‘Keep religionabove the frayof petty politics’
Vivian Balakrishnanwarns of the dangerof mixing the two
Monday • April 27, 2009
ZUL OTHMAN
zul@mediacorp.com.sg
THE Aware spat is not a national problem, and the Government has no intention of intervening in it, said the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Vivian Balakrishnan. This, even as he warns the two warring groups — the new executive committee elected this month and the Old Guard of the Association of Women for Action and Research — to “keep religion above the fray of petty politics”.
Dr Balakrishnan said it is a problem they have to solve themselves and in a democratic manner, while abiding by the constitution of Aware.
The bitter spat between the two groups has been dominating the headlines for several weeks. Members of the new Exco had said they went into Aware to bring it back to its original focus, and that is women issues, when it appeared to them that Aware had veered into supporting homosexuality. As for the Old Guard of Aware, they have questioned what they saw as the stealthy manner in which the new Exco had mounted a “coup” in the 26-year-old organisation. The sage took a sinister twist when members of the new Exco revealed death threats had even been received.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of his community visit to Nee Soon yesterday, Dr Balakrishnan said: “The most I would do at this stage is to give them some advice. Not just (to) Aware but all Singaporeans. Number one, don’t let a single issue hijack the agenda. We live in a diverse society, there will always be some issue we cannot agree on — weneed to be able to learn to live and let live, to agree to disagree and to do so agreeably.”
He also warned that no one should allow single issues to polarise and divide: “If you allow these single issues to dominate and hijack your agenda, I think you are not going succeed and it’s going to be counter productive.”
Secondly, the minister pointed out that Singapore is a multi-religious society.
As such, he said Singaporeans should “protect and nurture” the place religion has in our society: “We don’t want our religious organisation to be damaged or compromised by the hurly-burly of politicking that happens on the ground.”
His third piece of advice to Singaporeans out to make meaningful changes in society, is to build what he called a “rainbow coalition.” And this means ensuring representation from all the different streams and segments that constitute Singapore.
While urging everyone not to be distracted from the long term and more important challenges facing Singapore, Dr Balakrishnan is hopeful good sense will prevail.
http://forums.delphiforums.com/sunkopitiam/messages?msg=27734.90
Showing posts with label Vivian Balakrishnan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vivian Balakrishnan. Show all posts
Monday, April 27, 2009
The AWARE saga: Time for government to respond to its ramifications to draw a clear demarcation between secularism and religion
The AWARE saga: Time for government to respond to its ramifications to draw a clear demarcation between secularism and religion
Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, the Minister of Community, Youth and Sports had finally broken his silence on the AWARE fiasco.
Speaking on the sidelines of his visit to Nee Soon South on 26 April 2009, he said:
“There will always be some issues where you cannot get everybody to agree. We need to be able to learn to live and let live, to agree to disagree, and to do so agreeably. But don’t let these single issues polarise or divide us and become the be-all and end-all of your social activism or your organisation.” (read article here)
The minister also emphasised that it is important for all Singaporeans to remember and also remain sensitive to the fact that they are living in a multi-racial and multi-religious society.
While I concur with Dr Vivian’s views and applaud the government’s decision not to intervene in the AWARE saga, I hope Dr Vivian and his ministry will study the ramifications of this unfortunate episode and respond accordingly to it.
Though the controversy which AWARE found itself embroiled in is purely an internal matter to be resolved by its members, we cannot ignore its implications for the larger civil society.
There is no denial that the present exco of AWARE was voted in legitimately during the March AGM in accordance to the rules set under its Constitution. However, whether they have acquired the moral legitimacy to lead the organization is another matter.
From the press conference called by the new AWARE exco, it appeared that the takeover was orchestrated behind the scenes by Senior lawyer Dr Thio Su Mien who was “disappointed” with the direction AWARE is heading under the old committee.
She had allegedly written an email to her friends a few months earlier urging them “to join it and change its focus to other problems of women and families.” (read article here)
Several new faces turned up at the AGM and voted their representatives into the exco six of whom are members of the Church of Our Savior (COOS).
