Missing the Point

On the issue of the disrupted church service recently because someone finally went over the edge on the parking situation outside his home*, someone on the ST Interactive Forum today had this to say:

Let the law take its course or everyone wake up to reality and start doing his part. There is no way we can become a 'gentler, kinder society', regardless of the number of campaigns, if we refuse to compromise and consider the feelings of others.

Race and religion are two of the most sensitive issues for any government to handle, and if everyone who is angry starts disrupting religious gatherings, one can only imagine the consequences. The choice is ours.

This was in reponse to someone else posting earlier under the title, "Errant churchgoers also to blame for man's outburst" (ST, 24 August).

I don't think the point is about a more caring and more considerate society. If that were the case, I think there wouldn't have been a disruption at the mass in the first place: Idiots are parking outside your gate? You can't come out? Sure, call the police. Let them deal with it. Because, hey, where are you going to look for the pisshead?

But the man knew where to go to look for said errant driver(s). The Church. Can people wrap that thought round their heads? CHURCH. C-H-U-R-C-H. Place of worship. Place of God. People go there because of their piety. Faith. Agreeing with the tenets of the church/ faith. Ergo, people striving to be in the image of their creator.

Are these people parking illegally saying that breaking the laws of the land is preferable to breaking God's laws? Die, die, I must attend church. I claim my God-given right to park anywhere I want because I just have to be in church. Or else. Never mind if it disrupts other people's lives; just as long as I'm in church -- my salvation is assured. That way, if someone disrupts the service, then the fucker's going burn in hell. Not me. Not the one who started the ball of damnation rolling in the first place. I have just one word for that, and it begins with 'H'.

It has nothing to do with building a 'kinder, gentler society', it's about someone who's at the end of his tether. Who the fuck else ever has the balls to disrupt a (any!) religious do-hickey in Singapore?

In Singapore!

If not for a good reason. If not if he's had it with the whole thing.

Thankfully, this inconsiderate behaviour is limited to a handful of Singaporeans, who would respond, unfortunately, only to punitive measures.

A handful of Singaporeans. A handful of church-going Singaporeans. "Who would respond, unfortunately, only to punitive measures." Right.

Tell me what's wrong with this?

Let the law deal with errant churchgoers, don't disrupt service

I REFER to Madam Daisy Sum's letter, 'Errant churchgoers also to blame for man's outburst' (ST, Aug 24).

I am a parishioner of the church in the controversy, [church name deleted], and, in all fairness to the parish priests and wardens, I have to say that they have done more than their part to ensure good neighbourliness.

The problems faced by residents of Siglap Hill are also faced by other residents whose homes are near popular places of worship, and this is aggravated during weekends.

As most places of worship are staffed by volunteers, their authority is limited when it comes to policing public areas but it does seem like common sense - if not good manners - that one does not park in front of someone's gate unless one is visiting that particular resident.

Thankfully, this inconsiderate behaviour is limited to a handful of Singaporeans, who would respond, unfortunately, only to punitive measures.

So, what is the alternative? Let the law take its course or everyone wake up to reality and start doing his part. There is no way we can become a 'gentler, kinder society', regardless of the number of campaigns, if we refuse to compromise and consider the feelings of others.

Race and religion are two of the most sensitive issues for any government to handle, and if everyone who is angry starts disrupting religious gatherings, one can only imagine the consequences. The choice is ours.

JACKIE SEAH (MS)

* Basic background: Church service was disrupted because someone stormed into the church, just as service was about to begin, demanding that something be done with the parking situation in the area. The church, so far, had made arrangements for parishioners to park two streets away on Sunday, outside a school, which obviously, will not complain about the number of cars parked outside its premises on a weekend. But some people are too bloody lazy, as was the case that Sunday when the man found his driveway blocked and he couldn't drive his car out. Apparently, it's been a problem for a long time now, but nothing seems to have been done (apart from the aforementioned measures).