In a span of 5 days, the police have been called to investigate 3 cases of racist posts in a public domain. It first started with Jason Neo, a then YPAP member and Christian Eliab Ratnam, a NSF. In an earlier Facebook posting, Christian was reported to have agreed with a statement attributed to LKY. The most recent person to be investigated is Donaldson Tan, former member of The Online Citizen, founder of New Asia Republic.
Given that Singaporeans spend the most time on Facebook at an international level, it probably comes as no surprise that all three postings took place over Facebook. While the internet has been widely attributed as a tool to empower freedom of speech, people or in this case, Singaporeans need to know that they cannot simply tap on the phone or click on a computer to post something sensitive without repercussions. Yes, the internet empowers. It is also a public domain. Even without policing, what is sent out easily goes viral and you, yes you become a victim of your own posting.
I sincerely believe that Singaporeans are not racist by nature. Yet despite the government's attempt at schooling racial harmony, Singaporeans incline toward racial nonchalance. We are not tolerant but largely indifferent to the requirements of other races and religions. It is due to this lack of awareness that people fall prey to their own fastest fingers. All the same, regardless of my theories, I do not condone any such act.
Freedom of speech does not equate freedom to post. People have rights to freedom of speech and rights to live free from racial vilification.
Given that Singaporeans spend the most time on Facebook at an international level, it probably comes as no surprise that all three postings took place over Facebook. While the internet has been widely attributed as a tool to empower freedom of speech, people or in this case, Singaporeans need to know that they cannot simply tap on the phone or click on a computer to post something sensitive without repercussions. Yes, the internet empowers. It is also a public domain. Even without policing, what is sent out easily goes viral and you, yes you become a victim of your own posting.
I sincerely believe that Singaporeans are not racist by nature. Yet despite the government's attempt at schooling racial harmony, Singaporeans incline toward racial nonchalance. We are not tolerant but largely indifferent to the requirements of other races and religions. It is due to this lack of awareness that people fall prey to their own fastest fingers. All the same, regardless of my theories, I do not condone any such act.
Freedom of speech does not equate freedom to post. People have rights to freedom of speech and rights to live free from racial vilification.
