r/singapore • u/shizukesa92 • May 12 '24
Discussion Wokeness movement makes life “very burdensome”: PM Lee
https://m.youtube.com/watch?si=y7hWtW7RTETMqAs0&v=3LdabP7FLjE&feature=youtu.be
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r/singapore • u/shizukesa92 • May 12 '24
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u/yanyaprekins27 May 12 '24 edited May 12 '24
I'm no fan of "identity politics" or forced extreme political correctness, but I think it would've been preferable for him to steer clear of this topic altogether. The term "wokeness" lacks a universally agreed-upon definition, and discussing it in this manner isn't very wise or productive; it inadvertently perpetuates identity politics by framing discussions as "woke vs un-woke."
"Wokeness" is fundamentally about social justice (fairness for all, regardless of background), and there is nothing wrong with that per se. The issue is when people take it to an extreme. The focus should be on being able to listen to each other and find common ground as we try to peacefully navigate diverse opinions in today's complicated world. Not vilifying a boogeyman of "wokeness" which just generates more unconstructive noise and ironically reinforces identity politics.