Comments on: Humour, wit and satire as tools of the political critic http://catherinelim.sg/2008/07/04/humour-wit-and-satire-as-tools-of-the-political-critic/ Political Commentaries on Singapore Sun, 14 Mar 2010 05:10:29 +0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: catherinelim.sg » ‘Vote for the People’s Reaction Party! PREP vs PAP!’ — a Satirical Tale http://catherinelim.sg/2008/07/04/humour-wit-and-satire-as-tools-of-the-political-critic/comment-page-1/#comment-700 catherinelim.sg » ‘Vote for the People’s Reaction Party! PREP vs PAP!’ — a Satirical Tale Tue, 22 Jul 2008 16:29:07 +0000 http://catherinelim.sg/?p=33#comment-700 <p>[...] thought it a good idea to reproduce an excerpt (declined for publication by the newspapers) from a recent political speech I made, in which I told a little, wickedly satirical tale, set sometime in the future, about [...]</p> [...] thought it a good idea to reproduce an excerpt (declined for publication by the newspapers) from a recent political speech I made, in which I told a little, wickedly satirical tale, set sometime in the future, about [...]

]]> By: Kevin Hancey http://catherinelim.sg/2008/07/04/humour-wit-and-satire-as-tools-of-the-political-critic/comment-page-1/#comment-676 Kevin Hancey Thu, 17 Jul 2008 07:32:05 +0000 http://catherinelim.sg/?p=33#comment-676 <p>I had recently read my first Catherine Lim novel called "Following the Wrong God Home" and was mildly surprised to see a native writer speaking out against injustice in Singapore. I immediately became intrigued and found my way to this site for the rest of my education on the amazing Catherine Lim. Ms.Lim is Malaysia's loss and Singapore's greatest treasure. Hers is a voice crying out in the wilderness appealing for justice and democracy rather than political expediency controlled by a climate of fear and a governance imbued with filial piety. She is truly a charismatic figure who possesses, beauty,warmth,charm,intelligence,wit,a vibrant passion and a well tuned ability to communicate through her talents of speech and the written word. I salute you Catherine Lim. You are truly one of my heroes.</p> <ul> <li>Kevin Hancey (Singapore)</li> </ul> I had recently read my first Catherine Lim novel called “Following the Wrong God Home” and was mildly surprised to see a native writer speaking out against injustice in Singapore. I immediately became intrigued and found my way to this site for the rest of my education on the amazing Catherine Lim. Ms.Lim is Malaysia’s loss and Singapore’s greatest treasure. Hers is a voice crying out in the wilderness appealing for justice and democracy rather than political expediency controlled by a climate of fear and a governance imbued with filial piety. She is truly a charismatic figure who possesses, beauty,warmth,charm,intelligence,wit,a vibrant passion and a well tuned ability to communicate through her talents of speech and the written word. I salute you Catherine Lim. You are truly one of my heroes.

  • Kevin Hancey (Singapore)
]]> By: CHUA CHUAN SEAH http://catherinelim.sg/2008/07/04/humour-wit-and-satire-as-tools-of-the-political-critic/comment-page-1/#comment-672 CHUA CHUAN SEAH Sat, 12 Jul 2008 07:51:49 +0000 http://catherinelim.sg/?p=33#comment-672 <p>The political language used by PAP leaders is highly technocratic and scientific. There is simply no place, it seems, in PAP political discourse for a healthy dose of literary references, creativity and laughter.</p> <p>No wonder the PAP leaders have a major problem with their troubling and tiresome public image--serious, stern, humourless and unimaginative!</p> <p>PAP leaders just cannot tolerate and appreciate the place of wit, humour and satire in political discourse--especially when conducted by their political opponents and critics.</p> <p>They are fearful of being caricatured, mocked, parodied, ridiculed and satirised. They want to maintain an imposing, serious, dignified and respectable public image.</p> <p>Lee Kuan Yew, to prop up his fear-instilling, autocratic and authoritarian style of government, has largely been responsible for cultivating this linguistic inhibition and prohibition--by setting the tone for political discourse in Singapore in his own imgage.</p> <p>I just hope that, after Lee's passing, future political discourse in Singapore will not be so inhibited and proscribed.</p> <p>For the present, the best place to find wit, humour and satire in local political discourse is mostly outside the mainstream mass media--in the Internet websites, blogs and forums precisely.</p> The political language used by PAP leaders is highly technocratic and scientific. There is simply no place, it seems, in PAP political discourse for a healthy dose of literary references, creativity and laughter.

No wonder the PAP leaders have a major problem with their troubling and tiresome public image–serious, stern, humourless and unimaginative!

PAP leaders just cannot tolerate and appreciate the place of wit, humour and satire in political discourse–especially when conducted by their political opponents and critics.

They are fearful of being caricatured, mocked, parodied, ridiculed and satirised. They want to maintain an imposing, serious, dignified and respectable public image.

Lee Kuan Yew, to prop up his fear-instilling, autocratic and authoritarian style of government, has largely been responsible for cultivating this linguistic inhibition and prohibition–by setting the tone for political discourse in Singapore in his own imgage.

I just hope that, after Lee’s passing, future political discourse in Singapore will not be so inhibited and proscribed.

For the present, the best place to find wit, humour and satire in local political discourse is mostly outside the mainstream mass media–in the Internet websites, blogs and forums precisely.

]]> By: catherinelim.sg » Overcoming doubts and stepping forth http://catherinelim.sg/2008/07/04/humour-wit-and-satire-as-tools-of-the-political-critic/comment-page-1/#comment-632 catherinelim.sg » Overcoming doubts and stepping forth Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:32:33 +0000 http://catherinelim.sg/?p=33#comment-632 <p>[...] surprised, and much encouraged, that the Straits Times agreed to run the following excerpt of my speech given in the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy Studies, on 2 [...]</p> [...] surprised, and much encouraged, that the Straits Times agreed to run the following excerpt of my speech given in the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy Studies, on 2 [...]

]]> By: mb http://catherinelim.sg/2008/07/04/humour-wit-and-satire-as-tools-of-the-political-critic/comment-page-1/#comment-630 mb Tue, 08 Jul 2008 08:27:09 +0000 http://catherinelim.sg/?p=33#comment-630 <p>The LKY school has a FIRESIDE? Wow.</p> The LKY school has a FIRESIDE? Wow.

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