Sure Smells Like Christmas

Last days in Edinburgh: Grassmarket Close, Greyfriars Bobby, mirrored glass facade and interior of Festival Theatre (Sunshine on Leith), graffiti on the way to school, Bristo Square and McEwan Concert Hall, bird perched on the head of Sir Walter Scott at the Scott Monument, horse statue on Princes Street, stone tile outside Writers' Museum.

Quote of the Week

Me: Not to brag, but I'm pretty, intelligent, articulate and funny...
Nirev: You know, you're just like me...
Me: My only defect is I have no sense of shame.
Nirev: Same here!
Me: (as we walk into a dead end on Clarke Quay) And apparently, no sense of direction either.

Since ending exams I haven't had time to catch my breath! I've stayed over at Meow's, spent a hilarious weekend in Melaka with my cell darlings (watch out for me and my male lead, a dead frog in my noodle soup, coming to a YouTube near you) and gone out every day since then:

-Monday at PepperLunch with my fellow schemers as we plotted how to make over a girlfriend

-Tuesday with Zhan at Secret Garden followed by driving aimlessly around Mountbatten till midnight (Zhan kept our dinner location secret and stubbornly refused to split the bill; it was lucky that I swopped my Birkenstocks for ballet flats at the last minute because the restaurant had a strict no-slippers policy!)

-Wednesday at Brewerkz and Nectarie with the Katong Gang + Erin + Ivan, followed by partying at Dbl O with Mei, Fang, Kenny, the birthday boy Edwin who was already plastered by the time we got there and other classmates. Interesting incidents: I had a dance-off with Kenny to see who "dance[d] sexier". Result: Can you believe I lost... to a guy nicknamed Kenzy Panzy?! Haha I demand a rematch, since the judges were hardly neutral: Kenny declared that the winner was Kenny and would entertain no objections from the floor. When another guy tried to pick me up with the highly creative line, "You dance very well", I brightly replied, "Thanks!" and danced away.... from him. To be fair though, he came in handy as a human shield, deflecting a gyrating Indian guy who kept flashing his bony chest in my direction.

-Thursday at Ma Maison with Rochelle, followed by games evening with Hami and Nirev (imagine three university students, a Lit major, Law student and legal intern, counting penguins at Settlers') followed by Italian dessert at Riccioti... the only thing I like better than Italian dessert is half-price Italian dessert after nine!

-Friday at The Warren for my auntie's curry, followed by Hairspray with Steffy, Gavan, Koen and Elliot- I eventually stayed the night and ended up sleeping with 5-year-old Koen's Elmo bolster

And last night when I got home from Christmas shopping my father recruited me to teach him how to dance for an upcoming gala. I ended up dimming the lights and getting my parents to do the Argentine tango. (When I left the hall they were still sashaying to Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now.)

Today was a particularly good day! First of all, knowing that I never have time to eat in the mornings, Valey bought me breakfast! We certainly needed the energy volunteering with the childrens' ministry: the girls were supposed to be decorating a wall mural but since we did not bring any art supplies, all of us ended up painting with our fingers! Then I met Cindy and Marcus for lunch at Macau Express (ok, they didn't treat me, I just forgot to pay Marcus back but I will next week!) and after church Sheer and I decided to chill out at Siglap's Secret Recipe and she did legitimately bless me with a slice of White Chocolate Macademia paradise and my favourite alphabet fries (what to do, I is a Lit major mah). They make me feel like such a freeloader!

I suspect that my friends and family are on a quest to fatten me up. After battling another bout of diarrhoea, I'm now 45 kg- I haven't been this light since I was, what, fourteen? I am kinda peeved that I can't seem to fill out my clothes but I can't say I'm in any hurry to regain the weight.

In addition, I'm also

1) teaching myself French from a used textbook
2) enrolled in the school of cool
3) learning the guitar from whoever's willing to teach me
4) getting my brother to train me in Warcraft (or is it Warcroft?)
5) pretending to get some holiday reading done... never happens, I'm tellin' ya

I've still got to

1) have breakfast at Chin Mee Chin Confectionery (last time I went with Val and Sheer the pastries were sold out)
2) as the founder of Singapore Matchmaking Undercover (SMU), execute two large-scale covert matchmaking operations
3) buy those gorgeous mary-jane heels from Pazzion
4) handmake my Christmas cards (a personal annual tradition)
5) go for Mambo, baby!

