Monday, November 26, 2007
It's Hard To Make A Stand
I was reading the 23th Oct newspaper yesterday.
(since I've been overseas for so many weeks)
It is about the changes to the penal code.
For example
Section 376A (Sexual penetration of minor under 16) will be introduced to criminalise consensual oral and anal sex with minors under 16 years of age.
This new section is introduced in view of the decriminalization of oral and anal sex with the repeal of section 377. Although these acts could be covered under section 7 of the Children and Young Persons Act, section 7 is too general in nature and the prescribed penalties are too low to reflect the severity of the offence.
The new offence will cover penile penetration of the mouth, vagina, or anus, as well as non-penile sexual penetration by any body part (other than the penis) or object into the vagina or anus. It would also cover the act of causing a minor under 16 years of age to engage in penetrative sexual activities with himself/herself, or with another person or the perpetrator.
In line with the objective of protecting minors, both male and female perpetrators can be prosecuted for penile penetrative and non-penile penetrative acts.
The penalty is a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, or fine or both, and if the offence is committed against a minor under 14 years of age, the enhanced penalty is a mandatory term of imprisonment which may extend to 20 years, and fine or caning.
I remember the times when I was younger when these codes aren't that important to a newspaper content.
My point is.
Times have changed.
And people around my age are caught in this very awkward situation.
We experienced those non air conditioned public buses with red leather seats.
We know SBC.
We remember areas of this island where wooden houses stand.
The dirty hawker centres.
Cassette tapes.
Pagers.
We thought so surely that PAP will last forever.
And we know Singapore when she wasn't that First Class.
In the last 15 years, Singapore rocketed ahead.
There wasn't exactly a transition.
Poof.
It changed.
And now, we are lost.
We talk about arts and culture. But we cannot seem to look back to find inspirations.
We talk about rights and freedom. But we cannot help but to look behind our backs and wait for a clear instruction from the government.
Like the recent repealing of 377A, many friends' stand is: It's not going to change. So I don't care.
Everyone knows that the code will not be repealed. But everyone thinks that the code should be repealed. We speak carelessly of our rights. But allow someone else to make the final say.
I know we are not used to even just stating our beliefs. But if we don't make a stand now. When will we finally get the rights and freedom that we want?
I wonder.
(since I've been overseas for so many weeks)
It is about the changes to the penal code.
For example
Section 376A (Sexual penetration of minor under 16) will be introduced to criminalise consensual oral and anal sex with minors under 16 years of age.
This new section is introduced in view of the decriminalization of oral and anal sex with the repeal of section 377. Although these acts could be covered under section 7 of the Children and Young Persons Act, section 7 is too general in nature and the prescribed penalties are too low to reflect the severity of the offence.
The new offence will cover penile penetration of the mouth, vagina, or anus, as well as non-penile sexual penetration by any body part (other than the penis) or object into the vagina or anus. It would also cover the act of causing a minor under 16 years of age to engage in penetrative sexual activities with himself/herself, or with another person or the perpetrator.
In line with the objective of protecting minors, both male and female perpetrators can be prosecuted for penile penetrative and non-penile penetrative acts.
The penalty is a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, or fine or both, and if the offence is committed against a minor under 14 years of age, the enhanced penalty is a mandatory term of imprisonment which may extend to 20 years, and fine or caning.
I remember the times when I was younger when these codes aren't that important to a newspaper content.
My point is.
Times have changed.
And people around my age are caught in this very awkward situation.
We experienced those non air conditioned public buses with red leather seats.
We know SBC.
We remember areas of this island where wooden houses stand.
The dirty hawker centres.
Cassette tapes.
Pagers.
We thought so surely that PAP will last forever.
And we know Singapore when she wasn't that First Class.
In the last 15 years, Singapore rocketed ahead.
There wasn't exactly a transition.
Poof.
It changed.
And now, we are lost.
We talk about arts and culture. But we cannot seem to look back to find inspirations.
We talk about rights and freedom. But we cannot help but to look behind our backs and wait for a clear instruction from the government.
Like the recent repealing of 377A, many friends' stand is: It's not going to change. So I don't care.
Everyone knows that the code will not be repealed. But everyone thinks that the code should be repealed. We speak carelessly of our rights. But allow someone else to make the final say.
I know we are not used to even just stating our beliefs. But if we don't make a stand now. When will we finally get the rights and freedom that we want?
I wonder.
Labels: Thoughts
