leijonakaupunki still exist today? Would it be part of Malaysia or Indonesia? These are the questions that PAP, the ruling party, asks Leijonakaupunki citizens every so often. As the elections is drawing closer, the ministers and other important people are making rounds in the city, giving an odd million here and there. Getting immense coverage (free advertising?) in the only TV channel, or the only newspaper, of course... Yesterday I read MM Lee's (the founding father of the nation) instructions for the citizens: "Remember, when it comes to a contest, don't just think, a protest vote... Think of the value of your house, the value of your jobs. Think of what will happen if Leijonakaupunki goes the other way." Yes? Closing my eyes and trying to imagine real hard... What will happen? Many things could happen... Maybe there would be more different voices to be heard? Maybe there would be more debate? Maybe more poeple could chip in and make this place even more great? I don't know! Nobody really knows! How to know if never try lah? :)
I liked this tunnel. If you ride a bike from one side, the fine is 1000$, if from the other, its 000$! Know from what side to enter!!! Its quite ironic, although the fines are really hefty here, people are breaking the regulations everywhere all the time! I don't have a picture, but just as we were in the tunnel, a bunch of bicyclists swooshed past without even blinking. You can get away with many things here, especially if you're a stupid ang moh.. :)
As I mentioned before, we have Leijonakaupunki Fringe festival right now and one of the events that I saw was political detainees talk last weekend. This was actually the first time they made a public appearance (they've written memoir books though). Anyhow, the speakers happened to be on the other side from the PAP in the 60s. As far as I understood, they were "guilty" of organising a workers strike, and were detained without trial for years (people were in prison without being charged for 4, 6, 9, 17, 27 years!!!). They were interrogated, kept in solitary confinement, deprived of reading and writing material and they didn't know whether they will be released tomorrow, or is there 10 more long years ahead. The surprising thing was that these detainees were not overly bitter about wasting their youth in prison. They were extremely sharp, intelligent and somewhat humorous. The kind of people you'd like to see in the round table debate on TV.. hmmm.. :)
The audience was quite young (good! they say people suffer from historical amnesia in here..:) and there was a long line of people, who wanted, but couldn't get in!!! Based on what I've heard and read, I assume there were some undercover policemen or secret service people in the crowd.. Funny atmosphere of half-curiosity, half-fear, half-trying to figure out the "planted" questions from the audience. One question about "what would you have done differently if you wouldn't have been detained?" sounded suspiciously close to some remarks that people in power like to throw back to anyone who questions them - "there's only one possible way", "don't even think that we could have achieved what we have, if we wouldn't have done things the way we did", etc. However, the answer, I think, perfectly summarized the whole discussion, nobody was talking about revolution or doing something radical. They said: "there may have been more bridging and linking of different voices and opinions. Maybe our society would have grown to be more inclusive and accepting. There's no evidence that suppression is the only way to achieve success." Yah, it kind of downed on me that this country actually missed out 40 years of dialog! The guys were not exactly criminals or revolutionary. They cared about Leijonakaupunki! What this country missed out, is a wonderful range of brilliant minds that has different opinions on different matters, but still wanted to serve the same country, the same people. They missed the oportunity...
Another event at the Fringe festival was this Bhutanese textile/Leijonakaupunki designers collaboration. We crashed to the opening night with Fity. It was so refreshing to see something happening and talk to Jo of Hansel. As far as I understand, she's about to "make it" - she's constantly mentioned among the most promising "hopes" of local fashion design scene.
...being merry in our Space Odysey... (The MediaCorp van says "the choice".. ahahaha... These guys have a true sense of humour and irony!!!)
Posted by gkligyte at February 28, 2006 09:47 PM