THERE is a readers' forum in zaobao.com, which I visited almost every day during the presidential election in Taiwan. I found a large volume of views and responses posted there by enthusiastic Chinese surfers from all parts of the world. The experience has been a great eye-opener for me.
Yet those on-line commentators would pale beside the speaker who voices his opinion on an issue directly to the public. That is why people were excited with a babble of comments when they were told recently that there would be a Speakers' Corner in Singapore.
Some jumped for joy for what they called “a belated spring”； others worried that the Corner would turn out a mere matter of form； and still others suggested that it should be handled in the spirit of laissez-faire.
After all, would a Speakers' Corner modelled after the prototype in Hyde Park in Britain fit into the climate of our city-state, given its pluralism in race, religion, language, and culture？
And what is the special significance of the suggestion to the future of Singapore, as it is encouraging the citizenry to look towards the outside world and recruiting talent from abroad to help boost a knowledge-based economy？
We need to delve more deeply into these questions.
Generally, Singapore impresses foreigners as a well-governed society in which people abide by laws. Public order is good, but people are subject to various restrictions. Political slogans are rare, but posters can be seen everywhere to warn people of fines for various offences.
They warn people, for example, against littering, spitting, chewing gum, eating or drinking in a bus or train, damaging flowers, trees or other plants, and leaving the toilet unflushed after using it.
These warnings, of course, are meant to maintain good public order and clean environment. Laws treat all people alike, be they foreign visitors or local VIPs.
Moreover, our island has managed to survive amid the Malay Archipelagos, partly thanks to the use of English as a lingua franca among its multiracial population.
Therefore, Singaporeans must always remain discreet in what they say and do, always neutral on religious issues, because social harmony is the top priority for the country.
Only with social stability can we develop economy, education and cultural affairs so that people can live a happy life. Foreigners may not fully understand the difficulties we have to face in this respect.
From experience, we understand that a human being can have a sound mind in a sound body only when his desires are satisfied and his other emotional needs are well met. And so is the case with a state or society.
A healthy society complete with harmony, stability, and good order can be achieved only when the majority's desires are satisfied and their other emotional needs are met.
So, I am concerned whether the idea of a Speakers' Corner has been conceived from such an understanding. Did it stem from a genuine desire of the people, or was it put on the stage just to satisfy some other needs？
If it were the people's desire that gave rise to the suggestion, the Speakers' Corner would be a great boon for society. As our population are becoming better educated and more discerning and insightful, a suitable venue for public speeches would enable them to air their views freely.
Yet, for the time being, apart from a few organised speech societies, it seems coffee shops are the common venues for discussions on current affairs and issues.
There, one may occasionally hear people talk about“hearsay news” or touch on sensitive topics. Even then, they seem to be cautious about what they say.
So long as people's mind is still burdened, they cannot voice their views freely. Of course, as to the quality of discussion, it takes time and effort for people to acquire oratorical skills and proper manners.
Obviously, time is not ripe yet for the suggested Speakers' Corner. This is nothing to be achieved rashly.
The ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Zi said, “Just as a huge tree must grow from a tiny sprout, and a nine-storied terrace must be built upon its lowly base, so a thousand-li journey must start with the very first step.”
So why don't we start with something easier on a smaller scale？ We could, for example, start by initiating free forums in our universities, or setting up speech groups in community centres, so that people will gradually learn the art of public speaking.
Over time, all conditions will be ripe and the ideal of a Speakers' Corner will be realised as naturally as a ditch is formed when water flows along.
