Social Media is Making Us Less “Weird” & How Palestine is Liberating Us Ft. Oon Shu An |

Actress Oon Shu An drops by the YLB studio to talk about her latest production, Tartuffe: The Imposter, why she loves to work with young creatives, and how choosing to follow your passion as your job might not be the best idea. We also go deep into her thoughts and feelings about the conflict in Gaza, and why it’s important for people with platforms to speak up.
00:00 On this episode...
00:32 Intro
07:04 Social Media is Making Us Less “Weird”
53:02 How Palestine is Liberating Us
01:37:07 One Shiok Thing
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References
- When Gaza lost phone and internet connection under Israeli attack, this activist found a way to get Palestinians back online | CNN | edition.cnn.com/2023/12/03/mi...
- Connecting Humanity IG - provides eSIMs to Gazans | / connectinghumanity_
- Love Aid Singapore - Singaporean charity | loveaidsingapore.com/
- Wizard_bisan1 on IG - Filmmaker on the ground in Gaza | wizard_bisa...
- Motaz on X - Photographer on the ground in Gaza | azaizamotaz9?lang=en
One Shiok Thing
- OFFICIAL TRAILER: 99 | • OFFICIAL TRAILER: 99
- Wajib by Annemarie Jacir - Trailer | • Wajib by Annemarie Jac...
- The Present - Trailer | • The Present (trailer)
- Oscar winning actor & writer Tom Hanks gives the Oxford Union an acting lesson | • Oscar winning actor & ...
Find Oon Shu An!
- Instagram | / oonshuan
- Her latest production - Tartuffe: The Imposter | www.wildrice.com.sg/event/176...
Mics and Headphones from ‪@shure‬ | / shure
Chairs from ‪@ergotune‬ | ergotunecha...
Desk from ‪@castlerysg‬ | / castlerysg
Edited and mixed by Tristen Yeak
Thumbnail photo by Mohammed Ibrahim on Unsplash | unsplash.com/@mohammed_ibrahi...

[@manyue2003]

There are a lot of talk about this conflict and as someone mentioned, Ya lah podcast already talked about it 8 times. There also had been talk about Russia - Ukraine conflict. However we have something closer to home that not much people talk about. It is the Myanmar junta conflict. We also have a larger percentage of Burmese here. There are Burmese boys who studied in Singapore their whole life that are now asked to go back to fight a war that has nothing to do with them. Maybe we should talk about that.

[@Rawrshuga]

One Shiok thing to check out regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict is the MatyrMade podcast: a 12 hour dive into the history of the conflict, told in parts from first person perspectives from both sides. It’s interesting how Shu An is suspicious of “polarisation” when she, by her own admission, only pays attention to one side of the story. That is exactly what polarisation is. Exactly what polarisation leads to. It is easy to let our compassion lead us to side with the civilians in Gaza, especially with what we see on social media, and when I see advocates talk about this issue they paint a picture of innocent civilians who are unarmed and forget the years of constant missile attacks endured by Israel, the attacks on civilians with knife attacks, bombings, etc. They forget the fighting in the streets where both Hamas fighters and IDF soldiers are being killed. They speak from both sides of their mouth and justify the murder of civilians by one side in the name of resistance and condemn it by the other by calling it oppression. And what they fail to see is that in their compassion, they have said it is okay to kill civilians, okay to rape, murder, and mutilate so long as it is done by the side we support. Sure “Hamas did not come from a vacuum”, neither did the IDF. There is plenty of blame and responsibility to be heaped on both sides. And that is precisely why understanding the history of BOTH sides is crucial to having a productive conversation about the conflict.

[@Marty-gv4nv]

I think its a great episode it’s an important discussion. Instead of tying guests down by a timeline based on what media covered, allow them to gather their thoughts , yes haresh I am looking at you. Let’s allow space to have healthy topics . Yes there is a way to discuss sensitive topics in a space where all voices can be heard let’s not sensor the voices even the public spaces simply because it can be long drawn .

[@elou.bunbun]

i agree, just let them speak and Shu An was honestly amazing she was very articulate and she expresses with strength and feeling. it is a pity to tie down the topic (also looking at haresh).

[@TheGracehew]

Oon Shu Ann raised valid points …and by the way, there’s really No need to be an Expert at geopolitics to express Anyone’s empathy towards the dire plight of others. Appreciate Yahlah But for hosting Ms Oon….and of course, Ms Oon for her Courage to speak of regardless in lay person’s terms ~ the general lethargy of the majority of us towards Israel’s on-going genocidal strategies.

[@elou.bunbun]

exactly!!!

