July 30, 10:04 PM 
514 Chai Chee Lane 03-16, Singapore 469029 So the Media Development Authority (MDA) thinks it can be a book reviewer for one day.
In an interview with TODAY newspaper today, an MDA spokesperson said that it did not ban an X-Men comic Issue 51 because
“the issue featured characters who objected to the wedding and this offered a balanced treatment on the issue of gay marriage.”
The spokesman added that there was no breach of content guidelines, “which allow for the balanced depictions of same-sex relationships if they do not encourage or promote alternative lifestyles”.
Right.
With freedom of literacy choices being the rage these days (no pun intended), we look at some books found in our overly-air-conditioned nation.
Allow us to play the role of the MDA book reviewer and pontificate their reasons for sharing these books with fellow Singaporeans.
50 shades of grey: Permission may have been granted for the rampant dissemination of this grey-area book in support of this little red dot's low birth rates. Whatever makes us happy, right? But if all courtships are as painfully long as the one in this book, our birth rates are only going to go further south.
Game of Thrones: Violence, treachery, homosexuality, incest and rape - just a run-of-the-mill list of all things good about this book. In the Game of Singapore, you either win or you whine online.
The Smurfette: Pro-family values can get even stronger when you've got an entire village of male smurfs and one female smurf. Also, get this, she wasn't even real till magic happened through beneficial 'plastic smurfery'.
The Da Vinci Code: For a country known for its religious diversity and tolerance, our authorities may have wanted to let their citizens' hair down just a little with this book. The riled up Roman Catholic and Christian readers (and readers who abhor irritating narratives) could also have forgotten to send a memo over or start an online petition.
Eat, pray, love: This book could be a "balanced depiction" of real life because goodness knows how many Facebook friends are self-absorbed and whiny protagonists with savings to travel the world.
If you're inspired to do the same but don't have enough cash, take a staycation, write a book and promote Singapore in time for our 50th birthday!
Remember, it's all about good values and reading the "right" things.
Top image from here.
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