We, the citizens of Singapore

09/08/09, 8.22 pm. The largest flash mob in Singapore’s history. Where every Singaporean, regardless of where they are would stand still, put their right fist over their hearts and say the Pledge with fervour and pride.

The exact time at 8.22pm does not symbolize, perhaps, the day of independence, or how old Singapore is. To quote from The Newpaper, “The chairman of the National Day Parade (NDP) executive committee, Brigadier-General Tan Chuan-Jin, 40, said: 'We did think of 8.44, but it was a bit too late in the NDP show. We also thought of 8.09 in honour of 9 Aug, but that would have been too early on in the show.”

Perhaps the choosing of this time is symbolic in itself, reflective of our nation’s often lauded principle of pragmatism.

Perhaps instead, the choosing of an arbitrary time to take the Pledge is unplanned and sudden, just as how Singapore’s separation from Malaysia was unintended.

But whatever the case, this rallying call for Singaporeans to take the Pledge to reaffirm our national identity, to recognise the sovereignty of our nation state, to celebrate Singapore’s success and to unite the nation in face of future challenges is a move that is to be applauded, not only for its novelty but also for what it stands for.

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Sometimes, when I watch an overseas drama serial and hear the word Singapore mentioned in it, I feel this weird sense of warmth and national pride. When I watch young children sing National Day songs on TV, I feel this same sense of warmth and national pride. When I see my grandfather hanging the Singapore flag outside our window, I again feel this sense of warmth and national pride.

The red and white and crescent and 5 stars on the Singapore flag does not only reflect our core values and ideals as a society; it symbolizes our independence, our sovereignty as a state, and more importantly, that we are no longer colonial slaves to some Western master, that today, we have the right and ability to control our own destiny. Like a part-timing teenager’s joy in achieving a certain level of financial independence, Singapore’s independence as a state is something to be celebrated. But amidst the frenzied joy and excitement of the National Day Parade, it is easy to forget what we are celebrating for, even why we are celebrating. So when we are singing along to the National Day songs or reciting the Pledge at exactly 8.22pm, it is important to reflect upon what it truly means to be a Singaporean, for you.

We have been reciting the Pledge almost everyday for the past 14 years, yet, or maybe because of this, we seem to forget the true meaning of the words of the Pledge.

It is then extremely apt how the Sunday Times phrased this statement by a Singaporean.
“Recent graduate E.Chin, 24, said he forgot the Pledge after studying overseas the past three years.”

In this case, what they are saying is that he has forgotten the lyrics of the Pledge. But forgetting the Pledge is not merely failing to remember what the contents of the Pledge are. It is losing sight of the ideals of our nation.

In our increasingly globalised world today, the age of cultural imperialism has arrived. We have lunch at McDonalds’, have a drink at Starbucks and wear I Love NY shirts proudly on our sleeves like a true, blue, fake American. Americanisation is so assimilated into our society that when I type McDonalds’ without the capital D, Microsoft Word autocorrects it into McDonalds’. Try typing iPod with a capital I and small p or Starbucks with a small s and the same happens. You get my point.

Sometimes, I feel ashamed when I see Singaporeans overtly worshipping foreign cultures over our own. Singaporean girls proudly wearing I Love NY T-shirts, and Singaporean men and their adopted Premier League football club cheering for Liverpool when they scored against Singapore. Ok, I “adopt” a Premier League football club too. But that’s because it is more fun to watch when you are supporting one side than when you are a neutral. But anyway that’s besides the point.

Yes, and you have the ultimate mockery of all. Elite students in school speaking with fake American accents, exclaiming that “I hate Chinese!” and wanting to migrate to some Western country once they have the chance. The irony of it all? These are the exact people who will be flying to UK or the USA on some government scholarship, the cream of the crop, the people supposedly groomed to be the future leaders of our country. Well, that is, if they don’t leave the country and migrate right after they finish serving their compulsory 6 year bond in some Ministry.

Enough of all these white supremacy nonsense. Worshipping foreign countries, foreign cultures and foreigners like they are some god. Ultimately, this overly used, supposedly “propaganda” National Education message summarises it best. “Singapore is our homeland, this is where we belong.” You might be laughing when you read this quote, and I don’t blame you. It is extremely easy for the cynical youth of today, like us, to hastily dismiss every overt National Education message as propaganda. I am often guilty of that. Yet when we look beyond the superficial words into the true intention and meaning of the message, we know we agree with it.

Anyway, back to the point. Yes, you can speak like an American, watch American TV, study in America or dye your hair blonde. But therein remains the bare facts that you were never, and will never become a true “American”, or for that matter, a true “Westerner”. So to all the white worshippers out there, I’m sorry. You can try your best, but you can never change your skin colour, your heritage and where you were born.

Nobody’s stopping you though. You can go be your pseudo Westerner or second-class citizen in your adopted Western country for all I care. But for me, I know that wherever I study or work in future, I will always be a Singaporean. Often,I may criticise the education system, the political system, the lack of media freedom or any other aspect of life here in Singapore, but ultimately, I know that I love Singapore for its own sake.

Because “Singapore is my homeland, this is where I belong.”