Death-defying Logic
Technorati tags: Hindraf, Humor, MIC, Death-defying Logic, Politics
Walski's tardy late post note of apology: This post was really supposed to have been out earlier this week. Sorry folks, but along the way, the schedule got kinda derailed. So, if it all seems rather dated, now you know why...
We live in interesting times, where our esteemed political leaders are capable of fantastical feats of death-defying logic. And best of all, get away with it.
"Death-defying Logic" by Mikko Myöhänen (2006)
First, a quick lesson on how to dig a hole for yourself when you're on live TV, deep enough for you to plant your mouth, in which to put your foot in. Hello? Hello? (from time marker 2:49 onwards, via YouTube). An example of how a Malaysian politician reasons (at time marker 3:53):
Al Jazeera: The protest was proceeding peacefully; you'd said that it was illegal, but for all intents and purposes it was a peaceful protest. So, why react with force?
Devamany: So, uh, probably, uh, uh, the last protest also was reacted in the same manner.
Brilliant. Two wrongs don't make a right. But, hey - two rights make a 180° turn... via Malaysiakini:
A Barisan Nasional MP departed from the norm today when he said the rally organised by the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) reflected the Indian community’s disgruntlement towards certain government policies.
K Devamany (MIC-Cameron Highlands) added that the rally proved the failure of government policies which do not benefit the Indians.
The ruling politician made the remark after interjecting Opposition leader Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timor) who argued that the rally was a cry of desperation from the Indians.
"Some 50,000 people took to the streets yesterday. It shows the government's failure and it needs to be looked into carefully," said Devamany.
(source: Malaysiakini)
Needles to say, de fective facto Law Minister (whom, last Walski checked, is also BN Dominatrix Whip) Nazri Aziz wasn't a happy camper (from the same Malaysiakini source):
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz, commenting on Devamany's response in the Dewan Rakyat, questioned where the latter got the fact that 50,000 people participated in the rally.
"Has he been demonstrating with the others to know that there were 50,000 people there?" he asked, adding that parliamentary debates must be based on facts.
"If he says that the government has failed, what does he stand for in MIC?" he asked.
He said if Devamany feels that the government has failed, the only honourable way is for him to resign from MIC.
Some people are simply not wired to accept any criticism, are they?
(some more death-defying feats of logic, in the full post)
Second, how to answer questions in a totally irrelevant manner (via The Sun, November 26 on page 2)?
He [Najib] was asked if he felt that Sunday’s incident with a group of defiant Indians was an indication that Samy Vellu was powerless.
“Samy Vellu is a senior member of the government and the MIC is a senior partner in the Barisan Nasional (BN),” he said.
Kind of reminds Walski of a really stupid conversation with a little kid once:
Walski: Hi there, what's your name?
Kid: I am three years old.
Third - what's the best way to demonstrate to the world that Malaysia is a democracy?
And by ISA, Johari doesn't mean Jesus, either...
Yes folks, invoke detention without trial. Well, if Sedition doesn't work, what other choice would they have? We are, after all a functioning democracy... functional at least once every four to five years anyways.
Democracy. Or, as Walski likes to call it, demo-crazy. You know, that bit of paranoid insanity when faced with demonstrations that you can't simply write off... tweak the number of demonstrators, maybe, but not write it off totally...
It just boggles the mind, these feats of death-defying logic.
