some people have asked why i haven’t been more openly up in arms about the nlb issue. as someone who very nearly went to library school instead of law school, and as a reader, english major and lover of children’s books (subversiveness through play, by the way, is precisely one of the characteristics of most good children’s books), of course i am angry, and angrier than over, say, opposition to pink dot, because of course i’ve loved (and love still) our public library system and its role in the development and eduation of our society.

(i also make a distinction between our librarians and the decisions of their management — if i were a librarian i’d be feeling pretty betrayed by my management right now: public librarians the world over are precisely the ones who are usually at the forefront of defending freedom of access. in fact i wonder why the wee kim wee school, which offers the only MLIS programme in singapore, has not issued a statement about this.)

but i would prefer to save my anger for where it matters. if there are sit-ins and protests and petitions where show of strength matters, i would participate to add to the numbers. if there is real work to be done, in say, helping with research for preparing a policy paper that is going to be presented to the government, i would give time and energy to that. if (i hope) one day there is a national referendum, i would go out and vote and help canvas votes too.

but “engaging” people online and constantly reading more comments and reacting to them is completely unproductive. you end up involving yourself in protracted flame wars in which no one’s mind will be changed, and it is as time consuming as it is emotionally sapping (the comments frequently are more frightening than the articles or movements.)

your time is better spent making a difference in your own immediate surroundings: seriously. have conversations with people around you, your family, your neighbour. help educate them if there is misinformation (because much of the anti-gay rhetoric is couched in terms of “family” without there being any clear philosophical understanding of what ‘family’ means or the discourse surrounding it.) what is the point of virtual shouting matches with strangers when your own grandfather or aunt or brother doesn’t even see what the issue is. get your own families aware, if not involved (minz-papa hates conflict and usually doesn’t want to make any stand, but tomorrow i’m taking him to the sit-in.) and one day when the time comes for reform, you might find there is more ground support than we imagine now, and that whatever people decide (and it is for them to decide for themselves) they will be decisions made based on accurate understanding of the issues at hand.