This blogger interrupts her regular programming of Corfu beaches to bring you updates on her latest fashion project- Steffy and I did a Wardrobe Swap! The rules were simple: we would give each other three sets of our favourite clothing which we thought represented our personal styles best. The results?

We were only allowed to mix in our own accessories but NOT our own clothing for the course of the three-day challenge, but Steffy told me that I was putting together her clothes in combinations that she'd never tried! And of course I had preconceived notions of how my stuff should be worn: for instance, I would have paired my Victorian-motif blouse with the high-waisted pencil skirt but Steffy completely ignored my ideas haha!



Day 1: Church and Midnight Madness at Raffles City

On Steffy
Jasmine's favourite pinafore, GreenPetals
Jasmine's Victorian-motif knit blouse, Wanko fall sale

Steffy says:
"I dislike wearing more than the minimum number of garments at any time, so immediately zoomed in on the two articles in her selected pool that would complement each other's 'missing parts' - a pinafore with a front flap covering only a narrow section of the torso, and a knit top with a cute print but with quite a low-reaching neckline. In my opinion this was the only successful attempt."

On Jasmine
Steffy's dress, Sportsgirl (Perth, Australia)

Jasmine says:
"To make Steffy's little dress appropriate for Sunday service, I added a pair of Topshop stockings for coverage. Grey also loves bright colours so I topped the outfit with a pink H&M houndstooth scarf and a tartan clutch from Ness (Edinburgh) for a splash of fuchsia."



Day 2: Skin Clinic, Lunch at Crystal Jade with Granny and Pizza Dinner with Ken and the family

On Steffy
Jasmine's age-reversing striped hoodie i.e. makes the wearer look like she's twelve, Topshop
Jasmine's high-waisted pencil skirt, Stradivarius (Southern France)

Steffy says:
"I found the skirt quite old-looking, so i decided to try to neutralise it by wearing the striped hoodie. Plus, i found the hoodie to be rather short, so wearing it with a high-waisted skirt seemed like a good idea."

On Jasmine
Steffy's turquoise top, Miyoko (independent Aussie designer, bought at designer sale by Adeline)
Steffy's jazz pants, OKH ballet supply store

Jasmine says: "I felt like I was going for yoga class!"



Day 3: Amadeus, Everitt Road Wanton Mee, Diamond Hunt with Mum, Our Third Pappadum Supper in Four Days

On Steffy
Jasmine's '80s dress, Hula & Co

Steffy says:
"I wish the hemline of the skirt had been longer, perhaps knee-length. And I wasn't too fond of the way my upper arms looked in those floaty cap sleeves (but that didn't stop me from wolfing down those wontons). However, I still think it's a pretty dress, and liked the way it puffed out above the sash."

On Jasmine
Steffy's men's XL striped shirt, People of Asia
Steffy's high-waisted shorts, nameless shop on Oxford Street (London)

Jasmine says: "I was there with Steffy when she bought this men's shirt two years ago and did my best to dissuade her from making the purchase. To balance out the voluminous top, I tucked it into Steffy's high-waisted shorts --also another piece I would never have thought of wearing-- for a seventies vibe. To my surprise this turned out to be my favourite of the three looks."

It certainly feels good to be back in our own threads- Steffy and I went for karaoke last night with Alvin, Eliza and Jason, and she went dressed as her (kooky eclectic) and I went dressed as me (girly vintage). But one thing I've learnt from Steffy? You don't always have to shop at the mall- unusual places i.e. ballet supply stores will yield unexpected treasures!

Oh yes! I'll be away in Melaka for the weekend and I'm booked solid till next next Monday. But I have an appointment on Wednesday and for some reason I can't remember WHO I blocked off that date for! If my mystery appointee is reading this, would you please jog my memory by throwing a cow at me on Facebook or doing something equally violent. I apologize for my amnesia. Merci beaucoup!

