ANTON CASEY CASE: A RASHOMON ANALYSIS

Prologue

The Rashomon effect refers to contradictory interpretations of a common event by different people.

Part One:

Anton Casey: 
Picture 1 - "Daddy, where is your car & who are all these poor people?" (apparently asked by his son while traveling on an MRT train)

Picture 2 - "Ahhhhhhhh reunited with my baby. Normal service can resume, once I have washed the stench of public transport off me FFS!" (his son pictured waving from his silver Porsche)

Worst possible interpretation: A deliberate contemptuous insult calculated to belittle poor people in Singapore by an arrogant white foreigner whose bad behavior followed the precedents set by Oliver Desbarres, Juerg Buergin and Robert Stephen Dahlberg.

Best possible interpretation: An unfortunate and unfunny joke gone horribly wrong because his bad judgement had prevented him from realizing that Singaporeans will not be able to 'get' the joke due to cultural differences.


Part Two:

What followed were widespread online condemnations, counter-insults, threats to him and his family, loss of his job, a quick retreat into hiding in Perth and being mocked in a budget airline advertisement.

Worst possible interpretation: Singapore society has become xenophobic, has a hair-trigger climate of political correctness, is highly intolerant of criticism and tends to react disproportionately to the slightest hint of disrespect by exacting a very malevolent brand of vindictiveness. We lack a sense of humor and by gloating and celebrating the punishment of the fallen, we have collectively shown our deficit in kindness, graciousness and empathy.

Best possible interpretation: As a society, we have matured and become united in our national spirit such that when we sense that our more disadvantaged members are being attacked, our collective empathy for them drives us to respond in a stout manner. It is to send a message that guests in our country who misbehave are never welcome. Perhaps, in retrospect, we should try to cultivate a more forgiving spirit and be more generous and magnanimous in our victory over our naysayers.

Epilogue

It would be most helpful if we can assume the Best Possible Interpretations of the actions of both parties in this affair.

Hopefully, this will lead to healing and closure to this unpleasant episode.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUHAMMAD ALI!
17 January 1942

Happy birthday, my handsome guy!

O, how you floated like a butterfly,

But your punches stung like a bee.

That's what really impressed me.

With every solid punch you throw,

Ever weaker Frazier were to grow.

Even Foreman couldn't cope,

With your tactic "Rope-a-Dope"!

As every opponent was made to flee,

A great champion you'll always be.

We'll remember you just like this,

Cos' you defined what greatness is.