AWARE: Take in lessons and refocus on mission

May 4, 2009
POST-CRISIS AWARE
Take in lessons and refocus on mission

TO THE old guard who have retaken their place at the Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware), I hope the organisation will now refocus on its mission and vision.

However, there are some nuggets to be gleaned from this experience, and one is that the old guard seemed to have been caught unawares when they were constitutionally removed from office. They also seemed unaware that there was a group of women who were strongly opposed to certain matters relating to the gay/lesbian issue.

To move forward, Aware needs to understand that there is a group who has alternative views on how some of its previous programmes were conducted and take appropriate steps to address this.

I was also somewhat appalled at news reports that Aware's extraordinary general meeting (EGM) at Suntec City was conducted in a rabble-like manner with constant booing and jeering and interruptions. This is not appropriate behaviour. This is hardly the example one expects members of Aware to set for the young women of Singapore, and our children. Alternative views must always be heard and respected - that is basic civil behaviour.

On the positive side, many more people have become aware of this organisation and what it stands for, and it is now in the public eye. There is a real opportunity for Aware to take advantage of this. The membership has swollen dramatically and I hope many of the people who joined did so not just for the purpose of the EGM, but to help this organisation.

Aware should quickly put behind it the issues of the past, close ranks, include the alternative viewpoints now expressed, and continue the good work on women's issues.

To the new guard who relinquished their place, I say perhaps you may not have been prepared for the events that overtook you, but you have brought this organisation into the public eye, and issues that are close to the hearts of many Singaporeans. You have made us all more aware.

Samuel Owen

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