#preetipls

[dramajib]

I’m proud to say I’m Singaporean, but lately I’ve become more and more disappointed with my country.

Our pledge states that we are a democratic society, “regardless of race, language, or religion”, but the amount of microagressions and casual racism our minorities face on a daily basis is so mind boggling that most people prefer to just close their eyes to it rather than try to fix the problem.

Given the state of the world, and the news stories we read, I would expect more from my countrymen.

Recently, a nationwide advertisement was released, with a Chinese man dressed up in a headscarf to portray a Muslim woman, and his face painted brown to portray an Indian man. This ad managed to go through levels of approval, and not one person during that process, from conceptualization to actualization across the entire country, saw anything wrong in it.

When the public eventually pointed out how offensive that was, an apology was issued, the ad was taken down, and we were all supposed to be satisfied with that.

Two local entertainers, not satisfied with that level of response, created a video, parodying Iggy Azalea’s Fuck It Up. This wasn’t the first time ‘brownface’ had been called out in our country, someone, somewhere along the line, surely must have known that this wasn’t okay.

The response to that video?

A police investigation was launched. Not against the creators of the initial ad, but against the video.

My country’s law minister issued a statement saying a line had been crossed, and that the video “ insults Chinese Singaporeans, uses four-letter words on Chinese Singaporeans” (note: the lyrics of the parody song state “(racist) Chinese people out here fucking things up”. Not once does the phrase “fuck Chinese people” ever occur).

This is an offence, while the ad was a mistake, because apparently this video shows a “deliberate intent to wound the religious or racial feelings of any person“, which is against the law.

Multiple other government officials, notably all from minority races, have continued to condemn the video.

No such condemnation was made when the ad was aired, when the apology was made, when the ad was pulled.

The issue goes further than just the disparity in response to these two incidents though.

Subhas, the rapper in the video, had worked with migrant workers in Singapore, to create a song titled Utopia, highlighting their struggles in the country. It was to be part of a documentary by Channel News Asia, in celebration of Singapore’s National Day on the 9th of August.

After the announcement of this police investigation, Subhas’ section of the documentary was pulled - along with the work of the migrant workers. Their story is no longer going to be told, because someone somewhere has decided that this perceived attack on all Chinese Singaporeans is unlawful.

I’d love to say I come from a multicultural country, where I feel safe as a minority, where I know my voice will be heard. But that would be a lie.

Instead, I have to now say I come from a country where I am expected to be tolerant of other peoples mistakes, I am expected to be responsible for educating others on how not to be offensive, and I am expected to file a police report when I am offended, but also to not be surprised when the authorities tell me that “no laws have been broken”.

I come from a country where it’s safe to walk home alone at 3 in the morning, but only if I’m willing to hear people make casual racist remarks and generalizations, and not get offended when I’m told to “learn how to take a joke” and “not take things so seriously”.

I come from a country where I have to watch my words, but silently acquiesce to offensive things said to me.

I come from a country that is young, is struggling to grow up, but thinks it has a long tradition and culture to uphold, that thinks it knows better.

I come from a country that is no better than the young people I work with on a daily basis, and I’m struggling to hold on to the belief that like my students, my country has potential, and will eventually shine.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-49205225

Change.org petition for including the migrant workers’ voices in the documentary

[wuxia-hero]

Why #BlackLivesMatter even if we don’t stay in America

I’ve had a lot of time to reflect and think about this issue these days, and eventually decided to post them here, my largest social media platform (ironically also the one where I am most inactive oops). I’ve been seeing a lot of Singaporeans on my insta story timeline come forward in support for the blm movement, which is great, of course. Many of them are linking petitions, adding donation links to their profiles etc etc. (you can access them here)  

But with that, I’ve also come across a lot of ignorant comments like, “why should we care about what’s going on in America”, “good thing Singapore isn’t like that” and other similar nonsense. First of all, racism is a worldwide thing, it exists EVERYWHERE. In Singapore a lot of it is hidden, but it definitely exists. Brownface, constant stereotyping of other races, unfair racial profiling... the list could go on and on. Even though Chinese people are considered POC, here in Singapore we are the majority. We are the ones with privilege. And I think it’s rather disappointing that a lot of us are so quick to point out racism in other countries, righteously berate the American government and call for action in support of blm - while we continue to be blind to the issues in our own country. 

Some of the people posting about blm and showing support are people that I know have said some pretty questionable things regarding minorities in Singapore. I also think it is disappointing that there wasn’t the same show of solidarity when issues of brownface were brought to light. Especially the one where Preetipls was brought under investigation when she made a video about a campaign that featured a Chinese man darkening himself to appear Indian. Someone I saw post about blm was also the same person who posted that they did not see an issue with the brownface problem, just because they saw an Indian person comment they were not offended by the campaign. You’d think that a country that is multi-racial and living in ‘racial harmony’ would know better. Showing support for minority races is just as important worldwide, and even though police violence against African Americans started in America, racial profiling is something that is apparent in other countries as well.

