Wednesday, September 8, 2021

S M Ong: Please stop sharing the alamak-Kamala joke

Source Website: https://www.tnp.sg/lifestyle/others/s-m-ong-please-stop-sharing-alamak-kamala-joke
By S M Ong, smong@sph.com.sg, Columnist, The New Paper, 30 August 2021 at 06:00 am


US Vice-President Kamala Harris arrived in Singapore on Aug 23 and departed for Vietnam on Aug 25.
PHOTO: US Vice-President Kamala Harris arrived in Singapore on Aug 23 and departed for Vietnam on Aug 25.
Picture posted by Vincom (Vincom Mega Mall Royal City) on Tuesday, 31 August 2021 at 10:45 pm
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjilG5nTj6D-U_ow7vLOdLH2Bhck_8D00ao8xaAjLGHge44SVU2a2HKT0rvS76iR-2zpEh2jEjW29k2aU3skA75iaoHMLzdY_GsJZ7gUyoUVYIWh3xEGTOKXw2Zo9nLP1OWzzFdrnSkY8I/s1280/239918383_2378992328898840_1768378872678940179_n.jpg
https://scontent.fsin9-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/239918383_2378992328898840_1768378872678940179_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-5&_nc_sid=973b4a&_nc_ohc=gNx9igEfKpIAX_9aSck&_nc_ht=scontent.fsin9-1.fna&oh=167d0b64ea3fc01e77d0f4902f86b6c4&oe=613D3941
https://www.tnp.sg/lifestyle/others/s-m-ong-please-stop-sharing-alamak-kamala-joke


Act Blur

Alamak, nasi lemak.

Do you know that "nasi lemak" spelt backwards is "Kamel Isan", which happens to be the name of my Facebook friend in Indonesia?

Sure, she is no vice-president of the United States, but still, what a coincidence!

When US Vice-President Kamala Harris visited Singapore last week, I saw a number of posts online pointing out with some glee that "Kamala" spelt backwards is "alamak".


US Vice-President Kamala Harris visited Singapore
PHOTO: When US Vice-President Kamala Harris visited Singapore, a number of posts online pointing out with some glee that "Kamala" spelt backwards is "alamak".
Picture posted by Anne Enright on 30 September 2018
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Yh4Pz8Eef033aXkiKtrl-EmCdy8LrkE6LMie6QkeqtfJ0aBvYhTZjsXeZEceHY6Ecl6_9LyLorY1Ii8oL91vNwMAfJN0J0EBO_STuwR0JLsKMqnb8POB9ogEDKxhhe2nMus9hZonUpk/s550/Kamala-Harris.jpg
https://www.dreshare.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Kamala-Harris.jpg
https://www.dreshare.com/kamala-harris/


The meme spread faster than the Delta variant and there is no vaccine for it - Michelle Pfeiffer-BioNTech, Madonna or otherwise.

Apparently, many were so tickled by the alamak-Kamala joke (if you can call it that) that they could not help infecting others with it.

One of them was a friend of Marine Parade GRC MP Seah Kian Peng.

Mr Seah then shared the joke on Facebook last Monday: "As we know, VP of USA, Ms Kamala Harris chose Singapore for her first stop of her Asia tour. And with it, a friend pointed out to me that Kamala's name spelt backwards is Alamak… what a coincidence! #singapore #usa #alamak #coincidence #humour"

But you can't find the post any more.

Mr Seah told Mothership.sg: "Yes, I did post this on my FB page last evening just before I went for my MPS (Meet-the-People Session).

"Midway through my MPS, a friend pinged me and as I reflected on it, I agreed it was not appropriate and decided to take down the posting."


Apparently, many were so tickled by the alamak-Kamala joke (if you can call it that) that they could not help infecting others with it.
PHOTO: Apparently, many were so tickled by the alamak-Kamala joke (if you can call it that) that they could not help infecting others with it.
One of them was a friend of Marine Parade GRC MP Seah Kian Peng.
Mr Seah then shared the joke on Facebook last Monday: "As we know, VP of USA, Ms Kamala Harris chose Singapore for her first stop of her Asia tour. And with it, a friend pointed out to me that Kamala's name spelt backwards is Alamak… what a coincidence! #singapore #usa #alamak #coincidence #humour"
Picture posted by Gregory Lewis McNamee
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Kamala-Harris


Unfortunately, the Internet does not forget.

Although Mr Seah deleted the post, someone had already taken a screenshot that went viral, with people calling the joke racist and misogynist.

I am more offended by the repetitiveness of seeing versions of the same joke over and over again.

Before Mr Seah, others have also shared the joke, including SGAG and Goody Feed, and it remains on their Facebook pages. They have yet to be shamed into removing it.

BIDEN
In fact, the joke has been going around long before Ms Harris landed on our sometimes rainy shores.

I first encountered it last November after Mr Joe Biden won the US presidential election with Ms Harris as his running mate.

Even Mothership.sg shared the joke, together with this knee-slapper: "China is already welcoming Biden. China is prepared. They have even named a famous landmark in central Beijing for Biden since the Ming dynasty in the 14th century."

The punchline: "FOR BIDEN CITY!"


