Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/weareawa/public_html/forum/bb-includes/default-filters.php:101) in /home/weareawa/public_html/forum/bb-templates/the-hybrid/rss2.php on line 1
http://www.we-are-aware.sg/forum/ Voices Topic: Letter by Dr Thio Su Mien on "Gay Agenda" en Fri, 10 Sep 2010 20:34:56 +0000 http://www.we-are-aware.sg/forum/topic.php?id=6#post-61 Mon, 08 Jun 2009 23:35:30 +0000 DavidLeong 61@http://www.we-are-aware.sg/forum/ <p>I have a quick glance on Prof MARK FEATHERSTONE article about LIVING CREATURES' SEXUALITY in a scientific way. It should be published in local paper or AWARE's magazine for general public education AWARENESS. I think I have more confidence to approach this topic/subject from now onward though I am still shy talking about it because there are many unfamiliar terms or vocabulary that I have to keep on looking for dictionary... hehehe! Thank you Prof Mark Featherstone! Smile &#38; Cheers! </p> http://www.we-are-aware.sg/forum/topic.php?id=6#post-19 Tue, 19 May 2009 01:19:13 +0000 admin 19@http://www.we-are-aware.sg/forum/ <p>The following response was published in the <a href="http://www.straitstimes.com/ST%2BForum/Online%2BStory/STIStory_378442.html">ST Forum today</a> (May 19)</p> <p><strong>Self-described feminist mentor's actions invited a reaction</strong></p> <p><em>I REFER to Monday's letter by Dr Thio Su Mien, 'Gay activists a key constituency of Aware'. I would like to highlight a number of statements she made that serve no purpose other than to confuse.</p> <p>I am perplexed how Dr Thio can, in the same paragraph, say that Aware's Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) manual 'expressly states that homosexuality is neutral and normal', and then go on to attack the content of the CSE programme as 'non-neutral'.</p> <p>But that is a minor point. What strikes me as most curious is how Dr Thio seems to have conveniently forgotten that anal sex between heterosexuals is legal when putting forth the argument that anal sex is against the law. It appears that she perceives anal sex as an activity only homosexuals are capable of, and in which heterosexuals would not engage.</p> <p>Dr Thio has also chosen to view the support that 'sexually challenged women' provided to the old guard at the Aware extraordinary general meeting as a sinister indication that 'homosexual activists seeking to impose their values' have become a 'chief constituency of Aware'. She seems to have overlooked the fact that she and her feminist 'mentees' had made unfounded and moralistic attacks on an entire group of society while orchestrating an unjust takeover of a civil society group.</p> <p>It is hard to imagine that Dr Thio, with her vast experience as a 'feminist mentor', did not expect sexual minorities to stand up and defend themselves. How then does she indicate statistically that homosexuals have become a 'chief constituency of Aware'?</p> <p>However, I must agree with Dr Thio's assertion that discerning Singaporeans can examine the evidence to make up their own minds on this issue. Singaporeans are generally progressive and I am confident we are able to see past the smoke to inch towards a more inclusive and egalitarian society.</em></p> <p>Tim Mou Hui </p> http://www.we-are-aware.sg/forum/topic.php?id=6#post-17 Tue, 19 May 2009 00:20:09 +0000 robin 17@http://www.we-are-aware.sg/forum/ <p>I honestly think this woman is simply obsessed with homosexuality and comments like "<em>sexually challenged</em>" indicate the fear of a potential inferiority for being gay. </p> <p>I have written on it <a href="http://blog.stickyrice.net/archives/2009/the-gay-da-vinci-code/">here</a>. The embedded video is worth a watch. </p> http://www.we-are-aware.sg/forum/topic.php?id=6#post-16 Mon, 18 May 2009 23:43:48 +0000 DavidLeong 16@http://www.we-are-aware.sg/forum/ <p>Now we all know that the real issue behind the whole AWARE SAGA is very clear about SEXUALITY EDUCATION as well as the words playing in the texts. Let's remember &#38; be mindful taht as we move on/along a new phase it got nothing to do with 28th March Annual meeting election, 2nd May EGM or hidden agenda of POWER GRAP anymore! These are all history now.</p> <p>This SEXUALITY BUSINESS is very broad &#38; sensitive topic in our Asian communities! We need to sit back with clear &#38; calm mind-heart to evaluate the pros &#38; cons of 'product of time' upon social evolution. We just cannot deny them, right? Those people involved whether young or old, we MUST get them engaged positively &#38; properly &#38; collectively to find out more or survey more or research &#38; develop more about their direct feeling &#38; see how we fit into our ASIAN cultures or concepts! It is like DNA things! It got to be scientifically basis &#38; not religiously or racial basis otherwise why should we all humankind on earth enjoy the products of sciences in the place? We are still on earth, right?</p> <p>About the essence topic or issue which SEX I am not an expert or professional. I am just one of YOU there trying to learn a thing or two about it with open heart-mind! CHEERS~~~ </p> http://www.we-are-aware.sg/forum/topic.php?id=6#post-15 Mon, 18 May 2009 23:20:02 +0000 DavidLeong 15@http://www.we-are-aware.sg/forum/ <p>Of course Dr Thio Su Mien has the right to voice herself but the way she did during the power-grap with hidden agendas cannot be easily forgotten though. Now she is in the clear spot to stand up tall &#38; speak out in Singapore society. As AWARE member of course AWARE welcome her great ideas &#38; participation with open mind-heart &#38; transparent discussion, dialogue or debate. Or, she can choose to do so with another platform or individually rather. So do Ms Josie Lau &#38; the rest of ex-exco members if they feel they have no place or feeling not comfortably in existing AWARE. We will eventually see their characteristic personalities or intentive motive whether wholesome or not