Domestic life: Pictures from my room, my wall, my jewelry board (done at the expense of a Modernism term essay), my cosmetics cupboard and snack stash, my shoes (from three pairs it ballooned to a dozen or more) and my next-block neighbours, Vengee, Zul, Yih Seng, Wei Lun and Darren who helped us carry our luggage to Waverley (with me looking like I'm wearing the Scott Monument in the background as a hat... quite fitting though, since I lived in the 17th century building where Sir Walter Scott once stayed- and where five of his six children died).

Actually, I kinda blackmailed Darren into offering his man-labour over the phone:

Me: Hey.
Darren: Hey! So are you leaving now?
Me: Yeah... (pause) I've got so much luggage!
Darren: Do you need my help?

~~~~~~~

Hi guys

First things first. This girl is officially examination-free!

I haven't been blogging in a fortnight because I've had three final papers due, and the day I handed in my final final paper (no, that was not a typo), my exams began before I even had time to study for them- five of them in the last five days. I clocked about two hours of shuteye a night during exam week, but I don't expect to be catching up on my sleep debt anytime soon, because Steffy is back! I picked her up from the airport yesterday and it's been go-go-go since then!

Update on the toughest term ever. I've been doing exceptionally badly this semester with my honours modules, scoring Bs on average and a C for my Cold War final paper which constitutes a whopping 50% of my total grade (well, ok, I was also a week late handing in the paper, so I suppose I ain't got nobody to blame but myself).

But I always learn more from doing badly than I do from doing well. And I thank God that this term, I reached the limits of my physical strength and my intellectual abilities (this is a girl who thinks that Oriental Barbie is a legit topic for an Asia-Moderns term essay). I thank God for every time I was exhausted, depressed and sleep-deprived, because only when I acknowledge that I can truly do no more, can He take over. And God took over in a way I've never quite known before during my examination week when I only had maybe three to four hours every night to prepare for the next morning's paper.

It will be nothing short of a miracle if I do get 4.5 this semester. I've done the math- umpteen times. I told my mum that I felt first-class honours slipping through my fingers. I told a friend in all honesty: "Only God can save me now". She replied; "That's true in every situation."

Danielle, you're right. I'm reminded of the time when I broke up with my boyfriend and made it into the Dean's List my first semester in NUS. I'm reminded of the time I had bronchitis during the exams but became the top Year Two Literature Student. My academic career in NUS has been a story of God against the odds. I'm not saying that I'm expecting God to rain As down from heaven this time round. But I am saying, I have been blessed, and I thank God for each and every situation: for the good (which makes me happy), but more importantly, for the bad (which makes me stronger). I thank God because the battle is His, and I am not going to be afraid any more of what the future will hold.

Possibly Jasmine's Shortest Post Ever

Wearing: vintage dress customised from '70s fabric, charm bracelet from local boutique in Amsterdam, polka-dot heels from x:odus, brooch worn as hairpin from GreenPetals and faux suede clutch from Seed.

I'm absolutely knackered! It's been a week of overdue essays and premature disappointments but Imma feelin' much dandier today. I slept at 5 or 6 am this morning --I can't be sure exactly when, but I remember seeing the sun rise just before I passed out-- and got up maybe four hours later to meet Sheer and Valencia for breakfast at Chin Mee Chin Confectionery!

A girls' day out followed, with the girls coming over to my place to doll up for Clara and Yew Fie's wedding- there wasn't a dress code but Eleta, Sheer, Joanne, Yam, Val and I decided to go ahead and impose our own retro theme haha. And then an evening of window shopping! (Window shopping is even better news than shopping, because it doesn't involve me spending money. I received yet another nasty shock when I realised that I have a $300 deficit that I cannot account for! Oh wait, actually I can... You'd be surprised what pretty trench dresses you can unearth at college bazaars!)

It was also my parents' 23rd wedding anniversary so the family trooped out for a Chinese dinner; thus here I am reporting to you on an exceedingly full stomach.

Oh well... die(t) another day!

Corfu's Beaches: Of Beach Brollies and Booze Cruises (Last photo is of an outdoor shower shaped like a drooping tulip)

