Note: This posting is about the kids and is not political in nature. As I mentioned in my previous post, I am refraining from posting persistently political content on my blog.
********************
On our way home today, seeing a Worker's Party poster on a lamp post reminded Pumpkin of the "TV programme" last Saturday night and she commented, "Aiyah, why always Worker's Party, Worker's Party", in reference to our sporadic chanting during the telecast. (At this point, Sai Pi starts chanting "Worker's Party! Worker's Party!") I explained to the kids that last Saturday's show was a coverage of the results of the election where we would see which party wins.
Tai Pi: So did Worker's Party win?
Me: They won in Hougang. There are many different parts of the country. Worker's Party won 1 seat. In many other parts of the country, it was the PAP who won.
Tai Pi: So who was the winner?
Me: PAP
Tai Pi: So why do you support Worker's Party?!
Daddy: You can't always support the winner.
Tai Pi: [Pause] I cheered for ALP (her best friend) on Sports Day even though she can't run very fast.
That's opposition politics lesson no.1 for you:
If you intend to run for elections as an opposition candidate in Singapore, be prepared to lose. That's what Mr Low Thia Khiang says to his team and that's Tai Pi's introduction to the world of opposition politics in Singapore.
7 comments:
So cute all my little angels. We have a good laugh looking at the photo of the girls with the workers' party flag. At their ages, it's the best time of any parents' life to enjoy their childhood innocence. Treasure it well just as I've treasured my children's childhood and kept the memories so dearly in my heart.
good for you. PAP do not seem to understand that a healthy opposition is central to a robust democracy. Or maybe they do not really believe in democracy?
It's not easy working for the benefit of others and still be on the losing side, that's why these people need all the support they can get. Right, Tai Pi?
Oppositions here need more persistence. Was disappointed that Steve Chia quit just after 3 tries. He's not sending a good signal but then again, it isn't easy. It'll even be tougher 5 years later.
kong kong: To think that when the next election comes round, Tai Pi would be in secondary school! They grow up so fast.
fbt: oh i believe they do understand but as Lee Junior says "the opposition's job is to make my life miserable". That says a lot about his beliefs.
tai pi's aunty: yes, being an opposition politician here must be the most difficult job in the world!
sesame: i was disappointed about steve chia too but the poor guy's got to take care of his family. he raised so many issues in parliament - it must have taken up a lot of his time preparing for those parliamentary sessions. Altho he was a non-constituency MP, i believe he spent more time and energy on this than many MPs who either didn't bother to attend parliamentary sessions or just sat there nodding away. Talk about quitters, well there are many PAP MPs who take up the position for only 1 term - looks good on their resume. I don't blame steve chia, it's just so tough - you have to be twice as good as a PAP MP just to be considered half as good.
Yeah, opposition politics = work by the underdogs for the underdogs.
I empathise with Steve Chia. It's hard to keep in the game when you have no idea how long more you have to fight, just to get into parliament.
There's also this other SDA guy Sin Kek Tong. It's his 4th loss or something and he also talked about leaving politics. Years ago, he contested in my old constituency and PAP won by just over 50%, so he was 'best loser' then. But no NCMP scheme in those days, and he just kept losing. So you see it can be quite disheartening.
This is Sin Kek Tong's 5th loss. Poor guy. Contrast that with the ease with which many PAP MPs get into Parliament - many of them don't even need to contest and many others just ride on the coat tails of some minister and they land their $13,000 a month part-time job.
Post a Comment