STAR BLOGGERS

You wonder how the pig feels. Being the centre of controversy when all it does is, in its McDonald’s toy form, be cute and make money for the Golden Arches.

It’s a bit odd, how no one realizes that political correctness is as great a threat to democracy as discriminatory speech is. Let me explain – a democracy, at its heart, is rule of majority with regard for minority; and thus laws exist to ensure that discrimination doesn’t occur on the basis of skin colour, race, religion or anything that can be personal. The idea is to ensure balance and that everyone gets a fair shake. History has seen too many instances when people are discriminated against because of something totally random, and this is modern man’s reaction to that.

Political correctness though tips the balance towards the minority. In its most extreme form (koffAmericakoff), the minority climbs a pedestal high above all criticism and assumes a moral high ground that no one can penetrate or touch. I’d give you an example but I understand that saying more would get a cap popped in my ass. Radio silence y’all. But having been on exchange to America, I can guarantee you it happens everywhere.

On a less extreme scale we have the typical Singaporean reaction – jumping even before a shot is fired. The Sedition Act, Internal Security Act, Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act all act as bogeymen who will keep you in line should you do anything to harm the stability which has marked Singapore (and honestly it’s amazingly good here). But frankly we seem to be overreacting to every potential harm to racial and religious harmony, when even the common man in the street goes “Really?” It’s one thing to say, “this is likely to harm so let’s stop it”; but we’ve gone so far on the side of caution that even caution wants to change its definition in the dictionary.

What’s even more ironic is that as ridiculous as people whining about pig toys sounds (and it goes right up there next to Hello Kitty on “things Singaporeans actually care about”), it actually reveals more racial and religious stability than people would have you believe. When churches and mosques are getting firebombed in Malaysia I sat in a taxi driven by a Malay uncle to church on Sunday; and went for a performance on Tuesday where a Malay dude ripped on Indians to their laughter (though I don’t recommend this unless you’re actually funny). I’m not saying we should take it for granted – I’m just saying we shouldn’t be so reactive.

Especially when the reaction itself might be the cause of tension rather than the other way round. Now wouldn’t that be a sight to behold.

Tris Pruetthipunthu is a Thai-Chinese-lawyer-geek who spends far too much time on law articles and thinking about law reform. He likes to believe he’s fair and balanced, but the uncontrolled laughter of his friends often suggests otherwise.