[@AIisMyBff]

9:19 "...haven't got the life beaten out of them yet...😂😂😂"

[@heylylaa27]

Shu An is the perfect example of how this should not be viewed as a religious issue, but rather an issue of an occupying aggressor bombing the hell out of a civilian population and starving them under the guise of going after a terror group. How much is too much, and how many international law and human rights violations can be made before a serious intervention?? Just because the Singaporean government has a certain stance, it doesn’t mean that we as a people cannot question it or condemn the actions of Israel, when we can see what is happening. That’s not to say that we can’t condemn Hamas too, but we can’t ignore the atrocities in Gaza forever. And to say that Singaporeans can’t do anything to change the situation and therefore we shouldn’t even bother is so silly and apathetic, and that’s also a very worrying sign of the state of our society. It’s true when Shu An said, that at this point, if people are not aware, it’s because they don’t want to look. But there’s also a big group of people who KNOW what’s going on but are CHOOSING to turn away from the atrocities and staying silent. Shu An’s exasperation in some parts of the interview is so relatable, because this issue isn’t complex or complicated at all. It’s crystal clear. You don’t have to be a scholar or an expert to care about human lives. Look beyond the politics and narrative that is telling you that it’s complex and complicated. Thank you for getting Shu An on, thank you Shu An for sharing your thoughts, and please never stop talking about Palestine.

[@jasonlim4780]

"under the guise of going after a terror group", weren't the 7th Oct attacks a terror attack?

[@heylylaa27]

It sure was. But still doesn’t justify the scale of indiscriminate bombing we’ve been seeing, or the starvation and famine caused by restricting humanitarian aid. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@jaypee8768]

​​@@jasonlim4780 of course, the world and every damn shit started on oct 7. There is no context, no illegal settlements, no settler violence, open air prison, indiscriminate killing, apartheid, economic blockade.. nothing. Its just oct 7. Period. Why dont u just f**k off

[@Johnstone415]

@@heylylaa27 In order to advocate for peace, we must condemn violence from both sides. If you want peace, you cannot support just one side. Really, think about it, we have to support both sides. We have to work with people from both sides for a peaceful solution.

[@kelvinkwok5305]

The podcast started off great, Shu An shared her thoughts on the media industry etc., then it all went downhill the moment the topic switched to the conflict, which has been covered for like what, 8 podcasts (#454, #457, #459, #465, #492, #497, #508)? I understand many guests would like to weigh in on their take so why not consider this: Gather them in 1 podcast and level things out?

[@GaoDaHoi]

My Advice to this young lady:"未经他人哭，莫劝他人善。"

[@manyue2003]

@@GaoDaHoi I had to goggle to understand this.

[@syqsdq_]

Ms Oon, I work with Meta, if you like I can help file a report for your FB page for the team to assist you.

[@JohnSmith-vv9kq]

I'm more interested in hearing how the speakers can propose diplomatic solutions to de-escalate the conflict and work towards peace for both sides. Just as a thought exercise, just think of some rules you would enforce. For example, okay, rule 1: to stop the fights and deaths, let's impose a truce. Both sides, no one is to start any shit, no bombings, no raids. Rule 2: whoever breaks those rules, punish them/send them to jail. Because when you want peace, you must also enforce it to punish those who break the peace, even if they are your brother or sister or father or son. So, both sides - Isreal or Palestine or Hamas, can we agree on this? Rule 3: Self-rule. This is super important in order for rules 1 & 2 to work. Can Palestine leaders and Isreal leaders agree to self-rule within their territories. By self-rule, we mean self-control and discipline towards enforcing the peace on their own people. That is, if anyone from their side breaks rules 1 & 2, they have to punish them. If a Hamas fighter kills someone or kidnaps someone, what would you do? Punish them for breaking the peace? Are you willing to do that if you treasure peace? Same for Isreal, if their soldiers go to raid a village they suspect of terrorists, they should be punished too. Because we already established that only Palestine and Isreal can discipline their own people. And of course, it must not be a mere slap on the wrist on the offender. They have to really go down hard on people who break the rules. Because a random bomber, a kidnapping, a raid, that's all you need to jeopardize peace. Are the 3 rules possible? Have they tried truces? How did it fail? Why did it fail? I'm tried of hearing speakers and people come on the show, bemoaning the lack of support and empathy. They say they support Palestine, but I really want to know, what do they mean? What is the end goal they envision? Like, does Palestine go back to having all their land? Some of their land? How much? What do the Hamas leaders want? Totally remove Isreal? (Or not? I really don't know) Should I support that? What is the ideal situation in terms of Isreal and Palestine as two countries? If there's no concrete plan, what am I really supporting? I don't want to support any side that says they want peace, and then later it turns out they want to totally destroy the other or deny their right to existence. I think it boils down to this: If you are a supporter of peace, tell me what do you want in terms of how Israel and Palestine should exist together. And to have peace, you have to support both sides, not one side. If you only support one side, you are the one who is not making peace possible.