If anything, #BlackLivesMatter has also shown the ignorance of Singaporeans. What made me start thinking about this is the fact that just weeks ago I saw someone use the n-word on their story and then recently, they posted about supporting the blm movement and how heartbroken they are over the injustice of the world. A lot of the Chinese people here are very influenced by Western media and have taken to saying the n-word because it is ‘cool’. Honestly the amount of Chinese people in Singapore who don’t see an issue with saying that word is appalling. So if we want to be social activists online, we should also recognise the deeper issues that come with the movement. This is not just a trend that everyone is posting about now, it concerns the lives of an entire race of people. So if we want to be their allies we should also educate ourselves on WHY we are joining the fight with them and WHAT we have been doing wrong, instead of just blindly reposting because that is what we see others doing.  

Yes, let’s not take away the attention from #BlackLivesMatter by turning it to racism in Singapore, but it is important that we recognise racism that exists in our own behaviour and learn from it, so we know what we are fighting for. 

With all that said, even if you are unable to donate, continue helping to sign petitions, continue showing your support. Don’t speak over the voices that matter. Just because you are not in America doesn’t mean you can’t show support and contribute to the movement. 

I’m just a person with Some Thoughts and I hope I’ve brought more awareness to the importance of #BlackLivesMatter.

[chickenisamazing]

60 🙂

Suit by Preetipls

[rufusrant]

list the last 10 songs you listened to

tagged by the one-n-only  @blobfishmiffy for this! thankyouu <3

a little respect — erasure

E8 — preetipls

fuh you — paul mccartney

bridging the gap — nas, olu dara

do you think i really care — the rolling stones

lacrimosa — kalafina

bedroom hymns — florence + the machine

have you ever loved a woman? — derek and the dominos

love struck baby — stevie ray vaughan

eldorado — electric light orchestra

and i tag: @honeyheffron , @kiloseal and @casafrass !

[pophrt]

.gif x POPHRT Mixtape They first played BIGSOUND in 2016 been compared to Portishead, Little Dragon and Björk, and spent their fair share of time touring abroad, including an 11-show run of the UK.

[centrepiecefurnishing]

What Is Upholstery and How Do You Choose the Best Fabric for Your Sofa?

What Is Upholstery and How Do You Choose the Best Fabric for Your Sofa?

The upholstery fabric for a new sofa or armchair is a big investment—you don’t want to be second-guessing it a few months after the piece arrives on your doorstep. Choose the wrong material and you’ll find yourself battling snags and stains. Make a mistake on the color or pattern, and the whole room suffers (or you’ll wind up splurging to have the piece reupholstered). So before you pick your…

[d-thornrose]

Thank you @preetipls for the awesome giveaway! #skullcandyheadphones #preetipls #nationalyouthcouncilsg #pink

[patdsnaps]

preetipls: aiya I don’t even know what to say I cannot even believe this happened today. BRENDON URIE.… stay tuned to @978fm cos we broadcasting live from LA!

[petewentzworld]

987fm: Just a casual pic of @preetipls and half of @falloutboy !!!!! WE’RE NOT SCREAMING !!!!! Interview out on 987 real soon. #987fm #FreshestHits #WeAreRadio

[hernamewasluna]

As people around the world protest mask use is an invasion of their civil liberties. This is what happened to @kixes and @preetipls amongst others in Singapore 🇸🇬 #awaresg #singaporepolitics https://www.instagram.com/p/CFCIemlB8zU/?igshid=ha5ea8tj0c01

[err0r4oh4]

My opinion: Singapore’s “brownface” Issue

Disclaimer: This post is based on my opinion. Please don’t sue me but rather take this as criticism and an area for improvement.

A few weeks ago, Singapore had published an advertisement for e-payment and the ad consisted of a male model who had portrayed himself as the different nationalities in Singapore. It was the same ad that had sparked controversies as that model had painted himself brown to identify himself as an Indian. In my opinion, this whole issue itself could have been resolved if the company who was supposed to make the ad had hired the people from the respective nationalities that represent Singapore itself - Chinese, Malay, Indian. Ads in Singapore are often regulated, as a result, this ad received massive backlash from the minorities as it was deemed a racist ad. To make matters worse, this was not the first time “brownface” has become an issue in itself. 

Preetipls and her brother, Subhas, made a response music video that spoke about how the majority race had privileges and calling them out for their mistake as it wasn't the first time the ‘brownface’ has been thrown around in media. In the  parody video, they used a lot of profanities. I honestly feel that their response was appropriate because it’s 2019 and Singapore is still making the same mistake regarding brownface and the song they used, originally had a lot of profanities. It's a hip hop song, what did you expect to hear? Because of that parody video calling the involved parties on their shit, it had gotten to a point whereby even the government was involved to “resolve” this issue. However, with the minister’s statements regarding this controversy, all of the attention was then shifted from the ad to the video (which tbh is the stupidest thing that could happen because everyone seems to forget that this video was in response to the ad itself and not done without any valid reason). 