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Malaysian Politicians Criticise AirAsia Uniform (Source: The China Post; MSN News)

Malaysian politicians criticised the uniforms worn by flight attendants on budget carrier AirAsia Friday, saying the skirts were too short and exposed the wearers' genitals.

"AirAsia stewardesses expose their calves, thighs and knees and this is inappropriate," delegate Zaleha Hussin told the annual congress of the ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO). "Malaysia is an Islamic nation and Islam Hadhari is the basis for our lifestyle and this is inconsistent with it," she said, referring to the government's policy of promoting a version of the religion that emphasises economic and scientific development.

Going a step further, UMNO assembly speaker Badruddin Amiruddin drew laughter when he used a crude euphemism to refer to female genitalia. "For some of them you can even see their tunnel," he said in Malay.

Malaysia-based AirAsia -- whose female flight attendants wear a red jacket, white blouse and above-the-knee red skirt -- declined to comment.

-------

Dear Mr UMNO Assembly Speaker Badruddin Amiruddin, you put the "rude" in "Amiruddin".

First of all, Islam Hadhari is currently being advocated by your ruling party, UMNO, as a progressive version of the Muslim religion, one of whose ten main tenets is "the protection of the rights of minorities and women". One of the rights of a progressive Muslim woman is freedom of choice, which extends to clothing. I know several Muslim women who have chosen not to don the tudung but that does not make them less Muslim. Likewise, wearing the AirAsia uniform does not make AirAsia stewardesses less Malaysian.

Furthermore, you may not know much about women's fashion, as seeing that you are apparently incapable of distinguishing whether it is the knees or the calves that are being exposed, but pictures I have found of the AirAsia skirt show a business-conservative length that hits just above the knee, worn over black stockings. Hardly an outrage of modesty, I would say.

This is a length that is considered acceptable even in conservative industries like banking, hotel management and finance. The length is practical because it allows mobility of movement for flight attendants who, if you have ever boarded a flight, are required to walk narrow aisles pushing cumbersome trolleys loaded with drinks and meals for your dining pleasure (granted, airplane food isn't exactly Le Cordon Bleu, but that's a different story).

Furthermore, in case you have not already noticed, AirAsia is a Malaysian-based airline that operates within Asia. It is a secular corporation which has operations in over 40 major cities (and no, I did not count Johore Bahru, which is also served by AirAsia, as a major city) and 10 Asia-Pacific countries. Voted Best Low Cost Carrier in 2007 by CAPA, it is one of the few Malaysian successes that your country may truly be proud of. Like the best multinational organisations across the globe, AirAsia's success is dependent on free-market principles and not state interference in apparel design.

Do you not have better things to do, Sir? How about say, reforming the educational system, which in my opinion is an "embarrassment to Islam", since your party extols the "protection of the rights of minorities and women", yet ethnic Malays are being awarded government scholarships but Bumiputras who are just as, if not more, qualified/ deserving are being left behind?

In addition, as an Asian woman, I find your slang remarks on the female genitalia to be sexist, disgusting and immature. What is more "inappropriate", an occupational uniform that is considered conservative even by industry standards, or a crude reference to a woman's body --which you have already displayed your ignorance of by confusing "knee" with "thigh"-- to get a cheap laugh in Parliament? If I were Malaysian I would not vote for you. And if you were Singaporean you would quickly find yourself out of a job, Dear Mr UMNO Assembly Speaker: my government is alot of things but it is not sexually oppressive.

And just in case you think I am alone, Sir, you would do well to remember that 36% of the Malaysian workforce is female. Of the 4.7 million unemployed Malaysians, 3 million women are homemakers, estimated to comprise 45% of the unpaid workforce. According to 2006 internal productivity estimates their contribution to the economy, if valued in monetary terms, would be worth 55 million ringgit (RM). Also, female undergraduates in institutions of higher learning out-number their male counterparts by a ratio of 3:2.

