以下是读者推荐 2024年4月20日 Function 8 的贴文（英中版）：
A FOOLISH STUNT OR AN ACT OF COURAGE?
Teo Soh Lung
A few days ago, a banner was unfurled by some young people on a skybridge in the city. The words “END SG-ISRAEL ARMS TRADE” appeared for all to see. Some beautiful photographs and videos rapidly found their way into Instagram. They made it to the MiddleEastEye and attracted much attention and comments. https://tinyurl.com/uys86mau
For those of us who support the Palestinians, it was refreshing. But there was also fear. Many expressed fear for the safety of those responsible, knowing well the city state’s unhesitating resort to use the police as a form of harrassment. Quite understandably, there were questions about the efficacy of such acts. Was it just a “foolish stunt that would be dismissed as a sensational stunt? There are other avenues to persuade the government – try working with the PAP grassroot or governmental organisations. Be a part of the establishment and speak softly to them. You achieve nothing by banging your head against the stone!"
As an elderly person, I have heard of such comments for decades. They usually come from good-intentioned people who harbour a great deal of fear in themselves. Say I am immune to listening to good advice. I think I can say that I have tried everything those good-hearted Singaporeans who think that working with the government is the best way to change things. It will not. You either be part of the system or you quit and do your own things. The PAP is beyond change. But here I deviate.
The massacres of Palestinians that is going on every day require urgent action. Our government is not taking any action but continues to support Israel and join in the condemnation of any country that support the Palestinians. It is simply paying lip service when it called for a ceasefire as it continues to be a great friend of Israel.
What action has Singapore taken to tell Israel to stop the genocide and carry out the interim orders of the ICJ? Why did it allow the Israeli Ministry of Defence and 11 of its defence contractors participate in the recent Singapore Airshow? Sure, there were no sanctions imposed on those companies but since when did we ever hear of sanctions on Israel?
Singaporeans or shall I say, young Singaporeans are tired of the empty talk of our leaders. Our defence industry is big and we need to manufacture and sell weapons. But remember Buddha’s teachings - that dealing with weapons that can harm or kill human beings is not right livelihood.
The government has closed all avenues for Singaporeans to express their objections to the genocide that is going on well into the 7th month. Hong Lim Park, the only space that is supposed to allow free political speeches is closed since the beginning of the genocide. A peaceful walk to the Istana to present letters urging the prime minister to end the genocide resulted in the organisers being hauled up to the police stations and spending hours there answering stupid questions. Even private gatherings to express frustrations about the genocide are interfered with by the police.
What is wrong with our government? Does it expect all Singaporeans not to care about murders taking place before their eyes? What if one day we suffer the karma of having to suffer a genocide and the whole world is blind to our plight?
If our leaders do not have the courage of the leaders of South Africa, Ireland, Spain and other countries, they should not stop ordinary citizens from showing solidarity and sympathy with the suffering Palestinians. Singaporeans have donated millions to aid starving Palestinians. They are using whatever channels they can to assist. Whether it be Gilbert Goh’s Love Aid or donating to UNWRA or through personal contacts, these are little acts which Singaporeans do. It is the least we can do. Our leaders are not even capable of these small acts.
So I say that the brave young people who stood on that skybridge unfurling that banner for the world to see is a great act of courage and not a foolish stunt. I salute them. They have my utmost respect and admiration.