Saying that there are other ways to approach this matter is correct however telling how someone’s reaction is invalid because “it sparks racial tension” when the majority race uses casual racism on a daily basis as a fucking joke. “Focused groups, discussion, dialogues” are the channels that you may suggest as appropriate but what if I say that 70% of the population is not ready to face the facts because they know they have the privilege and know that this is the least of their concerns. Racism is taught since young, and when they grow up, they’re going to instil the same backward mindset of a particular race in their own children. This will keep happening if the people with the voices and power don't fucking wake up and quit being ignorant. Don’t talk about how we are not like other countries, look at the US, they too have people of colour. The only difference is they’re allowed to call out for shit they don’t like but here, you're expected to be silent and are singled out if you do wack shit like what preetipls did. 

In my fucking conclusion, those who insist that “brownface” is not offensive, y’all are problematic as fuck. It's 2019, get your shit together Singapore, stop making these stupid mistakes and its about damn time we do something about casual racism. One last thing, quit teaching your kids “later apu neh neh come and catch you” cause wtf is apu neh neh?? Teach your kids the good in everyone, not shit like this. I’m not saying I'm not guilty in partaking in casual racism, I'm trying to say what if the roles got switched, yall wouldn't be happy about it right? About the typical stereotypes: never shower, slit eyes, etc. Not very nice right? So stop it with the brownface shit. Once again, this is just my opinion and don't fkin tell me that there's no such thing as Chinese privilege because please get your head out of your ass. 

[foxy-woods]

Preetipls video: Shanmugam acknowledges racism exists in Singapore, but says situation is improving

[lamcproductions]

TGIF! So Circles.Life interviewed Preetipls recently and the Nickelback gig is #1 on her list of events to attend in February 💯 You know you want to 😉 http://bit.ly/2ESwQ1J http://bit.ly/2CZzaBL

[ibilenews]

In viral campaign, Preetipls raises over $140k for migrant workers in S'pore affected by Covid-19

While other social media influencers may be busy preening themselves for on fleek work from home looks on Instagram, Preeti Nair (better known by her moniker Preetipls), has successfully raised over $100,000 to alleviate the coronavirus-induced plight of the migrant community in Singapore.

As of writing, a crowdfunding campaign for non-governmental organisations Health Serve and Transient Workers Count 2 (TWC2) has garnered over $141,000 in funds, well over the initial goal of $100,000.

The money will go towards helping Singapore’s migrant workers, who are particularly vulnerable during the ongoing pandemic. While the government has assured to cover the wages and costs of living for around 20,000 workers currently quarantined in their dormitories, the campaign seeks to help out the rest of the community who may not be as fortunate to receive state support.

The ongoing campaign is being fronted by Preeti, who posted a video yesterday (April 8) to speak about the issues faced by foreign workers here and the NGOs that have been addressing their needs.

“This video needs to do more than raise awareness, spark conversations, or bring ‘light’ to the situation at hand,” she says, encouraging people to “understand the reality of what’s happening right now to the migrant workers in Singapore”.

Preeti is aided by the community activist collective Utopia, which counts rapper Subhas Nair, Preeti’s brother, as a member. This wouldn’t be the first time Subhas has contributed to the cause for the nation’s migrant workers — last year, he collaborated with Migrants Band Singapore to pen the song ‘Utopia’ as part of a CNA musical documentary. Before he was unceremoniously dropped, that is.

The controversy over their satirical music video against actor Dennis Chew’s brownface affair suddenly doesn’t seem as important now.

Since the launch of the campaign on GiveAsia, more than 2,000 donors have generously chipped in to the efforts, with some even contributing $1,000 each. HealthServe and TWC2 will put the money towards current and future initiatives that will meet the growing needs of the migrant community during the course of the coronavirus outbreak.

“This has been an unprecedented time that has amplified systemic inequalities that already exist in our society, and we hope that this campaign will open up conversations about them,” the campaign’s description read.

“At the same time, it has also brought out the best of community efforts and solidarity.”

While low-wage migrant workers make up about one-sixth of Singapore’s entire population, they form the majority of the country’s manual labour workforce in the construction industry. Housed in dormitories, they share sleeping quarters with up to 20 men in each room. Their living conditions are reportedly dreadful, and are being exacerbated by an instituted quarantine that prevents workers from leaving the premises of two dormitories for 14 days.

TWC2, in particular, are focused on helping the quarantined workers get access to mobile data so that they can contact and reassure their loved ones.

“Workers tell us they get goodie bags containing masks, sanitisers and what not all the time. But what they don’t get and really want are top-up cards that let them call home or buy data plans,” TWC2 General Manager Ethan Guo said.

“Some workers don’t even have the basic balance in their cards to receive phone calls, much less make one. Therefore we saw a very real need to provide this service.”

[frogfeldbenes-blog]

Fuck jt it’s so lonely in Singapore sometimes

What preetipls did revealed our incapacity to sustain shocks to our system. How strong is a social fabric if we have to tip toe around it? It should be resilient to criticism. The fear that people feel as a result of something that should not objectively send so many shock waves through society, shows how delicate our social fabric is. How entirely built on the whims of the majority and reliant on the silence of the minority. Why are we so scared of having these conversations? Why haven’t we had these conversations already? These are all questions you should really think about if you think everything is alright. Don’t trust what’s on the surface. How do we feel? Just because we were alright with it then does not mean we have to be alright with it going into the future.