Wednesday 29 June 2011

Political Labeling:- Stick a badge .... and call him evil!

From Wikipedia:-
Labeling theory
Originating in sociology and criminology, labeling theory (also known as social reaction theory) was developed by sociologist Howard S. Becker.[1] Labeling theory (synonymous to "identifying against") holds that deviance is not inherent to an act, but instead focuses on the linguistic tendency of majorities to negatively label minorities or those seen as deviant from norms. The theory is concerned with how the self-identity and behavior of individuals may be determined or influenced by the terms used to describe or classify them, and is associated with the concept of a self-fulfilling prophecy and stereotyping. The theory was prominent in the 1960s and 1970s, and some modified versions of the theory have developed. Unwanted descriptors or categorizations (including terms related to deviance, disability or a diagnosis of mental illness) may be rejected on the basis that they are merely "labels", often with attempts to adopt a more constructive language in its place. Labeling theory is also closely related to interactionism and social construction.

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"I think we must stick the convict's badge

on anyone and everyone who tries to undermine Marxism
... even if we don't go onto examining his case".

~Lenin, Vladimir Ilyich

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KUALA LUMPUR, June 26 — The police said today they are probing an alleged attempt by some Bersih activists to revive communism, and are investigating 30 Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) members, including Sungai Siput MP Dr Michael Jayakumar for “waging war against the Yang DiPertuan Agong.”
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“These (PSM’s activisms) are the acts of
desperate people who planned the rally on July 9.
They see this as an opportunity
to stir up dissent and seize power”
.
~Rais Yatim

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Of late, the ruling Umno party (and its allies) seem to have got their knickers in a twist over the BERSIH 2.0 rally (planned for Saturday, 09.07.11).
Suhakam has gone public saying that a permit should be given.
The Police however refuse to give a permit for the rally- even before an application is made- and then declare it "Illegal".
This is despite the fact that there has never been any incidence of violence or destruction of public property in ANY public rally over the last 12 years!! This is also despite the fact that the ones who have made threats of violence (and indulged in violence) are those who are clearly opposed to BERSIH!!

Never mind the Kris waving episode & bloodlust of a certain politicians in the past, it is common knowledge that certain other politician has gone on record lately to say that Umno should "defend Putrajaya", even if it means "crushed bodies".
Their most vocal ally- PERKASA- has apparently decided to launch a rally of their own and even went to the extent of hinting at violence by urging the Malaysians of Chinese descent to "stock up on food" because "anything can happen".

Not to be left out, a certain political novice who heads a faction of UMNO joined in the chorus to have a rally of their own. The best joke here is that apparently, even he got a "death threat"- and so sent his hoodlums to threaten to burn down a certain building in retaliation!!

The police, in working to heighten the fear among people have gone on a spree of arrests ..... even those wearing T-shirt sporting BERSIH color/logo is apparently a crime these days.
(It used to be Black some time back- now it is Yellow).

BERSIH is accused of going on a hacking spree (which was launched by an anonymous hackers group) Ambiga Sreenivasan was called to make statements for insisting on BERSIH 2.0 rally, PSM is investigated for "trying to revive communism" and "waging war on the YDPA, Police invade the parliament to take statements from parliamentarians, Literary laureate Samad Said is questioned for reading of his "seditious" poetry ....
From Govt websites hacking to communism, to foreign infiltrators, Jewish/Christian/Hindu/Anti-Is
lam agents, chaos on the streets, to violence, to a "planned coup d'etat" - they're all apparently due to BERSIH!!!

When invited for "ideas" which the Govt may need (to place more accusations/labels on BERSIH), people have suggested the following :-
"The next tsunami, Teenage pregnancy! Tax evasion, HIV/AIDS, a wider budget deficit, Najib's receding hairline, losing the Olympic badminton final, feral dogs, killing off endangered Hornbills, Singapore being better than us in generally everything, the Thai insurgency, the ozone layer, rising petrol costs, and Penang traffic jams".
I wonder what will be next ... LGBT lifestyle? Alien spaceships? Global Warming?


One sad development was the fact that Dr D. Jeyakumar of Sungai Siput had to be hospitalized - apparently as a result of the deliberate negligence on the part of PDRM in denying him his medication. (Reports allege mental torture and other forms of ill-treatment of PSM campaigners arrested last Saturday).

As Art Harun says, we're definitely reaching The Tipping Point- wherein the morally bankrupt UMNO politicians appear to be bent on provoking retaliation from the rakyat through their abuse of state apparatus to let loose violent actions of repression, then justify their "pre-emptive" violent repression.

It seems like UMNO is making everything many of us have mentioned in the past about them seem like a prophecy ..... and wish to "destabilize to stabilize".

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