prof lin shaoming commented in an article in lianhe zaobao saying that singapore undergraduates are "too silent" when it comes to politics. he commented that when the undergraduates do not agree with the government policies, what they do are usually "keeping their mouth shut" as they are worried being "labelled"...

i do agree with prof lin that the undergraduates in singapore are rather silent about politics. however, i strongly disagree that we are simply "bochap" or ignorant. i believe there are many out there who are very concerned about politics and government policies just as i do. its not that we simply agree with the government, but does the government hear us out when we have something to say? will the government change their policies in response to the people's feedback, or its simple noise to their ears? sometimes i just cannot help to think that there is a 101 questions and answers prepared for the politicians so that whatever possible question or response by the public there is already a reason to rebutt it. so if that is the case, there is virtually no room for negotiation or compromise, so whats the use of discussing or voicing out our views, since they are not going to be "taken into consideration" anyway? its like the reinforcement theory (Skinner 1971) where "ignoring a behaviour will increase the likelihood that the behaviour will not be repeated", so i guess we have been ignored too many times in the past to have any response now...

another interesting point is the comment of "labelled". seriously lah who is not worried of being labelled? i'm VERY worried of being labelled! labelled doesn't only mean by the government, but in a closer context by your friends, company, supervisor, manager.... another meaning for labelled = condemned/singled out. who wants that to happen? you want to be the hero to voice out what all the others want to say in their hearts but dun dare to say yet at the end of the day you are being labelled and treated unequally?

please... unless you have a strong backing... i doubt you will ever want to play with the fire...