16 September 2012:
So considered wayang or not?
In small Singapore, not many issues get left out by people of the internet. Not long ago when William and Kate of United Kingdom visited our hot little red dot, people pounced on the 'wayang' aspect of the visit.There were two photos: one showed an empty playground with no VIP around. The other showed a playground with old people doing taiji, children playing around, people doing silat while William and Kate were there. Tsk tsk so fake.
Wayang indeed; even MP Indranee Rajah agreed that it was 'an exhibition'. However, I think they method of doing it was not properly thought for. While William did ask and was told that old people don't normally do taiji in playgrounds, I too think it is too fake. (I think William may have felt that it was absurd for old people to do taiji at a kid's playground as well.)
Anyway ... I support 'wayang', not in a sarcastic sense anyhow. But of course, wayang has its limits. There is no need to be China-style or N Korea-style where everything is in perfection and extreme methods are used to guarantee a splendid display. I think our own Singaporean-style wayang should suffice.
I think Asians are generally show-offs. I think it's our culture to flaunt what we have, to show the best side of ourselves. Especially when it's to someone of higher ground than you, you try to show that 'hey, I'm fab too!'
But this time, I think it was overdone. Maybe William and Kate could be brought to different places besides this playground. Such as ECP, kindergartens and some silat organisation. I know lots of old folk do taiji at East Coast Park; kids do play (genuinely) at kindergarten playgrounds; silat organisations practise silat without the awkwardness of a foreign environment.
Yes, it takes time. They need to travel more. But Singapore's a small place, it can't be that time-wasting. Besides, if William and Kate really wanted to see Singaporean life, I think going to such places would be more natural and worth it than a fake playground set-up.
I'm okay with the lion dance and performance items. That isn't really 'wayang', those are meant to be a show for people to watch. Those are specially performed. Those are 'natural', in their context. As for kids playing, old people doing taiji, people practising silat: those aren't very natural, especially in the hot afternoon.
~
I'm rather upset with that French and Italian and Irish magazine that decided to post pictures of Kate topless. That's her privacy, why are you invading on it?
The editors of them magazines claim that it's natural, normal, so why the fuss? How would you like it if you the editor had people printing your topless pictures without your consent, when they were taken without your consent?
William is still sore about Diana's death; there's no doubt about it. Diana died escaping French paparazzi, yet no one was held responsible and charged. This simply makes paparazzi more fearless. They would then be able to infringe on others' privacy while getting away.
Hence I fully support the royal family's decision of suing the magazines that publish such photos. I hope they get fined heavily by the judges.
This is different from Harry's misstep in America. That photo was taken by his friend. Which means that it was within his league, and not secretly taken. For that, I would not support if the royal family decides to sue anyone for that.
TTFN.