The following is a transcript of Dana Lam’s Address to the audience of Top Girls at the Gala Performance on 30 May 2009.
THANK YOU,
May I ask your indulgence and invite the Exco of AWARE to join me on stage.
Thank you.
Good Evening ladies and gentlemen, friends,
The world is a stage. And AWARE is our band. And, more importantly, EVERYONE plays a part.
We have been way too much in the news lately. We thank those of you who have continued to speak up for us. We have been busy house-keeping and planning ahead. In a few more weeks, you will likely hear from us.
For now, I would like to reiterate that AWARE has never deviated from her mission of promoting the development of a gender equal society. We do this by furthering the emotional, psychological, physical, intellectual health of women to enable them to contribute optimally to the development of a functional, and balanced society.
Therefore, we make no apologies for our programmes. We make no apologies for the support of straight, homosexual or any other members.
However, we do apologise to those supporters- the teachers, parents, students, a certain NMP and others whose association with us has drawn flak from employers and public.
We apologise to sponsors who have been funding our activities for a good 24 years. We apologise to our volunteers; we apologise to our members of staff for the inadvertent trauma of the past weeks.
Tonight, we celebrate these top girls and boys. Please join me in acknowledging their contribution.
It leaves me now to thank the organising committee, sponsors Bengawan Solo, Wine guru and Harry’s bar and the Wessex theatre’s talented cast and crew.
Tonight, unlike at the EGM, I promise you, there will be bad language and there will be women behaving badly.
Enjoy!
I was there last night and I have to say that it was heartening to hear you state that there are no apologies for your programs or for your support of all members. I had been concerned that the undue criticisms of late might cause some within the organization to back down from strongly supporting all women, including those who may be different from what society calls “normal,” so your powerful statement gave me reassurance that AWARE will not fall victim to those voices of dissension.
I applaud your mission and your courage to stand up for the values that support that mission. Thankfully, your work will continue to support the growth and empowerment of all girls and women in Singapore, and help to develop more self-actualized and fulfilled lives in this society – for the betterment of all. I look forward to your growth and the expansion of your reach and impact.
Thank you Cathy for your above message of support.
Keep up the good work, AWARE. Never never let the nay-sayers get to you and get you down!
It takes a brave woman and organisation to go against the popular tide of opinion. Kudos to Dana Lam and AWARE.
Dana’s speech clearly illustrates the clarity of vision of an organisation like AWARE, and reminds me of what Thomas Paine said centuries ago: “a long habit of not thinking a thing WRONG, gives it a superficial appearance of being RIGHT, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defense of custom.”
If we were so content to accept what is being “normal” as dictated my the masses of society, we would never progress. It takes conviction, resilience and courage to make progress happen, without which the gender equality agenda of AWARE would never be achieved.
And for that, I salute Dana, and the women and men who have banded together in a common cause that will not be derailed by popular tides of opinion that wants to cover its bigotry in defense of senseless custom.
Dear Dana
I was fortunate enough to be at Top Girls on Saturday night. I’ve been following the AWARE issue via the net and I think NGOs all over have much to learn from AWARE’s experience. For Soroptimist International, which focuses on advancing the status of women, high ethical standards and gender equality, I was suddenly AWARE that if we are too complacent in our various organisations, our values and ethics may be misinterpreted by external parties. And if no careful watch is made on membership and rules for election, an organisation can be taken over without its members knowing it.
Anyway, suffice to say, kudos to AWARE and may its good work continue with the new committee!
Yours in Soroptimism,
Sharon Saw
Dana Lam Reply:
June 1st, 2009 at 11:50 pm
Thank you very much for your comment, Sharon.
I remember the Soroptimist International. Maybe we can talk or do some work together?
dana
Sharon Saw Reply:
June 2nd, 2009 at 9:20 am
Dear Dana
Many thanks Dana, I would like that very much. Also, should any Aware members visit KL/PJ, please do contact me for sharing or chat! I’d very much like to see your school programs as SIPJ is conducting a Youth Outreach program for teenagers and I’m always looking for opportunities to improve it.
I also extend an open invitation to any of your members/friends resident/working in KL who would like to see what Soroptimism is all about and see how we can work together.
I look forward to meeting you in future!
Yours in Soroptimism,
Sharon
Thank you Dana, and the entire Exco, for standing firm by what you believe in. I believe AWARE has been made all the stronger for it over the past 2 months. Your ability not just to make that speech, but to deliver its contents unapologetically, and with genuinity and heart, concretises the fact that integrity and conviction anchor your organisation.
We too, stand by your programmes, and make no apologies for our support of and respect for AWARE, its ideologies and the current Exco.
Dana Lam Reply:
June 2nd, 2009 at 12:07 am
Thank you, Tania. Yes. I dare say the best thing to have come from the episode is how it has helped clarify and affirm our values both as individuals and as AWARE. Now, to work! smiles. dana
Thanks for the good work, Dana, of maintaining a secular AWARE and standing firm on AWARE’s secular values – being secular means being neutral towards religion and not giving in to “militant religionism” (see Straits Times forum page about “militant religionism the real threat to social harmoney” on Sat 30th May by John Hui and then Thio Su Mien’s attack on John Hui on Mon 1st June). My guess is that this debate of “militant religionism” will continue tomorrow in ST forum page. Watch that space!
Thank you, AMR. The discussion out there has forgotten the fact that the fundamentalist church firmly believes women are and should be subordinate to men. This is in direct contradiction to what AWARE and the women’s movement have been working for. Also, the church does not have a monopoly on moral actions. smiles. dana
Hey Callan,
Thank you for this!
smiles.
dana
I can see you & your team are standing on a very solid platform, Dana. You ALL got the basic spritual goal right dear! Your websites are excellent!!! So far, right here, this is the best casual/communicative linkage among humane relationship who can surely bring each other closer warmer & confidence in our today competitive daily life! Smile Relax & Cheers! TAKE CARE ALWAYS!
Thank you for the encouragement, David. We shall try not to disappoint!
smiles.dana