what we should do better (1)

Lest i start sounding like some sort of pro-Establishment Singapore Inc lackey ......
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There are lots of things we could, and should, do better. Here's a cluster of freedom-of-expression-related goals that i think it'd be good to work towards.
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We can learn to be more big-hearted, less paranoid, less small-minded and nit-picky in that incredibly "aunty" way. Case in point: we could let people who insist on saying stupid things just continue saying them, as long as they are not actually causing harm to anyone. No need to report every foul-mouthed attention-seeking teenager to the police. In London's Hyde Park, nobody pays any attention to the people speaking at Speakers' Corner because everyone knows they are just spouting nonsense. We need to cultivate some of that ability to shrug off those who simply don't deserve to be taken seriously, and just focus on the things that really matter.
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Related to the above: it'd be great if we could develop the maturity to listen to one another without flying off the handle at even the smallest hint that the other party disagrees with what we think. What is it about Singaporeans -- that we seem unable to just listen to different views without taking it all so terribly personally. i mean, everyone has opinions. Why are we so unable to accept that some opinions are simply not going to be in harmony with our own?
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Also related to the above: responsible free speech. i think there's some truth in the idea that repression breeds resentment and rebellion. And, in Singapore, also irresponsibility. So often, the free-speech advocates here are also the ones who couldn't give a damn about the impact of their words on the rest of society. They just want to express themselves, as if self-expression were a goal worthy enough to trump every other consideration in a civilised society. i think self-expression is good -- provided it's done responsibly and with the bigger picture in mind. i guess, at the end of the day, i'm more Asian in this regards: i don't happen to think that the rights of the individual should trump every other right. As my school principal used to say, 牺牲小我，完成大我。i honestly do believe in that, ultimately.
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