My point is, that is 12 million votes you are risking, Dear Mr UMNO Assembly Speaker. A rapidly-increasing percentage of these 12 million votes will come from highly-educated, well-informed women, who might not appreciate your thoughtful and perceptive observations on their "tunnels" as well as say, your Parliamentary colleagues who laughed along with you (and shame on them).

Moreover, moderate versions of Islam allege that both sexes are responsible for female modesty. However, your comments seem to imply that the onus is on Muslim women to minimise the possibility of seduction/ temptation to men. But let me just say, if you can envision looking up a woman's "tunnel" when the woman in question is wearing a demure knee-length skirt, then the problem probably lies with you, Sir, and not the woman (and by the way, the skirt is otherwise so hideous that most normal people avert their eyes rather than continue staring; I don't know about you, but that awful shade of red gives me a serious migraine).

And last of all, may I just mention that it is physically impossible to "see [up a woman's] tunnel" when the woman is wearing stockings. There's a reason why it's called "pantyhose", not "pantyholes".

So if there is anything that should be regarded as a disgrace to Islam Hadhari, it's probably you, Sir. I can only hope there is light at the end of that tunnel for you.

Severely yours,
Your First Alienated Vote*

*Ok fine so I'm not Malaysian, but if I was I still wouldn't put a chauvinist in power. Sexism: the only thing less fashionable than dowdy red skirts.

(Dream Day on Corfu: Chilling at a Beach Cafe with a delicious iced Greek Frappe (second through fourth pictures), Discovering a Church Bell-Tower while Exploring the Coastline)

Today I wore my grandmother's cheongsam from the '60s.

Today I got alot of strange looks.

Today I had to run to the General Office in four-inch heels and a group of freshmen sitting on the floor actually stopped talking and turned to stare at me as I walked past. I felt like they were expecting me to break into song and dance any minute.

Today a guy told me, "I like your dress". (Any man who can appreciate a cheongsam is a keeper!) to which I was more than happy to inform him, "Thanks! It's my grandmother's". I love seeing everybody's stunned reactions on discovering that my Porpor wore it fifty years ago!

Today I got a "Hey sexy laydehhh!" while I was standing at the photocopying machines in the computer lab.

Today my professor told me the cut was exquisite, the material was modern and I "should get it copied". Appropriate given her lecture on simulacra and reproduction... Never did I once dream that me and my intimidatingly intellectual professor, for whom words like "ineluctability" and "historiographical rationality" roll off her tongue just as naturally as "skirts" and "suppers" roll off mine, would be hanging out after class having a perfectly normal girly conversation about accessorizing (she liked my use of pearls; I admitted they were my mother's.)

Today I slept at 7am, woke up 3-ish hours later, handed in a term paper, gave a presentation and then rushed down to town to celebrate the birthdays of FOUR friends at the Glass House.

Today I bought a vintage tapestry clutch dating from the '70s to reward myself for surviving the presentation. Eleta came over to Orchard later and mentioned that she had seen similar ones selling for thrice the price online! By the way girl that vintage Gucci clutch of yours is a real STEAL!

Okay, fine, that was a transparent excuse: If I had screwed up I would have bought the clutch to comfort myself. If I had been brilliant I would have bought the clutch to reward myself for an "excellent" presentation- never mind that Tania Roy uses that on half the class half the time. She found my comparison of the non-representationality of pastness in Thai cinema to the false nostalgia imbued in the Survivor: China logo very "convincing" ok! (Seriously... I don't know anybody else who considers reality TV educational!)

Today, over seafood platters and crispy chips, Valey said that I should be careful getting back because I "look[ed] expensive". Haha... does that mean I look cheap every other day?!

Now now, I thought that pairing my pyramid-studded Fendi watch with strands of ivory and tangerine pearls (which picked up the peachy hue of the watch face) was nothing short of genius. Marcus, however, implied that my Fendi watch --which I finally got shortened after three months, but haven't bought a battery for yet, so essentially it's just a nice bracelet with a brand name, which gives new meaning to the word "timeless"-- might actually be a "Fandi" watch i.e. fake. Actually the reverse is true. The watch is real but the pearls were fake.

Yes, today was comprised of a long night and an even longer day. Three hours in presentation/ panel discussion at the podium. A foot massage would be heaven...

