Everyday since the AWARE saga started, I log on to my Google Reader for my daily dose of real-life drama, and am treated to a barrage of wide-spectrum opinions and outright attacks on Josie Lau, Alan Chin, Angela Thiang et al. Even the ghost of Thio Li-Ann has drifted back to haunt us. Under public scrutiny is the integrity of these related Individuals and more importantly, on where the heart of the “Lau Administration’s” agenda lies.
A lot of angst, anger and agitation has permeated civil society. Justifiably so. However, we can choose to continue playing the blame game or the crying game. Or we could choose to mitigate whatever damage has already been done to AWARE and set the organization on an evolutionary course toward greater effectiveness. I vote for the latter.
The voting system at AWARE may have produced unexpected and for many, unfortunate results. This does not mean, however, that we have all been stripped of our voices. On the contrary, I believe that the ripples of the aftershock may just be what the organization needs to wean it off the potentially jaded and disillusioned trajectory that plagues many a NGO. Just like the savage eruptions of Krakatoa in 1883, shake-ups like this purge all that is wrong with a system and pave the way for reassembly to occur on ever more fertile ground.
In the larger scheme of things, I see some “greater good” arising from this saga. For one, loopholes in the democratic voting system have been exposed. I now empathize with my compliance officers’ anal compulsions toward client profiling and stringent background checks. You never know. Dusty skeletons dragged out from the closet should be brought up front à la U.S presidential elections. Along with the opportunity to engage their opponents, candidates must bear the responsibility of accounting for their past misdeeds and confronting their demons on an open and transparent platform.
The ongoing drama also proves that “Asians can think”. It has been encouraging to see that not all Singaporeans are apathetic to societal issues. We feel strongly and we do have the courage to speak for ourselves, when it matters. We recognize that good management skills are not automatically synonymous with leadership. We wonder whether the candidate’s prejudices and strong religious inclination hint of a potential misalignment with the secular objectives of AWARE. More importantly, we question whether the organization’s mission and ethos will eventually be compromised.
But the most important lesson I have learned from this saga, is this: One voice – one vote, can make the difference. We have a voice. Some have used their voices with resounding malicious intent. The rest of us can choose to surrender to timidity when confronted. The consequence of having chosen to allow this precious commodity to drown in the ocean of complacency and perceived futility is what landed AWARE in its current predicament.
Pause for a minute to view this video and reflect on the psychological and physical persecution that people and especially women living under oppressive regimes that continue to exist in countries like Afghanistan, are routinely subjected to. Shouldn’t we be grateful for the blessed bundle of rights bestowed on our lucky asses especially since the enactment of the Women’s Charter in 1961?
We do not live under such repressive conditions, where ideological and religious extremism rule the day. We do have the freedom to exercise our vocal cords but let’s do that with reason, objectivity, tolerance and empathy.
This is not about old school-Hollywood style Bush vs. Saddam dramas that do little other than to provide entertainment to indifferent onlookers. This is about US – as women, as Singaporeans, as a People who care about preserving the dignity of a 25 year old institution, defending human integrity and ultimately, ameliorating the human condition.
Cheers to a greater AWAREness.