Singapore Elections 2006 - what can you learn from it
My little girl asked me at the dinner table the other day what is "SINGAPORE ELECTIONS" and why her school had to end earlier today for the "Elections". I tried to be inventive and in an attempt to explain, said it is like Singapore is trying to choose a new "Class Monitor". That she could understand except that the analogy probably failed in the sense that for her class, the class monitor was appointed by the form teacher. But I said just like each class gets a Class Monitor, each constituency is supposed to get to choose their leader. I was about to cover Group Representative Consituencies then I got stuck. So I quit. But my kid now understands the Leaders of a nation get chosen by the people and everyone who is an adult gets to pariticipate in the choice.
If you are a school-going pupil, what can you learn from the Singapore Elections which comes only once in 5 years? Sit around and eavesdrop on adults who grumble on about national and municipal policies? Follow an apparently erstwhile apolitical parent to a political rally to hear what the different parties have to say?
I'll say it is a great opportunity to learn from the commentary, conscious all the time that everyone has an AGENDA.
It's like examining the intent and motivation behind the objectives of the characters of a story. In this case, you can ask when you are analysing the barrage of content in the traditional and non-tradtional media, could the AGENDA be to
A) influence your vote,
B)generate discussion and consideration of issues , or
C)gather an audience by entertaining them and injecting comic relief?
Also read the political broadcasts and check out the meaning of the word "Propaganda". In your English Language class if your teacher goes into this as a text-type, he might explain to you how during periods of crisis, a political office of a warring nation will generate a campaign to either win over or support its people as they come under enemy fire. The enemy army will have a counter-propaganda movement. The term "propaganda" has negative connotations too so generally if you call a piece of information or news propagandist you are really saying "watch out for the AGENDA". But simply defined, it would be organised but biased information that serves a political purpose. This does cut out the Fann Wong advert on slimming supplements. That one is mere promotion for a commercial objective.
Digressionary Rant: By all means, join a fan club and wear the badges and take on temporary tattoos but don't consume anything just because your Idol does - cos she ain't no emissary of health.
For delicious side-entertainment you have the irrepressible mrbrown and miyagi creating a wonderful alliance of persistently humorous podcasts. Persistently preferring to pose the funny questions, they allow us to chortle and choke on Ba Chor Mee. How not to order bak chor mee.
So you don't get to vote but surely you can study! Sharpen your thinking skills: Question the source, analyse the intent, expose the objective, reveal the AGENDA. Tomorrow your parents will elect Singapore's "class monitors" for the next term.
If you are a school-going pupil, what can you learn from the Singapore Elections which comes only once in 5 years? Sit around and eavesdrop on adults who grumble on about national and municipal policies? Follow an apparently erstwhile apolitical parent to a political rally to hear what the different parties have to say?
I'll say it is a great opportunity to learn from the commentary, conscious all the time that everyone has an AGENDA.
It's like examining the intent and motivation behind the objectives of the characters of a story. In this case, you can ask when you are analysing the barrage of content in the traditional and non-tradtional media, could the AGENDA be to
A) influence your vote,
B)generate discussion and consideration of issues , or
C)gather an audience by entertaining them and injecting comic relief?
Also read the political broadcasts and check out the meaning of the word "Propaganda". In your English Language class if your teacher goes into this as a text-type, he might explain to you how during periods of crisis, a political office of a warring nation will generate a campaign to either win over or support its people as they come under enemy fire. The enemy army will have a counter-propaganda movement. The term "propaganda" has negative connotations too so generally if you call a piece of information or news propagandist you are really saying "watch out for the AGENDA". But simply defined, it would be organised but biased information that serves a political purpose. This does cut out the Fann Wong advert on slimming supplements. That one is mere promotion for a commercial objective.
Digressionary Rant: By all means, join a fan club and wear the badges and take on temporary tattoos but don't consume anything just because your Idol does - cos she ain't no emissary of health.
For delicious side-entertainment you have the irrepressible mrbrown and miyagi creating a wonderful alliance of persistently humorous podcasts. Persistently preferring to pose the funny questions, they allow us to chortle and choke on Ba Chor Mee. How not to order bak chor mee.
So you don't get to vote but surely you can study! Sharpen your thinking skills: Question the source, analyse the intent, expose the objective, reveal the AGENDA. Tomorrow your parents will elect Singapore's "class monitors" for the next term.
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