And by the way, if you are persuaded to try and stop the genocide, do sign their petition below:
https://tinyurl.com/msambsak
愚蠢的举动？还是勇敢的举动？
张素兰（“人民论坛”译）
几天前，几个年轻人在市中心一座天桥上展示了一条（见图片）书写着：“新加坡停止与以色列军火交易”布条向群众展示。这帧美丽的照片和视频迅速地在社交网络媒体‘及时电报’网站（Instagram）上流传。它登上了‘中东之眼’网站（MiddleEastEye）引起了广泛的注视。（见网址：https://tinyurl.com/uys86mauhttps://tinyurl.com/uys86mau）
对于支持巴勒斯坦人民反对以色列复国主义侵略和争取立国斗争的我们当中一些人来说，这是一庄新鲜事，但是，在一些心里也是存在一种‘恐惧感’。他们担心参与者的安危。他们担心这个国家的警察会对参与者采取干扰行动的。这是可以理解的。
人们对此行动产生相当程度的疑虑，年轻人的这种行动是否是属于‘愚蠢行为’？会被人斥之为‘哗众取宠’的行为？还有其他途径说服政府——尝试通过与行动党基层组织或政府官方组织。成为现有的政府体制的一份子，并用温和语气与他们沟通。年轻人这样的行动只能是‘鸡蛋碰石头’！
我是一个年长者，就我来说，上述的言论已经听了几十年。发表这种言论的人一般出是自好意的。他们的内心存有极大的恐惧感。他们会说我对于‘苦口波心’的劝说无动于衷。我想，对于那些认为与政府相处（或协商），是能够改变现状的具有良好意愿的新加坡人，我可以这么说，我已经尝试了几乎所有的途径了。但是，这一切都行不通。要嘛，你成为这个制度的一份子，要嘛，你走自己的选择的道路。行动党是顽固不化的，所以我偏离这个制度。
无辜妇孺儿童被屠杀事件在巴勒斯坦加沙地区每天都在发生，局势需要全世界人民采取积极行动加以制止。然而，我们的政府却无动于衷。反之，继续支持以色列，并加入谴责那些支持巴勒斯坦人民斗争的国家。
新加坡政府呼吁停火只是嘴皮子功夫，它们仍然是以色列的伟大朋友。新加坡政府要求以色列停止在加沙地区进行种族灭绝行为采取了哪些具体的行动？或者是执行了国际法庭裁决的临时命令？为什么政府允许以色列国防部以及它的11家军事承包商参与最近在新加坡举行的航空展？可以肯定地说，对这11家军事承包商并没有受到制裁。我们什么时候听说过新加坡对以色列进行制裁？
新加坡人，或者我应该说，年轻的新加坡人已经厌倦了新加坡领导人的空谈。我们的军事工业上非常庞大的。它需要生产和销售小型的军火。但是，请记住佛陀的教诲——进行武器交易是会伤害或者杀害人类的交易，不是人类正当的生计。
以色列在加沙地区的种族灭绝屠杀的途径已经进行了7个月了。新加坡人民要表达反对以色列种族灭绝行为的所有途径已经完全被堵死了。被政府列为可以进行发表政治言论聚会的地点芳林公园是唯一。自从以色列在加沙地区进行种族灭绝行动以来，它已经被关闭了7个月了。一个以和平方式步行到总统府递交呼吁停止种族灭绝的请愿书给总理的行动，最终是以行动参与者被拉去警署问讯几个小时，回答一些愚蠢的问题。任何私人聚会讨论有关加沙地区的种族灭绝事件都受到警方的骚扰。
新加坡政府咋啦？它难道期望全体新加坡人对发生在周边地区的这一切谋杀事件视而不见？假设有一天，我们遭受种族灭绝的厄运，而全世界视而不见，我们咋办？
假设我们国家的领导人无法像南非、爱尔兰、西班牙和其他国家的领导人一样有勇气把以色列在加沙地区的种族灭绝行径到国家法庭提起诉讼，它们就不应该阻止普通老百姓展现新加坡人民对巴勒斯坦人所遭受的痛苦表达团结与同情。新加坡人民捐助了数百万援助已经陷入饥饿的巴勒斯坦人民。他们通过各种可能的渠道竭尽所能援助巴勒斯坦人民。甭管是社运活动家蔡家和（Gilbert Goh）发起的‘爱心捐助’，或者是‘近东救济工程处’（UNWRA），或者是通过个人的联系方式。这一点滴的行动是新加坡人民竭尽所能做到的。然而，我们的政府连这样一点行动都无法做到。
所以，我说，我高度赞扬在天桥上展示的年轻人是勇气可嘉的。全世界都看到了他们的伟大勇气行动。他们的行动不是愚蠢行为。我向他们致以崇高的敬意！我予以他们最高的敬意！
为此，假设您尝试制止以色列在加上地区进行的种族灭绝行为，请您在以下网址签名参与请愿活动。https://tinyurl.com/msambsak