So now let’s turn the tables for just this moment. Imagine when PM Lee Hsien Long came into power. Can you imagine what kind of coverage The Guardian gave him? Think: On the front page, THE GUARDIAN is aligned center, top of the page. The headlines include “Thief accidentally kills the dog” and “Home owners can now own their gardens too!” Nowhere does it mention our Prime Minister. Now, you flip frantically, pages after pages when you finally reach page 37. You scan the page.. And finally! You see the 2cm by 2cm article, ‘Singapore’s new PM’ right at the bottom right of the page, just above the page number. And above the article is another groundbreaking news titled ‘Ant gets stepped on – in critical condition.’ And this arcticle measures 2.2cm by 2.3 cm.
But on a serious note, jokes aside, I kinda think the Americans are really quite smart.
It was reported in the Straits Times a few days back that Americans go to bookstores and buy in bulks, books that are politically for or against their favourite idol, I mean, candidate. This will give people make that book climb the best-seller list and let others think that a lot of people read the book.
I mean, that’s quite a brilliant plan isn’t it? I mean, I personally know like thousands of Americans who wait loyally and religiously every week for the best-seller list to be announced. After that they do a table to tally the score. And when Election Day comes, they take out that table and compare the scores. The candidate, who has books that are supporting him, on the best-seller list the most number of times, will get their vote! And I conclude that these are mostly Bush supporters.
There’s another thing that clever Americans do. That is to tear the cover page of books so that people won’t buy those books that are again, politically for or against their candidate. I personally think this is the second smartest thing to do! But I firmly believe the first as mentioned above is the smartest.
Anyway yeah. In a country that practices democracy, things like that will probably be lauded. Imagine: [in the case of America]
Customer (to the bookstore owner): I’m going to tear this cover page cos it says Bush is stupid. I mean like, isn’t he the cleverest?
Bookstore owner (fellow Bush-supporter): Now you wait a second!
[he picks up the phone and calls security] – security arrives
Security: Duhh.. Yes?
Bookstore owner: Now you learn from him! He’s doing the right thing! (points to the customer) People like him should be encouraged. Now, tear all the books!
Customer: Aye aye captain!
But take a moment to imagine if someone said this in Singapore.
Customer (to the bookstore owner): I’m going to tear this cover page cos it says Bush is stupid. I mean like, isn’t he the cleverest?
Bookstore owner (fellow Bush-supporter): Now you wait a second!
[he picks up the phone and calls security] – security arrives
Security: Hands up! You’re under arrest! Before I send you to jail, pay him (points at bookstore owner) and remember to include GST! And get ready to pay your tax after coming out of jail!
posted by Glenn @ 10:55 AM
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