Let’s stand together and stop the name-calling

Dear Madam/Sir,

I REFER to Mr Tan Keng Soon’s letter (‘’Sexually challenged’ isn’t an offensive term referring to gays’, May 26).

I acknowledge that there will always be some people in Singapore who might not readily accept our fellow Singaporeans for who they are. However, I feel we should not be calling them names.

It is unclear whether using labels like ‘sexually challenged’ may make a difference to the sexual orientation of Singaporeans. What we do know is that using negative labels are hurtful, and are tantamount to a form of hate speech.

If we persist in using such terms, we are only persisting in being divisive, which is socially and economically unviable for Singapore. Divisiveness in society, as history has shown, is fertile ground for external elements to bring a country to its knees.

At the same time, I have had enough of seeing Singapore divided over this matter, especially in fragile times like these.

I think it is time we stand together and stop the name-calling. All of us have our differences, but the one thing we share in common, besides being Singaporean, is being human.

Let’s try to work on that, shall we?

Thank you.

Yours sincerely,
Laremy LEE (Mr)

(Published as “Focus on tolerance and unity, not name-calling” on 27 May 2009 in The Straits Times.)

The simple life.

Once upon a time, the simple life comprised waking up, making a nice cuppa tea and having lunch while tuning in to podcasts/The Simpsons/South Park for three hours.

If that was the simple life, then life has become infinitely more complicated – I just had to limit myself to watching/listening to three podcasts.

Very surprisingly, I complied. There’s work to be done, so even blog posts have to be constructed hastily.

Anyway, I’ve either been very deprived of entertainment, or the three podcasts I caught were really good. In any case, do catch them if you can:

  1. Midwest Teen Sex Show Episode 23: Vaginas.
  2. the mrbrown show: drive safe below
  3. the mrbrown show: new media gahmen

Also, do consider being friends with @yandao1957 if you can. He’s a poor chap, take pity on him.