Monday, July 12, 2004

Cultural cringe


iTunes is playing: My Country - Randy Newman - Bad Love
You know when someone plays Waltzing Matilda and expects an Aussie to know every single word, and badgers the Aussie into responding to 'G'day mate'? The self-respecting Aussie would suffer the Cringe. On occasion, an Aussie is the source of the Cringe. Steve Irwin comes to mind. He misinforms millions (mostly the dumb ones) into thinking you can hop on a plane to Australia and wrestle crocodiles once you've passed customs. Here in Sillypore, the self-respecting and self-aware (I think about maybe 247 people) cringe when we read or watch anything on Channel Newsasia, especially local 'news' items, and even more especially, important announcements from cabinet ministers like BG (Bald General) George Yeo, whose latest quote from the Compendium of the Bleeding Obvious was "Power Failure No Good For Foreigners' Impression of Singapore", or something to that effect. Thanks to the delightful Peking Duck, we've uncovered another local Cringe Inducer, who thinks he's been parrying with the Peking Duck, but in reality, is making a monkey out of hisself, and making millions think you can hop on a plane to Singapore and swat morons once you've passed customs. (Actually, you can do that at customs).


4 Comments:

Blogger Little Miss Drinkalot said...

I am rather confused. China Daily is an English publication in China, right? So why are Lau Guan Kim & Blackie Lau (same person?) local cringe inducers?

Both Lau Guan Kim and Richard TPD have noble intentions, but their writing is clouded by veiled insults at the other (while trying to make themself look good) and distracts from the good points that they are trying to make. But I guess you can't really blame Richard TPD since he is writing in his blog, and is not a professional commentator.

Personally, I share many of Lau Guan Kim's feelings and opinions. If he is making a monkey out of himself, it is perhaps because his writing is too drama-mama.

7/13/2004 10:23:00 AM  
Blogger Mr Miyagi said...

Lau Guan Kim is a Singaporean bloke. Blackie, I dunno. Could be same person. But veiled insults? I think Mr Lau shows he doesn't have half a brain to know how to veil anything. He suffers from the Singaporean trait of simulated bipartisanism: The upshot being he doesn't know how to stage a debate, much less participate in one. I too, agree with some of the things I think he's trying to say. But he's a monkey because he doesn't understand tone, subtlety and satire. The Peking Duck is a Sinophile. He loves China. Same way I love Singapore. Same way I slam Singapore.

7/13/2004 03:31:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Peking Duck has one of the best blogs around, although it's mostly about China, which I don't really care for.

/la idler

7/13/2004 05:17:00 PM  
Blogger Little Miss Drinkalot said...

You are correct. I did think about it after I posted my comment - the insults, both ways, are not veiled.

7/13/2004 05:19:00 PM  

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