Corfu Part Deux: Grecian Architecture

Dear Z, you are my new gay BFF (Best Friend Forever). At 4.45am, only you will still stay up to coordinate my accessorizing with me (and even ask if I've got a webcam so I can "model" the dresses for you)!

You are the only guy who will honestly rate all my "looks" --ordinary mortals call them "outfits", fashionistas call them "looks"- on a scale of 1 to 10. Granted, sometimes I really feel like whacking you after you've passed your verdict on which dress is In... Or Out, but overall I appreciate the male point of view.

I confess, I did experience a brief moment of cognitive dissonance when you suggested I tighten a sari skirt to "show off my ass". Generally any man who makes any remark about my ass will find his manhood teetering on the brink of termination but since you mean no harm, my ass will let you pass. (Bad rhyme, that.) Indeed, "show[ing] off my ass" has never been one of my main goals in life, but now I may have to reconsider.

And you're just about the only guy who's expressed a modicum of enthusiasm for the fab girls' clothing-swap-cum-tea-party I'm planning, because reducing commercial waste over Viennese wafers is so my scene.

Me: What do you think of ice-cream cocktails and pink grapefruit margaritas?
Z: Abit pink for my liking but still sounds great!
Me: That's the perfect answer! You're invited, my friend.
Z: (pause) As long as I don't have to swap clothing.

(Timecheck: Post-modernism essay due tomorrow, 0% done)

(Corfu Part Une: A sample of Greek restaurants by the beach and building sandcastles before dinner)

Why I Said No When I Said No*

1) I said we were much too alike. Much too alike for fireworks and fiery passion, remember that? But a couple days ago I was talking with you again and it hit me... "We" never happened not because we were too alike, but because we were too different. Our values are so different that in retrospect I couldn't be more relieved that we are just as we always were: just friends, thank God.

2) You're short. If I reproduced with you, our kids would be microscopic. (Plus, I wasn't about to give up my Christian Louboutin heels for a lifetime of flat soles. Guess I wasn't that into you : )

3) You had everything except that one thing I wanted you most to be. I wanted/ needed you to love God because God has always been a big part of my life (by which I mean He's there for me even when I do my best to ignore Him, haha). I didn't want to force you to make a commitment you weren't ready for or didn't believe in just so that we could be together. It just wouldn't have felt right... and though somedays, it still seems wrong that we're not together, I know I'm gonna come out of this ok. And that good things come to those who wait.

*Please be aware that the author is referring to a different man in every paragraph. She would much rather wear her dining room curtain to her best friend's wedding than be caught on a date with a suitor who is All Of The Above i.e. a vertically challenged atheist who likes thrift-shopping and eating crackers for lunch.

(Taken on location at the Salisbury Crags, Edinburgh- self-timer rocks, no pun intended!)

The New Four Letter Word: 377A

Ladies and gentleman, I am not here to advocate keeping 377A based on personal belief or religious viewpoint. (In fact, I actually planned to talk about my collection of cocktail dresses today.) But I am not here either to repeal it based on vague, undefined terms like "freedom of speech" and "the consent principle". I am not a Law student or a legal professor, and am probably unqualified to contest the legality of 377A, but based on my right to "free speech" and with the "consent" of my readers, I should like to offer my opinion nonetheless:

My argument hinges on my claim that homosexuality is a personal choice, not an inherent biological characteristic.

Thie issue of choice is central because if one is not born gay, but chooses to be gay, this precludes any arguments from the queer camp that homosexuals are entitled to the same rights as heterosexuals because homosexuality is also an innate physiological trait.

Becoming vs Being
I believe that homosexuals are humans too and therefore entitled to the same human rights as heterosexuals. This is different from contending that the basic human rights we all share automatically justifies homosexual intercourse on the basis of biology. This is also different from pushing for pro-gay legislation founded on the claim that it is as "natural" and "normal" for a homosexual to be homosexual as it is for a heterosexual to be heterosexual. Frankly, I think that advocating one's sexuality from the biological standpoint of "I was born with it; I cannot help it" undermines the queer position instead of strengthening it. I do not dispute that heterosexuality and gender roles are socially constructed as well, but the difference is that one can be born male, or female, but not lesbian or gay.

