I look outside and it is raining. There are blisters on my fingers from practising the violin too hard. In my heart, I wish there was a Hyde park of Singapore, I wish that my fingers could be covered in ink from writing too many speeches.

Hester asked me to define peace. Peace has it's own definition and meaning in every person's heart, it is not mine to define, the definition of peace can be found in the dictionary, but it is not everybody's definition of peace, so I won't define it.

I need a corner of Singapore to talk, any corner can become my corner. But I would have to pay taxes to maintain it, and, before I speak, would have to stand in front of a board and tell them what I wish to say. This is so that they may correct and edit out the areas they don't like, or are words of infamy against the Government, or criticise the Government too openly. It would no longer be my speech, or my corner, it would be the Government's corner. I would not be able to speak my mind, the speech would not carry out my intended message, I would simply be a mouthpiece for the Government.

Democracy does not exist in Singapore, because there is only one ruling party. No one has come close to standing up for himself and his thoughts. In a recent quiz taken by JC students, they were asked how many political groups there were in Singapore. The answer was something like twenty three. I would like to know how they managed to dig up twenty three ancient skeletons of political parties, because I see only one.

The PAP will continue ruling until one day, someone comes out and speaks up for his own thoughts. There simply is no opposition in Singapore. It's no wonder PAP always wins by a landslide victory-there simply isn't an opposition party! How can Singaporeans vote or make a choice when there is no choice to make? It's rather like asking one to choose the sort of ice cream he'd like when there is only one flavour! Supposing he did not like that flavour, or if one did not agree with PAP's ideas? One would have to either vote for PAP, or not vote at all! That isn't a choice, it's more like a forced rule.

True, others have tried to rise and challenge the PAP, but they have not been strong enough. Dr. Chee Soon Juan was sued by the Government for infamy and insult of MR. Goh Chok Tong and Mr. Lee Kuan Yew. He wanted to speak at Speaker's Corner, but was arrested as he did not have a license. Why call it the Speaker's corner if one needs a license to speak? It's like asking someone for their breathing license! I remember there being about three other opposition parties two years back, but they were not strong enough on their own. I feel that they should have united to form a party large enough to overthrow the PAP.

He also wanted to hold a rally, but was stopped, as he, once again, 'had no license'. How can you expect creativity from the Singaporeans when every time they ever wished to do something, they were stopped by a barrage of licenses needed and application forms needing to be filled? Like the case of the budding artist who wanted to hold his art exhibition in a HDB flat because he didn't have money to hold it in a gallery, he was refused permission! Do you expect art, or anything for that matter, to flourish in Singapore?

J B Jayeratnam, who is now bankrupt, wanted also, to hold a rally on his birthday. He too was stopped as he didn't have a license!

If freedom of speech was allowed, its restricted movement released, I would be one of the many people in the Hyde Park of Singapore, telling them of my views.

If only.

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