The Queer Librarian: News, Information, Resources

The Straits Times Forum, June 18, 2008

I READ Lydia Lim's article 'Let's not turn human rights into a battle ground' on
Saturday in which she reminded us what the Attorney-General, Professor Walter
Woon, said rather critically: 'These are people who evidently believe that they
and their values represent the apex of human moral development.'

I find the statement rather ironic because it seems to me that there are among
us enough Singaporeans who also believe that their values represent the apex of
human moral development.

One blatant example is the declaration of the family as the smallest unit of
society. It is a matter of cultural view but this value seems to be treated like
a truism in Singapore with its manifestations imposed upon Singaporeans who do
not hold the same view. One consequence is that only family units, and not
singles, are entitled to hefty government subsidies and brand-new HDB flats.

Another example is the view that homosexuality is immoral and somehow wrong.
Again, this is a cultural view but its manifestations suggest that it is treated
like a hard fact. Programmes on homosexual relations and lifestyles are banned
from TV channels, with violators slapped with hefty fines, disregarding the
sentiments of gay and gay-friendly people.

A third example is the view that a man is somehow more 'superior' (for want of a
better word) than a woman. This is a view strongly associated with Confucianism.
As a result, in some public sectors, when it comes to benefits, it seems to me
that men get better treatment than women.

When it comes to believing that one's cultural values represent the 'apex of
human moral development', my examples suggest that Singapore is not exactly
innocent.

Therefore, I wonder why Prof Woon sees this flaw only in Western human-rights
activists but not among his fellow Singaporeans.

Dr Wong Jock Onn

Source: The Straits Times
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