by Gilbert Goh
Dear Singaporeans, I am glad many of you take a firm stand on the Israel-Hamas issue pertaining to what MOE has done in the classroom.
As a parent, if you are not careful, you will allow the state to brainwash your kids to their side of the narrative.
We also can’t protest, can’t gather, can’t do much on this global issue, which inflamed many countries and are told now to take a neutral stand by our government.
What’s a neutrality stand?
It’s a plain bochap attitude, I feel, so that nobody will get angry in the benign name of harmony and peace.
It’s to look at humanity straight in the face and then walk away cowardly not wanting to make a firm stand on what’s happening around us.
It’s not getting involved when you see someone getting bullied and hurt, letting our conscience go soft in the name of neutrality and cowardice.
For too long, the country has always used the Hock Lim bus riots of the 60s and racial harmony to impose its dictatorial control on the whole population whenever a race or religious issue crops up.
During the 5-hour police investigation after the one-man protest at Hong Lim Park, the police kept reiterating that we are surrounded by Muslim countries so we have to be careful about our stand.
But is supporting Israel so adamantly not something that will madden our two neighbouring Muslim countries?
Letting Israel take part in the Airshow and sending a diplomat to Israel during this dark time – are these not issues that will make our neighbouring countries see red?
Our government has to step up its diplomatic narrative on the current Israeli-Hamas conflict, as the whole global south is very pro-Palestinian now because of the ongoing Gaza war.
Maintaining its long-held stance on being pro-Israel has to shift so people can see the humane side of our government.
Except for the occasional lame mention of the Red Cross humanitarian aid mission into Gaza and putting up a soft vote at the UN Security Council, the government has done little to suggest that it is standing on the right side of humanity.
I think certain minority segments of the population now have done much more than our government for the Palestinian cause.
This post was first published on Gilbert Goh’s Instagram account.
Singaporean activist Gilbert Goh, through his initiative Love Aid Singapore, has made significant strides in providing humanitarian aid to the besieged Palestinian territories in Gaza.
With nearly S$750,000 (US$558,663) raised, Goh and his team are addressing the acute needs of approximately 300,000 isolated Palestinians in North Gaza. The area faces severe restrictions and hardships, further exacerbated by the suspension of World Food Programme aid due to security concerns.
Despite these challenges, Love Aid Singapore is committed to ensuring the continuation of their food program in Jabalia and Rafah, particularly during the holy month of Ramadan.