設(shè)演說角落的時(shí)機(jī)成熟了嗎？
聯(lián)合早報(bào)網(wǎng)附設(shè)有讀者論壇。在臺(tái)灣大選期間,我?guī)缀趺刻焐暇W(wǎng)瀏覽,發(fā)現(xiàn)論壇吸引了許多世界各地的華人,上網(wǎng)發(fā)表意見,讀者反應(yīng)熱烈,情緒激昂,令我大開眼界。
演講,是在公共場(chǎng)合針對(duì)一定話題現(xiàn)身說法,比起寫文章、網(wǎng)上論壇、或投稿發(fā)表言論者的身手可說是更勝一籌
。這次,人們聽到島國將設(shè)立“演說角落”的消息,各界議論紛紛。
有者為之雀躍,喻之為“遲來的春天”；有者擔(dān)心會(huì)是一只“白象”,虛有其表；有者則保持中立,建議以“無為而治”的姿態(tài)處理。
到底,這樣的一個(gè)模仿英國海德公園的美麗構(gòu)想,適合這個(gè)多元民族、宗教、語言、文化的小島社會(huì)的“氣候”嗎？
在這個(gè)呼吁國民放眼天下、吸收外來人才以提高國家競(jìng)爭(zhēng)力、經(jīng)濟(jì)逐漸轉(zhuǎn)向知識(shí)經(jīng)濟(jì)的時(shí)刻,如此的建議,對(duì)我們的國家社會(huì)的未來發(fā)展有著什么特別的意義？這些是我們想進(jìn)一步了解的。
普遍上新加坡給外人的第一印象是：一個(gè)結(jié)構(gòu)嚴(yán)謹(jǐn)?shù)姆ㄖ粕鐣?huì),治安好,卻附帶著諸多限制；標(biāo)語口號(hào)不多,而違法就得面對(duì)罰款等的警語處處可見。
例如：提醒人們不能吃香口膠、不可亂丟垃圾、不得在公共汽車和地鐵車廂里吃東西、不可隨意摘花草樹木、不能隨地吐痰、上廁所不忘抽水等等。
當(dāng)然,這些都是為著維護(hù)良好的社會(huì)秩序和生活環(huán)境而設(shè)置的。
法律面前人人平等,即使是剛踏上島國的外國旅客、達(dá)官貴人,也不能例外。
此外,我國的多元種族的社會(huì)背景,小島國以英語為通用語言,屹立在馬來群島的海洋之中。我們的舉止言行,都得小心翼翼,隨時(shí)保持種族宗教中立,維持社會(huì)和諧是國家的首要任務(wù)。
只有社會(huì)局勢(shì)安定,才能談到經(jīng)濟(jì)發(fā)展、文教事業(yè)的推展、富足和國泰民安的生活。在這方面,則非多數(shù)外國人所能理解的。
經(jīng)驗(yàn)告訴我們,當(dāng)一個(gè)人的一切欲望和感情都得到充分滿足和適當(dāng)疏導(dǎo)時(shí),其身體內(nèi)部才會(huì)達(dá)到和諧,進(jìn)而在精神上才能保持健康；一個(gè)國家、社會(huì)的情況也是如此。當(dāng)社會(huì)上各式各樣的人,其一切欲望和情感,都得到滿足和表現(xiàn)到一定的程度的情況下,社會(huì)才會(huì)“健康”,達(dá)到內(nèi)部和諧、安定、有秩序的境界。
我關(guān)心的是,演說角落的構(gòu)思是否基于這樣的認(rèn)知而產(chǎn)生？是因?yàn)閲覂?nèi)部人民的渴望所催生還是外在的需要而粉墨登場(chǎng)？
如果說是島國內(nèi)人民的需求,只要人們知識(shí)水平普遍提高,分析事物能力強(qiáng),能明辨是非黑白,政府找個(gè)適合的公共場(chǎng)所,設(shè)個(gè)論壇,讓演講者自由地大發(fā)偉論,暢所欲言,那是大勢(shì)所趨,順理成章的美事。
然而,環(huán)顧時(shí)下周圍,除了幾個(gè)演講會(huì)較正式的組織之外,要說人們常談?wù)摃r(shí)事及特別話題的地方,恐怕非咖啡店莫屬了。這些地方,偶而聽到人們高談闊論一些“街邊社”的新聞,觸及一些人們認(rèn)為敏感的話題時(shí),人們心里還是普遍存著“隔墻有耳”的警惕心理,于是便小聲講,大聲笑。
人們心里存著的“疙瘩”,一日未除,就無法能無拘無束地發(fā)表意見。至于話題內(nèi)容的素質(zhì),談話時(shí)態(tài)度的中肯、涵養(yǎng)和風(fēng)度等的要求,是需要人們不斷地學(xué)習(xí)和提升,才能達(dá)到的。
顯然的,設(shè)立演說角落,目前時(shí)機(jī)尚未臻成熟,這是急不來的。
古人說：“合抱之木,生于毫末；九層之臺(tái),起于累土；千里之行,始于足下?！蔽覀兒尾粡男〉姆秶?、容易的事先做起？例如率先在大專學(xué)府等設(shè)立自由演講論壇,在民眾俱樂部廣設(shè)演講會(huì),逐步訓(xùn)練、按步就班培養(yǎng)/發(fā)掘人們演講之術(shù)/才。
另一方面,政府也可全面作出配合,逐步放寬言論自由的尺度,讓國民和周圍鄰居們,有時(shí)間調(diào)整思維方式和視線之焦距,假以時(shí)日,象征自由論壇的演說角落的設(shè)立,將是水到渠成之事。
Yet those on-line commentators would pale beside the speaker who voices his opinion on an issue directly to the public. That is why people were excited with a babble of comments when they were told recently that there would be a Speakers' Corner in Singapore.