from the beginning prior AWARE SAGA. AWARE must give them chances afterall AWARE is public association! AWARE must not have narrow mind-heart. Like it or not, good or bad, women are all Singapore daughters or mothers, right? I guess we just need to put effort to cultivate our mind-heart on our life-journey no matter what one is or stand for! </p> http://www.we-are-aware.sg/forum/topic.php?id=6#post-14 Mon, 18 May 2009 18:49:56 +0000 Callan 14@http://www.we-are-aware.sg/forum/ <p>Dr Thio's letter is just another piece of evidence that points to her anti-gay agenda. She has insisted that AWARE "had veered towards promoting the homosexual political agenda". The only examples that she can point out are AWARE's sponsorship of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spider_Lilies_(film)">Spider Lilies</a> movie premiere in Singapore, the listings that says "homosexuality is neutral and normal" in the instructors' guide of the CSE, and the "vocal and vociferous" homosexual women who supported the "old guard", also calling them "sexually challenged".</p> <p>These "evidence" are, in my not so humble opinion, flimsier than the ones Bush &#38; Cheney used to start a war in Iraq, and the words used are no less inflammatory. The letter is designed to spread fear, uncertainty and doubt, with scanty mentions of the law and a flip-flopping authority figure (MOE) in order to legitimise her false claims of a gay agenda, while providing no scientific or factual indication of why homosexuality is "wrong", or how sponsoring a movie premiere is the equivalent of promoting LGBT rights, or her equating homosexuals with "vocal and vociferous" and "sexually challenged". </p> <p>This absence of proof, along with the absence of her personal motivations, makes her letter all provocation and no substance. Those familiar with the term "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straw_man">strawman argument</a>" will see that it is what the letter is, and it is consistent with her views on LGBT rights. Her recent <a href="http://www.zaobao.com/sp/sp090517_511.shtml">interview with Zaobao</a> contains <a href="http://www.zaobao.com/sp/sp090517_511_3.shtml">another manifestation</a> of this strawman argument.</p> <p>Letters like this one, and the recent astroturfing of NMP Siew Kum Hong because of the AWARE issue, shows that the only side interested in manipulating public opinion and pushing an agenda is the Christian extreme right. And the only agenda that is being pushed in the anti-gay agenda, with her fixation on attacking homosexuality, and the unsubstantiated libelous claims of her supporters against NMP Siew has tipped that same self-righteous, religious fervour into the political arena.</p> <p>So who is promoting a "political agenda", again? </p> http://www.we-are-aware.sg/forum/topic.php?id=6#post-11 Mon, 18 May 2009 05:54:57 +0000 admin 11@http://www.we-are-aware.sg/forum/ <p><strong>Dr Thio has not given up her efforts to effect change in AWARE.<br /> <a href="http://www.straitstimes.com/ST%2BForum/Story/STIStory_378092.html">This letter</a> appeared in the ST forum today (18 May).</strong></p> <p><em>I REFER to last Saturday's letter, 'Aware has never had a 'gay agenda'' by Ms Dana Lam, president of the Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware). Since I was specifically mentioned, a response is called for.</p> <p>First, the fact that Aware has done sterling work for women in the 24 years of its existence is not disputed. The 'ex-new exco', in its press statement, acknowledged this contribution and declared its commitment to build on these foundations.</p> <p>What was a matter of concern to the 'ex-new exco' was that in recent years, Aware had veered towards promoting the homosexual political agenda. Aware sponsored the premiere of the movie Spider Lilies, which was about lesbian love. When asked about this, former Aware president Constance Singam said the film explores themes that Aware supports in its Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) programme.</p> <p>Aware's CSE has been taught in schools for more than two years. Its CSE instruction manual to schools expressly states that homosexuality is neutral and normal. This is a controversial proposition and parents should be concerned about the non-neutral content of the CSE programme. In fact, many are.</p> <p>Additionally, the CSE manual goes further in stating that anal sex can be healthy or neutral with consent and a condom. Not only is this against the law, this kind of 'education' is designed to condition the minds of teenage students, from ages 12 to 18, towards the acceptability of homosexuality, purposefully equating homosexuality with the norm of heterosexuality. The Ministry of Education has stated categorically that there are aspects of the CSE instructor guide which are 'explicit and inappropriate and convey messages which could promote homosexuality'. These are hard facts and hardly figments of one's imagination.</p> <p>On the day of the Aware extraordinary general meeting (EGM), the activist homosexual groups were out in full force, supporting the old guard. Many old guard supporters - those in the meeting hall and volunteers outside - were members of the activist homosexual group and spoke openly of their lifestyle. Many sexually challenged women were among the most vocal and vociferous supporters of the old guard.</p> <p>If Singaporeans were generally unaware of Aware's 'gay agenda', it however, seems that the homosexual and lesbian supporters of the old guard attending the EGM were in the know. It appears that homosexual activists seeking to impose their values by mainstreaming homosexuality have become a significant chief constituency of Aware. Anyone present at the EGM would have seen abundant evidence of this. Discerning Singaporeans can examine the evidence, in print and from online eyewitness accounts, to make up their own minds.</p> <p>Dr Thio Su Mien</em> </p>