In a sermon delivered on 25 April 2009, an influential pastor from COOS said:
“We are in a season where things are being shaken. As a church, we believe in what the ladies are doing and Alan (husband of Josie Lau) of course is part of the process as well and so we want to just lift them up for what the Devil is trying to do, God will turn it in the glory of its name.” (watch the video on SG Gutter Press here)
I am curious to know the identity of this “Devil”. Is the pastor referring to the AWARE old guards or anybody who refuses to endorse their uncompromising stance on homosexuality?
It is obvious that the COOS is aware of the “constitutional coup” launched by some of its members to take over AWARE and has given them its blessings and support.
There is a difference between members from the same Church participating in the AWARE elections in their own individual capacities and a group hatching a well-thought and organized plan beforehand with the sole aim of seizing control of the organization.
Will this unprincipled takeover of a secular organization by a faith-based group to “correct” perceived indiscretions on the part of the ex-office holders set a precedent for similiar “intervention” by religious organizations to extend its influence to the wider society via proxies which are secular in name only?
We are moving down a slippery slope here. A Pandora’s box has been opened in this instance which will have a detrimental impact on the secular nature of our society if the perpetuators are allowed to get away with their actions.
Worshipping of “idols” is mentioned in the same breath together with homosexuality as “sinners” by the COOS paster to his congregation.
Will our national institutions and NGOs be infiltrated and even taken over like AWARE one day by such moral vigilantes in order for them to push their agenda to a wider audience?
Religious organizations are free to set up their own NGOs to promote their own teachings, but while its members should be permitted to hold leadership positions in secular groups, a clear demarcation must be drawn between what is permitted and what is not.
I would like to pose the following questions to Dr Vivian Balakrishnan:
1. Should the COOS’s views on homosexuality be allowed to spread beyond the confines of the Church under the guise of secularism?
2. Is it acceptable for a faith-based group to hijack a secular group which it finds disagreeable?
If Dr Vivian’s answers to the above two questions are “no”, it is time for the government to send a strong message across that such actions are not to be encouraged, tolerated or promoted.
I am disturbed that the other Churches and religions have been keeping surprisingly quiet so far. Does silence imply that they acquiesce in the takeover of AWARE by a faith-based group?
They should step forward to clarify their stance on the matter. Will they follow the example of COOS members should they find a NGO promoting a cause which seems contrarian to their teachings?
In multiracial and multicultural Singapore, there is no place for religion in civil society. Let us continue to keep them in their own separate domains for it has served Singapore well since independence.
No group or religion should be allowed to impose their value systems on another. Everybody should be allowed to have their voices heard and a space which they call their own in an inclusive society where nobody is marginalized or discriminated against because of their beliefs, values or sexual orientation.
http://forums.delphiforums.com/sunkopitiam/messages?msg=27958.2
Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, the Minister of Community, Youth and Sports had finally broken his silence on the AWARE fiasco.
Speaking on the sidelines of his visit to Nee Soon South on 26 April 2009, he said:
“There will always be some issues where you cannot get everybody to agree. We need to be able to learn to live and let live, to agree to disagree, and to do so agreeably. But don’t let these single issues polarise or divide us and become the be-all and end-all of your social activism or your organisation.” (read article here)
The minister also emphasised that it is important for all Singaporeans to remember and also remain sensitive to the fact that they are living in a multi-racial and multi-religious society.
While I concur with Dr Vivian’s views and applaud the government’s decision not to intervene in the AWARE saga, I hope Dr Vivian and his ministry will study the ramifications of this unfortunate episode and respond accordingly to it.
Though the controversy which AWARE found itself embroiled in is purely an internal matter to be resolved by its members, we cannot ignore its implications for the larger civil society.
There is no denial that the present exco of AWARE was voted in legitimately during the March AGM in accordance to the rules set under its Constitution. However, whether they have acquired the moral legitimacy to lead the organization is another matter.
From the press conference called by the new AWARE exco, it appeared that the takeover was orchestrated behind the scenes by Senior lawyer Dr Thio Su Mien who was “disappointed” with the direction AWARE is heading under the old committee.
She had allegedly written an email to her friends a few months earlier urging them “to join it and change its focus to other problems of women and families.” (read article here)
Several new faces turned up at the AGM and voted their representatives into the exco six of whom are members of the Church of Our Savior (COOS).