Some jumped for joy for what they called “a belated spring”； others worried that the Corner would turn out a mere matter of form； and still others suggested that it should be handled in the spirit of laissez-faire.
After all, would a Speakers' Corner modelled after the prototype in Hyde Park in Britain fit into the climate of our city-state, given its pluralism in race, religion, language, and culture？
And what is the special significance of the suggestion to the future of Singapore, as it is encouraging the citizenry to look towards the outside world and recruiting talent from abroad to help boost a knowledge-based economy？
We need to delve more deeply into these questions.
Generally, Singapore impresses foreigners as a well-governed society in which people abide by laws. Public order is good, but people are subject to various restrictions. Political slogans are rare, but posters can be seen everywhere to warn people of fines for various offences.
They warn people, for example, against littering, spitting, chewing gum, eating or drinking in a bus or train, damaging flowers, trees or other plants, and leaving the toilet unflushed after using it.
These warnings, of course, are meant to maintain good public order and clean environment. Laws treat all people alike, be they foreign visitors or local VIPs.
Moreover, our island has managed to survive amid the Malay Archipelagos, partly thanks to the use of English as a lingua franca among its multiracial population.
Therefore, Singaporeans must always remain discreet in what they say and do, always neutral on religious issues, because social harmony is the top priority for the country.
Only with social stability can we develop economy, education and cultural affairs so that people can live a happy life. Foreigners may not fully understand the difficulties we have to face in this respect.
From experience, we understand that a human being can have a sound mind in a sound body only when his desires are satisfied and his other emotional needs are well met. And so is the case with a state or society.
A healthy society complete with harmony, stability, and good order can be achieved only when the majority's desires are satisfied and their other emotional needs are met.
So, I am concerned whether the idea of a Speakers' Corner has been conceived from such an understanding. Did it stem from a genuine desire of the people, or was it put on the stage just to satisfy some other needs？
If it were the people's desire that gave rise to the suggestion, the Speakers' Corner would be a great boon for society. As our population are becoming better educated and more discerning and insightful, a suitable venue for public speeches would enable them to air their views freely.
Yet, for the time being, apart from a few organised speech societies, it seems coffee shops are the common venues for discussions on current affairs and issues.
There, one may occasionally hear people talk about“hearsay news” or touch on sensitive topics. Even then, they seem to be cautious about what they say.
So long as people's mind is still burdened, they cannot voice their views freely. Of course, as to the quality of discussion, it takes time and effort for people to acquire oratorical skills and proper manners.
Obviously, time is not ripe yet for the suggested Speakers' Corner. This is nothing to be achieved rashly.
The ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Zi said, “Just as a huge tree must grow from a tiny sprout, and a nine-storied terrace must be built upon its lowly base, so a thousand-li journey must start with the very first step.”
So why don't we start with something easier on a smaller scale？ We could, for example, start by initiating free forums in our universities, or setting up speech groups in community centres, so that people will gradually learn the art of public speaking.
Over time, all conditions will be ripe and the ideal of a Speakers' Corner will be realised as naturally as a ditch is formed when water flows along.
