Tag Archives: Paris

I have been visiting Paris for the past 9 years and here is a very important tip. Something that will help u have a more pleasant stay. Just moments ago at Gare Du Nord, I was almost a victim (yet again) to a couple of con men. I had placed my camera bag on the shelf next to me while I checked my tickets. A guy walks up to me and asks for directions (yes a local looking guy asking a Singaporean tourist for directions! Hahaha) I have seen this before and immediately turned to check on my bag and true enough, his accomplice was trying to grab my bag. When spotted, he suddenly didn't need to know the directions and both walked away in separate directions.

It is ok to not expect all moderate Muslims to condone the actions of ISIS on their FB pages each time a bombing happens. Not to sound disrespectful, this topic of – “Muslims should speak up and condone ISIS terror attacks” became popular recently after the Paris bombing, which received intensive global media coverage due to the western territory it occurred on, and prevalent fear of large scale ISIS attacks on Europe and Asia in the near future.

There has been a noticeable silence from liberals in the wake of the Paris massacre. We do not hear the usual cry to abolish the Internal Security Act and the concomitant State power to detain without trial, to abandon capital punishment and to champion freedom of expression. Where have all the liberals gone? Gone to try quiet places with heads turned away from the nasty reality that there are bad people willing and capable of doing bad things. Really bad. And no amount of high flown rhetoric or rational debate will stay their hand.

I don't know how to 'own' a problem in which there is every possibility that I will be one of those executed. Why is it so hard to understand that these people are as remote to me as they are to you, that I have absolutely no access to nor influence over them, that I will be considered as much of an enemy to them as you are? Leave the other Muslims alone. We don't owe you any explanation or statement on something which we can even barely imagine or comprehend, much less condone or justify.

The first thing people need to understand is how media coverage works. Attacks in Beirut and Palestine ARE documented by the media, but these news pieces don't go viral simply because they are far too common. In the case of states like Palestine and Lebanon, the impact of any attack is marginal; extremist mindsets on both sides inspire yet more cyclical behaviour). So don't be surprised that news stories about the Muslim World may not get as much coverage - media theory more than adequately demonstrates why.

Like Paris, the population of Singapore comprises a sizeable indigenous Muslim community. We also have a sizeable amount of western entities which have set up business here. That makes us a prime target for terrorists who would rather attack us as a secular nation with strong vested western interests, rather than our neighbours which are Muslim countries. It makes for better PR when convincing other ISIS savages to wear a vest and blow themselves up.

I saw this on my friend's FB feed. this teenage boy post on FB wishing that Paris attacks will happen in Singapore. I feel angry because this comment is offensive and want him to think twice before posting anything.

It's 2.30am on a Friday night as I start writing this. Madness has again descended on this beautiful city of light. I still hear sirens. Police. Ambulances. They come and go. We make and laugh at jokes. Macabre jokes. Morbid jokes. Tasteless jokes. Dumb jokes. Anything to relieve the tension. Everyone is on his or her phone. Texting loved ones. Texting friends and family and co-workers. Checking Facebook. Checking Twitter. Trying to find out what's going on. I check my email, including the marketing spam. I wonder if it's crass to do some online shopping to relieve the stress.

After more than 120 people were killed in gun shootings and bomb attacks in Paris, France declared a national state of emergency and closed its borders. The most severe attack occured at the Bataclan concert hall where at least a 100 civilians were killed.

Political will and a legal regime are required to tackle terrorism while social issues need to be dealt with so that no group becomes marginalised, Law and Foreign Affairs Minister K Shanmugam said today (Jan 12) as he condemned the shootings in Paris last week which “can happen anywhere”. Speaking to reporters after signing a condolence book at the French Embassy, Mr Shanmugam said Singapore stands in solidarity with the French people.