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Contains in a TOC submission today (July 25), was a recording of the speech by the vice-principal of St. Joseph Institution (SJI), Mr. Leonard Tan, saying that Activism creates social division.
made as a result of the prohibition against Ms. Rachel Yeo, Inter-University Director of the LGBT Research and Advocacy Network, on the eve of an event [email protected] which took place on July 20th.
students of the Catholic school, Mr. Tan pointed out the privilege of SJI students, that he believes to be all in the "position to influence" Singapore society in the future :
Now, I will put in context [the issue to] here. I have to make that very, very clear. You are all here one day able to influence. It is very clear, agree? You will go out there. I saw [it] you know?
In recent years, the number of scholarships declared, the number of prestigious universities in which you have been enrolled, the jobs you occupy. . . Whatever you do, all in all, Josephians, you will all be in a position of very important influence, and the influence is a responsibility that you can not take lightly.
What you say will influence many people. , many around you, five people, fifty people, five hundred people, five thousand people, like Mr. Liew Yip – former Josephian, head of the public service – [who] command a staff of 60 000 … Me- even included. What he says will affect 60,000 people, plus millions of Singaporeans, is not it? Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean [is] is also a former Josephian. Each of you will be able to influence.
Now, with that, every problem that comes to you in the spirit and in front of you, [you] must be carefully considered and thought out. That's why here, I think, at SJI, we make sure that when you leave SJI, you're ready. You are ready to face the world and you are ready to lead, you are ready to be a person for others, [ready] to make a positive and impactful change. "
Mr. Tan streamlined the last-minute decision of the school withdraw their invitation to Ms. Yeo and emphasize that teachers must support the decision:
" Why did we invite and disinvite the speakers – it's something that teachers have to support. We have to support that, agree? But why was the speaker perhaps not, or disinvited? Now the speaker was an LGBTQ + activist. . . She defended the LGBTQ + question.
Referring to Yeo's role as LGBTQ + advocate, he urged his students to examine the definition of activism and to ask whether such a definition is applicable in Singapore
. what we really want to think is the idea of an activist. What's an activist? Does any of you know what is an activist? … [Has] Did any of you take part in an active protest, et cetera? You [do] realize [that] in Singapore [we] do not have the protests that […] you know, the students do in France [and other] the European countries, [and in North] America, and and so on. If you read the Republic
of Plato you will know the reason. "
Quoting what he suggested as the traditional definition of activism, he said that" activism "is the vigorous campaign of political change – structural, political change.
Mr. Tan later referred to a French Catholic patron saint, Saint John Baptist de La Salle, in his attempt to illustrate this activism. as he is widely known in civil society today, he would not always be effective in creating political change:
When he was in France, he saw poverty around him … He saw children who were neglected in schools. […] as a Catholic priest, he knew that every child […] had an intrinsic value, because that child is the child of God, God has placed his love and attention in every child
. Saint De La Salle did not go to campaign against the French government, or, you know, the Parisian bureaucracy, and say, "Hey, we have done something". No. He had a few teachers, and started his own school to give what he thought was the best. He founded a group of brothers – the brothers De La Salle, schools of Christian brothers.
He influenced the change from within, directly affecting the person next to him […] If we want to start a change, start with myself and what I can do for my fellows. I will not write letters on the forums complaining about this, complaining about this. No.
M. Tan went on to suggest that the history of pacifist social restructuring of St. De La Salle through education is fully applicable to Christian educators and students nowadays, instead of engaging in it. what he considers as "division":
My call […] as a Christian, as a Catholic: What can I do […] to help my fellow [who are] by my side? Simple. If I want to make a change, I will put myself in a position where I can change peacefully, consistently, [and] consistently.
Activism – any form of activism is a source of social division. He divides society, he divides a community and a principle of the Josephian […] is [that] we are community builders.
This goes against what we stand for. We are community builders. We do not divide the community. This is something that everyone of you must consider in his journey through SJI as you grow up.
He also stressed the need to remain faithful to Christian values when faced with issues such as activism, LGBTQ + questions in this case:
[…] As a School Catholic, we have our own beliefs and values that are centered on the teachings of Christ and the Gospel. […] We also defend our own set of values. How are we defending them? By helping in education […]
[…] too, as a Catholic school, should not we also defend what we believe in? Everyone is called to get up one day. The call. . . What do you believe? As a Catholic school, that's what we believe in: the teachings of the Catholic Church.
That's why our call to all of you really is, as you form your identity, what do you believe in? […] Because it will guide you throughout life. Your life will depend on what you believe in.
M. Tan also stated that he was guided by the Apostle St. Thomas, who said: "I serve God and I serve the country, in"
Asked about Mr. Tan's speech, the Network Interuniversity LGBT stated that it reserved its comments on Mr. Tan's speech.
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