In the field of academics, queer theory has also likened the struggle of homosexuals to achieve equal rights to that of women's liberation in the 19th century and anti-segregation in the 20th century. Both analogies are flawed because one is born a woman, or a black, but one is not born gay. Conversely, a gay person can also choose not to be gay anymore, but a woman cannot choose not to be a woman or a black, a black. (Anyone who tries to remind me of plastic surgery at this juncture will be blasted for being besides the point.)

My point is that homosexuality is a matter of "becoming" rather than "being". To ignore that fundamental basis of "becoming" that governs one's "being" is to weaken their position. Sex and race are inescapable binaries, homosexuality is not. Sex and race are irrevocable biological categories, homosexuality is socially constituted. To argue that homosexuality is biologically determined, not self-selected, is to contradict a primary assertion of queer lobbyists, that even gays should be given freedom of choice. After all, what is there to choose if you're born with it?

Calls to Objectivity
There are those who tell us to leave our morality at the door and to regard this issue objectively, in spite of whatever personal views we may hold. I don't quite understand this, since laws are enacted on a moral basis. Laws are moral. They are created to safeguard human safety, uphold standards of human decency and protect the individual.

Free Speech vs Hate Speech
Free speech does not allow straight men to defame or slander gay men as individuals, though they are free to express their views against homosexuals as a class. Then please explain to me why it is okay to label a straight man who does not subscribe to gay pride as a "homophobe" or "bigot" when it is not okay to call a gay man a "sissy" or "pussy". So if a straight person has an opinion, he's a "bigot", but a gay person can criticise compulsory heterosexuality without consequence because he's covered by "free speech"? Please explain the double standards involved in this equation.

When we are busy calling our opponents names, we cannot enter into a vigorous and reasoned discussion where both sides may freely express their views without fear of retaliation. Throwing pejorative insults around ruins the spirit of debate and obscures the issues at large.

The Harm Principle
That aside, those opposed to 377A protest that the law is redundant because gay sex does not harm anyone. In fact, if both parties are consenting adults then they do not need the legal protection offered by 377A. Let us define harm loosely as any degree of bodily pain. If we are to take this road that gay sex should be legalised because it does not cause bodily harm, should we then also legalise child pornography since it does not hurt the viewer but instead gives him great pleasure?

Furthermore, a good case may be made for quantifying harm since statistically, there is a far higher incidence of STDs and AIDS in the gay community than in the society at large. Goodreau and Golden's 2007 American study reports that gay men are three times more vulnerable to sexual disease than straight men. Anal sex, or sodomy, the most common form of intercourse engaged in by homosexuals, is unhygienic because the male genitalia makes contact with his partner's anus, the anatomical region which excretes faeces. Gay men who adopt both insertive and receptive roles are at greatest risk of becoming infected and infecting others. We should act now to avert the possibility of a public health crisis.

Given the potential of widespread HIV infection among queer men, is there not less harm in adhering to 377A than in repealing it?

Rule of the Majority
What with all the vitriole and mud-slinging, it seems to me that the rule of the silent majority has been hijacked by the voices of a minority lobby. Ignoring that majority is antithetical to our democratic principles.

I don't really care whether 377A is retained or repealed. To me, the gay community has already won (at least as far as the press is concerned). But they have won not by merit of argument, but by twisting legal jargon such as "the harm principle" and "freedom of expression" in order to pass off gay sex as an inalienable human right.

I would have liked to debate about this in a receptive --no pun intended-- atmosphere. I saw 377A as a real chance for both sides to increase their tolerance and understanding for each other. It's a real pity that that possibility has now been closed to us.