tell me about it

Members of Parliament from the post-65 generation will be performing hip hop dance moves at the Chingay Parade next year.

“All of us are having fun. It’s not important whether we perform well, we dance well or whether we look professional on tv or during the parade. Most importantly, we have to connect with the youths of today,” said Lam Pin Min, MP, Ang Mo Kio GRC.

“That’s part of the fun - to laugh at yourself, to have a sense of humour about everything and that’s what we’re trying to do as P-65 MPs, trying to connect with the youth and having fun with them, that’s the main thing,” said Chris de Souza, MP, Holland-Bukit Timah GRC.

Photo caption: (From left) MPs Michael Palmer, Baey Yam Keng and Jessica Tan - TODAY Photo
-Taken from Channelnewsasia

I’m just struggling to comprehend the thought process.

Head MP: Now, people. We need to Connect with the Youth of Today. They need to understand that we politicians are On Their Side and we Understand What They Want. Any ideas?
Lesser MP 1: Um, um. We need to do something they like to do.
LMP 2: Yes! Like, play computer games.
LMP 3: And shop in Bangkok.
LMP 1: And go dancing.
HMP: Dancing! Absolutely! Dancing.
LMP 1: Yes, because PM Lee dancing in Zouk last year was such a hit with the local youth!
LMP 2: It showed them that PM Lee is cool, man. See? I understand youth! Cool, man!
*LMPs applaud each other amidst smug smiles all round*
HMP: Let’s get the post-65 MPs to dance this year!
*LMPs gasp in pleasure*
HMP: HIP-HOP DANCE!
*spontaneous appreciative applause at the HMP’s genius*
HMP: AT THE CHINGAY PARADE!
*LMP 3 breaks down and cries at the plan’s utter perfection*
HMP: PERFECT! Because, you know, all youth love hip-hop dance!
LMP 1: And they all love the Chingay parade!
LMP 2: Cool, man!

When will someone tell them that pretending to be youth is not the way to connect to them? You people putting on a pair of fatigue pants and a colorful tee shirt will not endear me to you. In fact, I think this is plain silly. I applaud your chops for blindly going along with well-meaning yet misguided plans like these to try and reach Singapore’s youth, but seriously. This Is Not The Way To Do It.

Instead why don’t you try listening to us when we speak, rather than putting us on national TV with the eminent Minister Mentor and then blatantly steamrollering over all of us and our viewpoints?

That might work.

Dancing hop-hop does not a better politician make, I can assure you.

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