In a sermon delivered on 25 April 2009, an influential pastor from COOS said:
“We are in a season where things are being shaken. As a church, we believe in what the ladies are doing and Alan (husband of Josie Lau) of course is part of the process as well and so we want to just lift them up for what the Devil is trying to do, God will turn it in the glory of its name.” (watch the video on SG Gutter Press here)
I am curious to know the identity of this “Devil”. Is the pastor referring to the AWARE old guards or anybody who refuses to endorse their uncompromising stance on homosexuality?
It is obvious that the COOS is aware of the “constitutional coup” launched by some of its members to take over AWARE and has given them its blessings and support.
There is a difference between members from the same Church participating in the AWARE elections in their own individual capacities and a group hatching a well-thought and organized plan beforehand with the sole aim of seizing control of the organization.
Will this unprincipled takeover of a secular organization by a faith-based group to “correct” perceived indiscretions on the part of the ex-office holders set a precedent for similiar “intervention” by religious organizations to extend its influence to the wider society via proxies which are secular in name only?
We are moving down a slippery slope here. A Pandora’s box has been opened in this instance which will have a detrimental impact on the secular nature of our society if the perpetuators are allowed to get away with their actions.
Worshipping of “idols” is mentioned in the same breath together with homosexuality as “sinners” by the COOS paster to his congregation.
Will our national institutions and NGOs be infiltrated and even taken over like AWARE one day by such moral vigilantes in order for them to push their agenda to a wider audience?
Religious organizations are free to set up their own NGOs to promote their own teachings, but while its members should be permitted to hold leadership positions in secular groups, a clear demarcation must be drawn between what is permitted and what is not.
I would like to pose the following questions to Dr Vivian Balakrishnan:
1. Should the COOS’s views on homosexuality be allowed to spread beyond the confines of the Church under the guise of secularism?
2. Is it acceptable for a faith-based group to hijack a secular group which it finds disagreeable?
If Dr Vivian’s answers to the above two questions are “no”, it is time for the government to send a strong message across that such actions are not to be encouraged, tolerated or promoted.
I am disturbed that the other Churches and religions have been keeping surprisingly quiet so far. Does silence imply that they acquiesce in the takeover of AWARE by a faith-based group?
They should step forward to clarify their stance on the matter. Will they follow the example of COOS members should they find a NGO promoting a cause which seems contrarian to their teachings?
In multiracial and multicultural Singapore, there is no place for religion in civil society. Let us continue to keep them in their own separate domains for it has served Singapore well since independence.
No group or religion should be allowed to impose their value systems on another. Everybody should be allowed to have their voices heard and a space which they call their own in an inclusive society where nobody is marginalized or discriminated against because of their beliefs, values or sexual orientation.
http://forums.delphiforums.com/sunkopitiam/messages?msg=27958.2
Minister Vivian Balakrishnan's advice for Aware
April 26, 2009
Minister's advice for Aware
| By Li Xueying, Political Correspondent | ||
 |  | Aware's former president and founding member Margaret Thomas at a press conference -- ST PHOTO: MUGILAN RAJASEGERAN |
Dr Vivian Balakrishnan made it clear it is not a good idea to mix religion and what he calls the hurly-burly of politicking on the ground.
He gave this piece of advice on Sunday to the two groups at loggerheads in the ongoing Aware saga.
Speaking after a ministerial visit to Nee Soon South, Dr Balakrishnan prefaced his remarks by stressing the Government would not be getting involved 'at this point in time'.
Saying the dispute is 'not a national problem', he added: 'This is a problem they (Aware) have to solve themselves. Let me state categorically that at this point in time, the Government has no intention of intervening.
'Let them settle this democratically, according to their own rules, abiding with their constitution.'
But what he would do is to offer three pieces of advice - to not just Aware, but all Singaporeans.
ONE: religion should be kept above the fray of petty politics.
TWO: do not let one issue hijack the agenda and polarise Singapore.
THREE: A rainbow coalition is vital for any group here to make meaningful change.
http://forums.delphiforums.com/sunkopitiam/messages?msg=27958.1
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