設(shè)演說角落的時(shí)機(jī)成熟了嗎？
聯(lián)合早報(bào)網(wǎng)附設(shè)有讀者論壇。在臺(tái)灣大選期間,我?guī)缀趺刻焐暇W(wǎng)瀏覽,發(fā)現(xiàn)論壇吸引了許多世界各地的華人,上網(wǎng)發(fā)表意見,讀者反應(yīng)熱烈,情緒激昂,令我大開眼界。
演講,是在公共場(chǎng)合針對(duì)一定話題現(xiàn)身說法,比起寫文章、網(wǎng)上論壇、或投稿發(fā)表言論者的身手可說是更勝一籌
。這次,人們聽到島國將設(shè)立“演說角落”的消息,各界議論紛紛。
有者為之雀躍,喻之為“遲來的春天”；有者擔(dān)心會(huì)是一只“白象”,虛有其表；有者則保持中立,建議以“無為而治”的姿態(tài)處理。
到底,這樣的一個(gè)模仿英國海德公園的美麗構(gòu)想,適合這個(gè)多元民族、宗教、語言、文化的小島社會(huì)的“氣候”嗎？
在這個(gè)呼吁國民放眼天下、吸收外來人才以提高國家競(jìng)爭(zhēng)力、經(jīng)濟(jì)逐漸轉(zhuǎn)向知識(shí)經(jīng)濟(jì)的時(shí)刻,如此的建議,對(duì)我們的國家社會(huì)的未來發(fā)展有著什么特別的意義？這些是我們想進(jìn)一步了解的。
普遍上新加坡給外人的第一印象是：一個(gè)結(jié)構(gòu)嚴(yán)謹(jǐn)?shù)姆ㄖ粕鐣?huì),治安好,卻附帶著諸多限制；標(biāo)語口號(hào)不多,而違法就得面對(duì)罰款等的警語處處可見。
例如：提醒人們不能吃香口膠、不可亂丟垃圾、不得在公共汽車和地鐵車廂里吃東西、不可隨意摘花草樹木、不能隨地吐痰、上廁所不忘抽水等等。
當(dāng)然,這些都是為著維護(hù)良好的社會(huì)秩序和生活環(huán)境而設(shè)置的。
法律面前人人平等,即使是剛踏上島國的外國旅客、達(dá)官貴人,也不能例外。
此外,我國的多元種族的社會(huì)背景,小島國以英語為通用語言,屹立在馬來群島的海洋之中。我們的舉止言行,都得小心翼翼,隨時(shí)保持種族宗教中立,維持社會(huì)和諧是國家的首要任務(wù)。
只有社會(huì)局勢(shì)安定,才能談到經(jīng)濟(jì)發(fā)展、文教事業(yè)的推展、富足和國泰民安的生活。在這方面,則非多數(shù)外國人所能理解的。
經(jīng)驗(yàn)告訴我們,當(dāng)一個(gè)人的一切欲望和感情都得到充分滿足和適當(dāng)疏導(dǎo)時(shí),其身體內(nèi)部才會(huì)達(dá)到和諧,進(jìn)而在精神上才能保持健康；一個(gè)國家、社會(huì)的情況也是如此。當(dāng)社會(huì)上各式各樣的人,其一切欲望和情感,都得到滿足和表現(xiàn)到一定的程度的情況下,社會(huì)才會(huì)“健康”,達(dá)到內(nèi)部和諧、安定、有秩序的境界。
我關(guān)心的是,演說角落的構(gòu)思是否基于這樣的認(rèn)知而產(chǎn)生？是因?yàn)閲覂?nèi)部人民的渴望所催生還是外在的需要而粉墨登場(chǎng)？
如果說是島國內(nèi)人民的需求,只要人們知識(shí)水平普遍提高,分析事物能力強(qiáng),能明辨是非黑白,政府找個(gè)適合的公共場(chǎng)所,設(shè)個(gè)論壇,讓演講者自由地大發(fā)偉論,暢所欲言,那是大勢(shì)所趨,順理成章的美事。
然而,環(huán)顧時(shí)下周圍,除了幾個(gè)演講會(huì)較正式的組織之外,要說人們常談?wù)摃r(shí)事及特別話題的地方,恐怕非咖啡店莫屬了。這些地方,偶而聽到人們高談闊論一些“街邊社”的新聞,觸及一些人們認(rèn)為敏感的話題時(shí),人們心里還是普遍存著“隔墻有耳”的警惕心理,于是便小聲講,大聲笑。
人們心里存著的“疙瘩”,一日未除,就無法能無拘無束地發(fā)表意見。至于話題內(nèi)容的素質(zhì),談話時(shí)態(tài)度的中肯、涵養(yǎng)和風(fēng)度等的要求,是需要人們不斷地學(xué)習(xí)和提升,才能達(dá)到的。
顯然的,設(shè)立演說角落,目前時(shí)機(jī)尚未臻成熟,這是急不來的。
古人說：“合抱之木,生于毫末；九層之臺(tái),起于累土；千里之行,始于足下?！蔽覀兒尾粡男〉姆秶?、容易的事先做起？例如率先在大專學(xué)府等設(shè)立自由演講論壇,在民眾俱樂部廣設(shè)演講會(huì),逐步訓(xùn)練、按步就班培養(yǎng)/發(fā)掘人們演講之術(shù)/才。
另一方面,政府也可全面作出配合,逐步放寬言論自由的尺度,讓國民和周圍鄰居們,有時(shí)間調(diào)整思維方式和視線之焦距,假以時(shí)日,象征自由論壇的演說角落的設(shè)立,將是水到渠成之事。