The Emperor says he wants the citizens to speak up and debate issues during the elections.
Then his cronies inform us that any blog expressing "persistant political views" must be registered with the authorities.
This reminds me of a period in not-so-ancient Chinese history.
In the wake of the disastrous Great Leap Forward and Cultural Revolution, Mao Ze Dong's critics were waiting to capitalize on his massive policy blunders. They had all the political ammunition they needed from the monstrous production failings and death tolls, and had planned to topple him at the nearest opportunity.
Mr Mao, however, had other ideas.
He launched this campaign called "Let a Thousand Flowers Bloom" and inivited all his critics in the country to come and let their voices be heard, even if it meant attacking his person and his policies. He put it forward as a new era in communist history where a myriad of diverse and different views could be heard and openly debated without fear of government reprisal.
And so his critics believed him and revealed themselves. Wholeheartedly.
The rest, as they say, is history.
They all died.
Either from over-exertion in the labour camps, or in front of a firing squad.
And now, in this present age and in this island in the tropics, as the elections draw near, and as these paradoxes emerge from the charming gilded lips of those claiming to be our benefactors, I cannot help but see the sinister parallels emerging from this time and a time from the past.
From many pasts in fact. Nazi Germany, Soviet Russia, Saddam's Iraq, Kim's Korea, etc etc.
One local blogger has noted that it is a sure sign of our country's political perfection that we live in such material prosperity and security, so that we can whine and grumble and complain about politics, unlike other nations where people are too hungry, or homeless, or trying to feed their families, to care about politics.
My reply to those who think like that: "Go back to your HDB apartment, you politically immature baby. Go back to your perfect undisturbed life. Go back and dont bother your peanut sized brain about the dangers of a one party state and a one family government. Your fate is now your own".
I mean he has a point but it is using a greater evil to justify a lesser one. All evils are wrong no matter their magnitude.
And I care not for what Our Benefactors say about blogs and politics. This is my right and they can not take it from me.
