The Singaporean Soul. To me, it has always been alive in us. Albeit sub conscious, everytime we use a casual singlish phrase, gulf down that plate of char kway teow, or even beat someone else to a queue, the Singaporean Soul is ever so present in us. This unique Singapore identity is alive and kicking, felt by the 4 million heartbeats of this little red dot, perhaps even more abroad.
Like all other spirits, like the Rafflesian Spirit, this spirit has been ever changing in its facade, yet the core values that we treasure deep down will never change. From 1964, when Singapore was first separated from Malaysia, the Singaporean Soul has already been present, from fighting communism as a nation, to the 1st general election, these are visible effects of the Singaporean Soul present in its citizen. All that has changed now is that the way in which we express the Singaporean Soul is different. With the Internet now, we show our kiasu spirit by refreshing many times so we get more entries into an online lucky draw or staying by our computer till it is 12am and the registration for NDP tickets are open.
The Singaporean Soul has always been under criticisms by many Singaporeans. Many claim that they are not contented with our identity. Yet more often than not, we are merely eating our own words. How often is it that we go overseas and we complain about how their facilities pale in comparison to ours, how their airport is never as clean as ours, how their cities are strewn with litters and there is a stench when they go the back alleys. This soul manifests itself in the form when we are able to walk smugly abroad, feeling proud that our garden city is so much better than the ground we are walking on.
However, certain aspects may be detrimental to us, or so they seem. The want to be always at the top. Some call it greed, others national interest. Whatever the case, what this has essentially done to Singapore is to make her so work-orientated that certain traditional values are slowly degenerating. Youngsters nowadays are so busy to even have time left for their family anymore. Even with the five day work week, many still have to return on Saturday to finish up leftover work that they are unable to complete throughout the week. Yet what have we seen in return. A global name of "garden city", a first class airport, a "fine" city. All these in exchange for the erosion of our Asian civilisation values. Good or bad, you make the choice.
At the end of the day, after weighing out the Singaporean Soul, I believe that it is this identity is the basis for our achievement. Without a rallying point for Singaporeans, we will then not be able to work together to create such a vibrant city with top acolytes. So the next time you wait eagerly in front of your desktop for midnight to strike before you can apply for NDP tickets online, chew on this
Like all other spirits, like the Rafflesian Spirit, this spirit has been ever changing in its facade, yet the core values that we treasure deep down will never change. From 1964, when Singapore was first separated from Malaysia, the Singaporean Soul has already been present, from fighting communism as a nation, to the 1st general election, these are visible effects of the Singaporean Soul present in its citizen. All that has changed now is that the way in which we express the Singaporean Soul is different. With the Internet now, we show our kiasu spirit by refreshing many times so we get more entries into an online lucky draw or staying by our computer till it is 12am and the registration for NDP tickets are open.
The Singaporean Soul has always been under criticisms by many Singaporeans. Many claim that they are not contented with our identity. Yet more often than not, we are merely eating our own words. How often is it that we go overseas and we complain about how their facilities pale in comparison to ours, how their airport is never as clean as ours, how their cities are strewn with litters and there is a stench when they go the back alleys. This soul manifests itself in the form when we are able to walk smugly abroad, feeling proud that our garden city is so much better than the ground we are walking on.
However, certain aspects may be detrimental to us, or so they seem. The want to be always at the top. Some call it greed, others national interest. Whatever the case, what this has essentially done to Singapore is to make her so work-orientated that certain traditional values are slowly degenerating. Youngsters nowadays are so busy to even have time left for their family anymore. Even with the five day work week, many still have to return on Saturday to finish up leftover work that they are unable to complete throughout the week. Yet what have we seen in return. A global name of "garden city", a first class airport, a "fine" city. All these in exchange for the erosion of our Asian civilisation values. Good or bad, you make the choice.
At the end of the day, after weighing out the Singaporean Soul, I believe that it is this identity is the basis for our achievement. Without a rallying point for Singaporeans, we will then not be able to work together to create such a vibrant city with top acolytes. So the next time you wait eagerly in front of your desktop for midnight to strike before you can apply for NDP tickets online, chew on this
posted by m.c.h.i.a. at 5:36 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home