Last November after Mr Joe Biden won the US presidential election with Ms Harris as his running mate.
PHOTO: Last November after Mr Joe Biden won the US presidential election with Ms Harris as his running mate. Mothership.sg shared the joke, "China is already welcoming Biden. China is prepared. They have even named a famous landmark in central Beijing for Biden since the Ming dynasty in the 14th century. FOR BIDEN CITY!"
Picture posted by The White House on Monday, 25 January 2021 at 12:45 am - After a busy first few days, President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris took a walk through the White House grounds after their first weekly lunch on Friday.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqJrrQJTJHhgjIEEO2HvAflpuqIENUA8ljAQnV0g3og0zDDnyAbn-4aRvYzmdH44Gwv4kXbPd0S83rxUhW7522P6qZyLw5xCF_EnfBp5hLJKeyw4cpFXZzoenkeZel6rHPmx48NJMvaGg/s2048/141664170_112580417477477_225800975147337416_n.jpg
https://scontent.fsin9-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/141664170_112580417477477_225800975147337416_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-5&_nc_sid=9267fe&_nc_ohc=AfPxTFvjqMYAX-1IaaF&_nc_ht=scontent.fsin9-1.fna&oh=1dbae73d4cceeab5122eaa14ea43ceff&oe=615E2ADC
https://www.facebook.com/WhiteHouse/photos/112580414144144


Get it?

And it is still there on Facebook.

(By the way, the Forbidden City was actually built in the 15th century, but what is a century between friends?)

So if the alamak-Kamala joke has been around for at least nine months, why are people seemingly taking offence only now?


Apparently, many were so tickled by the alamak-Kamala joke (if you can call it that) that they could not help infecting others with it.PHOTO: So if the alamak-Kamala joke has been around for at least nine months, why are people seemingly taking offence only now?
Picture posted by Phương Phương on 30 January 2021 at 15:37 - Kamala Harris 2nd dose of vaccine

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFs2oTxc5C5aVn4KmnE9IjhBOHjgTAtCBz8wwEUkw97OCzj4PUAQqgIfpU_izGxkgcPW7UGyGGhOYGa3xL1Uc8QO8OO2LlDSSNkSb6jlvMd-KkNttm7hPOigH9HnhIHIvoKcHz_dd4d9s/s997/kamala_harris_tiem_vaccine_fjey_1.jpeg
https://image.thanhnien.vn/2048/uploaded/hoalp/2021_01_30/kamala_harris_tiem_vaccine_fjey.jpeg
https://thanhnien.vn/van-hoa/dau-an-thoi-trang-cua-pho-tong-thong-my-kamala-harris-trong-tuan-dau-nham-chuc-1336147.html


As author Sudhir Thomas Vadaketh wrote online: "I've seen this Alamak-Kamala 'joke' on private forums and comedy boards, but for a politician to do so publicly... hmmm."

In other words, Mr Seah is an elected official, not SGAG. Or me.

The one good thing to come out of this is that it has made everyone realise how inappropriate the joke is and hopefully, this is the vaccine that will prevent folks from spreading this over-repeated so-called "joke" ever again.

Don't be anti-vax.

My friend Kamel and I thank you.


US vice president Joe Biden, second left, walks with his wife, Jill, second right, their daughter Ashley, left, and their son-in-law Howard Krein during their visit to the National Orchid Garden in Singapore, July 26, 2013. (AP Photo/Lau Fook Kong, The Straits Times)
PHOTO: US vice president Joe Biden, second left, walks with his wife, Jill, second right, their daughter Ashley, left, and their son-in-law Howard Krein during their visit to the National Orchid Garden in Singapore, July 26, 2013. (AP Photo/Lau Fook Kong, The Straits Times)
Picture posted by The Times of Israel
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH-565ydNkI9q97ioBFJPBCYaVj3PjIPT-o3v6Cv0ZJ2034t60HiiIr4HnAjdmvZYidV9rbanuW7rXG9JEHlRrtO4RWCaUfXSZEQkcpIzv4eQaKHeXCs4uE0-s_I593uL39OcFxLokj8g/s2000/AP_299193316099.jpg
https://static.timesofisrael.com/www/uploads/2020/11/AP_299193316099.jpg
https://www.timesofisrael.com/meet-us-president-elect-joe-bidens-whole-big-jewish-mishpocha/


The one good thing to come out of this
 
 

Don't be anti-vax.
PHOTO: "Life is not a fairytale. If you lose a shoe at midnight, you’re probably drunk. Except it wasn’t midnight. Nor was I drunk. Yet here I was missing more than one shoe!"
Picture posted by Jas Chen, My Suitcase Journeys on 28 August 2019
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD-ltRnHL5GmmMuD7BVchffLwlhJadWkyeHOVz5w8_T8Cg62IUvgTwovHFIMhTXop06Bq-9iYWvMJYYGwvT4S5goMlNE6Uew1v_vWwJ8g4BBX9nsoWKKvdtfM4gBY17KnNJwPF1WHDGnk/s1350/67819362_140529780501715_9002947582247231393_n_11.png
https://instagram.fsin9-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t51.2885-15/e35/p1080x1080/67819362_140529780501715_9002947582247231393_n.jpg?_nc_ht=instagram.fsin9-1.fna.fbcdn.net&_nc_cat=107&_nc_ohc=GuwqbHLGUz8AX_x16Sm&edm=AABBvjUBAAAA&ccb=7-4&oh=dcffc399332ebff04a97c97cffa2274e&oe=613FB39E&_nc_sid=83d603
https://www.instagram.com/p/B1rWpjCgCbc/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=471a2011-42fe-4c1d-826d-4a273546d705

By S M Ong, smong@sph.com.sg, Columnist, The New Paper, 30 August 2021 at 06:00 am
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Reference
[1] S M Ong, smong@sph.com.sg, Columnist, The New Paper, S M Ong: Please stop sharing the alamak-Kamala joke, posted on 30 August 2021 at 06:00 am, https://www.tnp.sg/lifestyle/others/s-m-ong-please-stop-sharing-alamak-kamala-joke


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