A Eureka Moment
Reading for a politics course sometime back, I came across a description of conservative ideology. What struck me were the uncanny connections I could draw to the landscape back home. It's quite a chunk, so I'll just give you the gems:
.. society is a contract not just between its current members, but between past, present and future generations. [cue creation of MM post]
Liberty has a place but cannot be placed above other values. [cue MDA's comments on homosexuality]
As one conservative insists, "The concept of freedom .. cannot occupy a central place in conservative thinking .. ". .. However, rights likewise cannot be elevated above other values.
Conservatism is based on the firm conviction that society is a rather fragile order and individuals a dubious lot.
..
Authority: the force that ensures social control and direction. Respect, obedience and contentment are called for. Individuals should be content with their place in society and the world, should respect those who articulate its values, and obey those who direct it. The liberal culture of rights has radically undermined that order and generated a destructive "culture of complaint". [cue remarks about 'western ideas of democracy']
And the clincher:
Conservatism .. leans towards a more paternalistic form of government where democratic participation is discouraged and dissent is frowned upon. .. [Diversity] is acceptable insofar as it remains essentially decorative and does not challenge prevailing norms.
With this blazing in my head, I told a (fellow Singaporean) friend about it. And that's when Adrian said: "Maybe LKY read this - and had a Eureka moment".
The imagery of the metaphorical lightbulb going off in LKY's head still cracks me up.
***
Update:
Source is Alan Fenna, Australian Public Policy. Pearson Longman, Second edition, 2004, p50-something.
Also - you may laugh, or be wry; but this isn't a lie (sorry couldn't resist.) - via The Optical:
Lee family in Wikipedia's definition of nepotism & family dictatorships
Technorati: politics, Singapore, Australia
ao longo de garota a 16:50
7 Comments:
Thanks for this post. Really helps me along in my essay.
Anyway... Why didnt u add the sources for your quotes? heh...
4/6/05 06:29
done! i'll confirm the page numbers when i get mah hands on mah text next. also - how cool is the coincidental alignment of our (academic and other) interests.
4/6/05 10:16
theres certainly alot more than meets they eye with the Lee family.
However, i think that the average Singaporean citizen is too content with
the government telling him what he can/cannot do and is too busy
sending his son/daughter to tuition/piano lesson/ballet/soccer training(sports are
aviable way to join the 'elite' now! zowie!), to actually engage in
this topic beyond kopi tiam discourse and actively research their nepotism.
-Jw
5/6/05 15:26
Quite true, Jw.
There are talks that an overseas education/living stint is required to gain this unique perspective on politics back home. I'd agree to some extent, though it's painful to think that it's what spore needs as a catalyst for change.
6/6/05 12:42
Jw and lemming: good points raised. on overseas experiences, i think that applies to any country though - it's hard to make a meaningful analysis of one's own culture without having really seen another.
vagab: pages 50-51.
7/6/05 01:11
I would agree with lemming, and garota both. You see both sides of the coin, on what you take for granted; what you feel deprived of.
Yet, if contentment be the source for happiness. Why do we then need to raise our hands in the air and take that from them?
8/6/05 19:25
chest freezer: ah yes - the eternal question on the relationship of ignorance and bliss.
17/6/05 05:34
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