Let the arts, the comedy and the freedom of expression live in Singapore

This petition is set up in response to K Shanmugam's dangerous views on what is deemed as an attack on a racial group in Singapore. I am Singaporean Chinese, and I want to make it known that my feelings are not hurt when I saw that video. In fact, I empathised, found humour in the rap, and very humbly check my own privilege.

We respect everyone's freedom and feelings; so if your feelings were hurt viewing a video, we respect that. If you want to make a police report, we respect that too. Policing the content and freedom of expression is problematic.

For those who govern Singapore, I expect more from you. That you do not censor any creative expression of issues that are impacting Singapore and Singaporeans. That you do not let any group dictate how other groups live. People and talent continue to be the only resource that Singapore has. By persecuting a video and shutting it down as an attack on another race, you have suppressed the youth who are in the arts, and missed the opportunity to engage them and listen to their experience, living as a minority in Singapore that they have cleverly depicted via a humourous video. Comedy is often the bridge for people to discuss sensitive topics like race - case in point, Russell Peters.

By vilifying them, the message you are sending is their voice doesn't matter.
There is a difference between an individual or group spewing hate and a comedic video that tries to tackle a hard-to-swallow topic like race, that impacts Singapore and Singaporeans. We must all speak up, regardless of race, language, religion. All of our voices matter.

Censorship has come at a great cost for many nations. Diversity of opinions are needed if we want innovation to happen. Inclusion of those opinions is key. Singapore is multi-racial and multi-cultural so we are a very diverse nation. As a nation that prides itself as a first-world city-state, marching towards our ambition of a Smart Nation, we need to embrace the diversity of opinions and make sure everyone is included. We cannot truly be a Smart Nation if we are not an inclusive one. Censoring talented, young homegrown talents by vilifying their video as a racist one, is a wrong move and a dangerous one in the long run.