[@Johnstone415]

I appreciate Shu Ann's empathy but I really would like to hear more about the history of the conflict, like tell me what solutions have past leaders tried, why didn't they work, what happened? If we don't learn from history, we are doomed to repeat it. And so it's important that everyone, on both sides, learn the history. And of course, history is debatable, but at least, let's hear all versions of it. What happened to jeopardise peace?

[@Johnstone415]

Here's a proposal for those who want peace in that region: If you want peace, you have to come out to condemn violence, no matter who does it: Isreal or Palestine/Hamas. You have to apply it consistently. And you need to work with people from both sides. So, in order for peace to start, I think we need an organization that is made up of people from both sides, of all religions. An organization or institution that will live beyond the people, that is when the current generation dies, the next generation will carry on the work towards the goal. And this organization needs a clear mission or vision for its goals. Its principles need to be stated clearly: 1. We believe in a two state solution, that Isreal and Palestine both have a right to exist. 2. We are against violence and war, from both sides. We condemn acts of war, provocation, raids, etc. 3. Revenge begets revenge, the cycle of violence never stops. We have to include people from both sides to work towards forgiveness and acceptance. Whenever any side does anything wrong, this organization and its supporters has to come out to condemn it. No excuses.

[@Johnstone415]

You know what would be an obstacle to advocating for peace/condemning violence from both sides? It's actually the tribal instinct of people. When your environment of people are agitating for revenge and violence, do you have the courage to say no aloud? Are you able to keep a calm head and ask everyone to be calm? Do you dare to say: no, let's not kill them back. Let's stop the violence. Let's rein in the troublemakers on our side. Let's keep peace on both sides. I know that most people can't do this. We're tribal creatures. We lack the courage to go against the tide. This is where an organization or movement needs to be built. Because in this way, people can start seeing that the voices of calm are not alone.

[@ogapadoga2]

It would be good to get a relevant person on the podcast like a actual palestinian who got missing limbs or a Israeli person. Not some random nobody who says things that everyone already know.

[@lucianajasman7443]

Boring

[@hayata1191]

This episode is both great and cringy. Starting with with how students are bright-eyed and not having 'the life beaten out of them'. Relax dude. While it is commendable that you've achieved a fair bit over the years, let's not get carried away talking like you've amassed multi-generational worth of life experiences. And this angle you keep taking about Hamas and what happened on 7 Oct is getting really tiring. Shu An framed it aptly, about weaponizing these 'centrist' thoughts. Because instead of using that approach to understand this age-old catastrophe, it's sounding more like a cop-out. Especially so when you want to take it from a Singaporean's perspective. What does that even mean? Quite a bad showing this one. Su An saved this episode. While I still stand behind my complaint, YLBIS Still a channel i'd pick over many from here and anywhere really. To better episodes ahead.

[@user-pn3pd1tr4p]

She is wasting her time talking to you two guys. Come on, you can't justify genocide. Think about number of innocent Palestinians civilians killed to the Israelis killed in Oct 7.

[@HCL882]

When Israel gave the open door for the Palestinians to go to the neighborimg counties, their own didn't want to take them in... Hamas took over Gaza from Israel many yrs ago. He made the greenhouse become a shit hole. So maybe Hamas needs to be held accountable

[@Johnstone415]

I don't think anyone is justifying genocide. It's not about counting numbers also. At this point, it's pointless because the dead is dead. You can't bring them back by killing anyone. We must condemn violence from both sides. If you want peace, you cannot support just one side. We have to work with people from both sides for a peaceful solution. If you are unable to apply condemnation of violence equally, then you are contributing to the problem.

[@HCL882]

@@Johnstone415 I agree with you but we are not there. It's very difficult as Hamas represents the Brotherhood and they don't want peace. They want Israel out of the land. This is why they will never ever accept the two state .

[@user-pn3pd1tr4p]

@@Johnstone415 The favourite justification is to mention Oct 7. The other is Israel claims of self-defense. BTW, the mass slaughter has been going on for seven months. The dead-toll is ballooning to 34 thousand Palestinians killed by Israel indiscriminate carpet bombing. The number missing and unaccounted for is unknown but not insignificant. The victims not only include Palestinians women, children and even babies. Hundred of journalists, those in the media, UN humanitarians workers have been killed. It is very important and not pointless to mentioned the disproportionality number of Palestinians dead compared to Israelis killed in Oct 7 and after. Oct 7, admittedly was a day of terror for the Israeli people. At the same time the world are willfully blind to the past seven months of dehumanizing of the Palestinians. Every single day they have to endure war crimes, genocide, ethnic cleansing, starvation, serve lack of medical needs and medicine. Gaza had been reduced to rambles. Inhospitality to live in. The Israelis plans to reduced the Palestinians to the lowest human form if not killed and force them out of homes and deport them to God knows where.

[@user-pn3pd1tr4p]

@@Johnstone415 I have replied to you. But my reply is missing.