Anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan wore a t-shirt that says, “ 2245 Dead. How many more?” at Capitol in the visitor's gallery during the State of the Union address and was escorted before the event started. Subsequently, charges of unlawful conduct were dropped and the police apologised.
Incidentally, the wife of a Republican House of Representative, Bill Young, Beverly, was also asked to leave for wearing a t-shirt that has an opposite message, “Support the Troops Defending Our Freedom”.
In Singapore, politically controversial t-shirts became the rage when 4 silent protestors last year wore white t-shirts with words such as , “CPF, HDB, Transparency, Accountability” on them. The shirts have been confiscated and the police have yet to offer an apology.
Not too long ago, the authorities see red again when Raffles girls students tried to sold “Save the White Elephants" t-shirts at the carnival celebrating the opening of Buangkok MRT station. This was apparently a tongue in cheek reference to the cutouts hung outside the station.
The police sent a remainder to the girls that permits are needed to sold the t-shirts; and that “wearing of T-shirts en masse may be misconstrued by some as an offence under the Miscellaneous Offences (Public & Order & Nuisance) (Assemblies & Processions) Rules”
With politically controversial t-shirts making international and local headlines, I expect creative Singaporeans to come up with their own version of offensive t-shirts that may confound our police.
In fact, I already have a few in mind, such as , “When is the next Erection in Singapore?”, “National Peanut Foundation”, “Pee Aye Pee”, “Workaholics Party” or “Sarong Demo-crappy Party”
I just hope no one will take up my idea to print and wear these t-shirts. Unlike the US police, ours don't do apologies and they may just haul you up on the street and charge you for indecent exposure. Sorry, I meant public abnormal disorder.
The logic? Singapore, unlike US of A, is a clean and green city and our citizens are expected to be orderly and law abiding. Dissent is banned, even on a crappy t-shirt with illegible handwritings.
Disclaimer: The author does not endorse politically controversial t-shirts and he is not related to anyone found owning or wearing them. Any such event is merely an act of coincidence. The only controversial t-shirt that the author owns says,”No Politically Rude T-Shirts Please, We Are Law Abiding Singaporeans”
Incidentally, the wife of a Republican House of Representative, Bill Young, Beverly, was also asked to leave for wearing a t-shirt that has an opposite message, “Support the Troops Defending Our Freedom”.
In Singapore, politically controversial t-shirts became the rage when 4 silent protestors last year wore white t-shirts with words such as , “CPF, HDB, Transparency, Accountability” on them. The shirts have been confiscated and the police have yet to offer an apology.
Not too long ago, the authorities see red again when Raffles girls students tried to sold “Save the White Elephants" t-shirts at the carnival celebrating the opening of Buangkok MRT station. This was apparently a tongue in cheek reference to the cutouts hung outside the station.
The police sent a remainder to the girls that permits are needed to sold the t-shirts; and that “wearing of T-shirts en masse may be misconstrued by some as an offence under the Miscellaneous Offences (Public & Order & Nuisance) (Assemblies & Processions) Rules”
With politically controversial t-shirts making international and local headlines, I expect creative Singaporeans to come up with their own version of offensive t-shirts that may confound our police.
In fact, I already have a few in mind, such as , “When is the next Erection in Singapore?”, “National Peanut Foundation”, “Pee Aye Pee”, “Workaholics Party” or “Sarong Demo-crappy Party”
I just hope no one will take up my idea to print and wear these t-shirts. Unlike the US police, ours don't do apologies and they may just haul you up on the street and charge you for indecent exposure. Sorry, I meant public abnormal disorder.
The logic? Singapore, unlike US of A, is a clean and green city and our citizens are expected to be orderly and law abiding. Dissent is banned, even on a crappy t-shirt with illegible handwritings.
Disclaimer: The author does not endorse politically controversial t-shirts and he is not related to anyone found owning or wearing them. Any such event is merely an act of coincidence. The only controversial t-shirt that the author owns says,”No Politically Rude T-Shirts Please, We Are Law Abiding Singaporeans”
The savvy author does not endorse but blantantly instigates. Well done!
ReplyDeleteMore Tshirt ideas!
ReplyDelete"The message on this T-shirt may be considered offensive to some."
"Don't worry, there are less than 4 copies of this T-shirt around."
i think the excuse that the police used that "wearing of T-shirts en masse may be misconstrued by some as an offence under the Miscellaneous Offences (Public & Order & Nuisance) (Assemblies & Processions) Rules" is stupid.
ReplyDeletethen what? group of school students who happen to be standing around the bus stop outside school waiting for bus should also be arrested lah?
i think that this whole business arose cos someone in the Police Force over-reacted.
there are things which are indeed offensive. but there are things which are just tongue in cheek. the police and any other relevant authorities should know the difference.
There are some things that should be endlessly parodied, so as to remind the police and any other relevant authorities that their honest mistakes won't be forgotten any time soon.
ReplyDeleteThe only controversial t-shirt that the author owns says,”No Politically Rude T-Shirts Please, We Are Law Abiding Singaporeans”
ReplyDeleteHaha...where did u buy that tshirt? Your local PAP outlet? As for the difference between offensive and tongue-in-cheek tshirts, I doubt the humourless police will be able to tell the difference. Their ridiculous militant policing style does deserve endless parody in any form.
Oh and akikonomu... try this on for size.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.geocities.com/matrionix/TSHIRT2.jpg
Also available in "2 of three" and "3 of three".
If Singapore is democratic, lets put on this t-shirt, "Singapore is a democracy" and demostrate outside parliament. Should have double effects, both on the "rhetoric that Spore is democratic" and the fact it is not
ReplyDeleteDemocracy Voting Rights in SG - Citizens can vote from a few pre-selected PAP candidates to represent their constituency. Unless it's a walkover (as usual) then you don't have to vote. The government appreciates your allegiance to PAP, oops sorry we meant the country, here's a few more bucks deposited into your CPF account.
ReplyDeleteI thought a t-shirt from a well known brand reading "FCUK YOU" would be more offensive. Think it had the word "Backwards" on the back too.
I fully endorse anything which gets up the collective noses of the singapore government.
ReplyDeleteIt is up to the citizens to "potty train" the state and its apparatchiks.
As far as I am concerned, many of thses govt officials ought to be in JAIL for TREASON. Silencing dissent is treason.
The govt. serves the individuals which make up the society. Not the other way around.