A wave of very real feeling, this time round

With the elections campaigning drawing to a close, I thought I would write about some of my candid feelings about what I saw and experienced over the past few days.

I really didn't expect that the government could seem contrite, apologetic and remorseful. (Ah, I just typed, almost by reflex, ‘government’, instead of PAP! But I couldn’t help it; how often does one see them, Men In White, as vulnerable election candidates embattled in an election?) I thought it was such a nice ironic contrast to the rather high-handed tone, which has by now, been iconised by the famous utterance from our Minister Mentor – “Aljunied voters will have 5 years to repent [if they vote for the opposition, successfully]”.

There was the apology from Lee Hsien Loong, and then the yielding admissions from other PAP candidates, that the “emotional connection” with the people is important, the pledging to focus on “heartware”, and the need to “strike a better balance between efficiency and heart”. And the very sincerely articulated video by Mr. George Yeo, who by the way, is probably the most likeable Minister, in my opinion. It appears that there was a sudden change of tack, a realisation that resulted in a change of persuasive appeals and campaign messages.

My feel is that some people in PAP have suddenly realised the crux of the issue, but perhaps, a little too late, late into the campaign. The groundswell of sentiment, unbridled anger, and resentment all expressed in a very visible manner on the Internet and social media is impossible to ignore. The writer, Catherine Lim had astutely articulated this issue in the 1994 Straits Times article, “The PAP and the people - A Great Affective Divide”. Too often, rational arguments, statistics and reasoning from our technocrat-politicians have limited traction with the people. It appears to me that many PAP candidates have difficulties straddling, much less comfortably shift between personas of efficient problem-solving technocrats and inspiring, charismatic politicians.

For me, I completely understand the rational reasoning and arguments from the PAP candidates. I appreciate the good life, wealth and development the PAP has brought to us. But people are not all logic, are they? Humans are emotional beings, and I think this is probably the most emotionally-charged GE ever. It’s not just at the rallies. It’s not just in the press and TV. It’s on my Facebook feeds, Twitter, and it feels like everyone is part of the GE conversation. Friends, acquaintances, schoolmates, colleagues, neighbours, army-mates, my tuition kids, relatives…basically my whole digital network of relationships… through their comments, status updates, sharing of links/videos/pictures, were participating in the GE in a very real way. For some, politics would have never popped up in our conversations face-to-face. There was a very real sense of frustration, anger, mocking and disgust being expressed. This is perhaps a situation unique to GE2011, because of the many mis-steps, faux pas and well, frankly, disunited PAP front. It provided much fuel to the very interesting conversation, which was gaining momentum by the hour.

Many of us no longer felt alone, or sticking out awkwardly when we participated in the digital conversation. It felt like we were part of a larger community of many, many genuinely interested and passionate individuals. Sure, there were differences in opinion and standpoints. But no one person dominated the conversation, disagreements were expressed civilly and everyone could truly participate. I mean, how often does that happen in real life conversations and discussions? You find that someone will talk more loudly and longer than the others. Someone’s words will hold more weight because he or she is more senior or older.

This wave of discussion and conversation by so many Singaporeans moves me deeply. I am a little embarrassed to talk about it in such an effusive manner, but oh! what a stirring sense of being part of a larger whole, a network of genuinely impassioned individuals who came together in this conversation, un-orchestrated by no one, by no organization. It sounds a little silly, but the last time I felt something like this was at the National Day Parade. And having served as a full-time soldier and participated in the logistics of the (was it 2003? I can’t remember exactly) NDP, we know how carefully orchestrated and ritualised, the entire proceedings were. I feel a swelling in my heart, when I see so many people coming together in a collective wave of concern and genuine feeling for the future of Singapore. We really aren’t just mindless and self-centered individuals going about our daily business of earning money, spending money, going through the motions of life! We care about our country! And this patriotic emotion is amazing precisely because it wasn’t orchestrated and planned, unlike so many of the things in our lives on this little island that is Singapore! :)