Another year and hopefully wiser

[lumoszoga]

This year marks the second time I have spent National Day away from Singapore. Truth be told, I have never ever sat down and watched the entire National Day Parade on television when I was a kid, we will have it on but we will be walking around the house, eating dinner and doing all kinds of random things while the parade was going on. Other than the one time in Secondary School when we were part of the combined schools choir, I have never watched an entire NDP ever. Last year this time, we were in London, due to the time difference we didn't catch the parade. This year, even though it is the same time zone, I didn't bother streaming it either. Some people may label me unpatriotic but seriously I do love Singapore, though I do wonder if we are able to sustain as a nation if things continue the way they are. I am one of those who wasn't too excited about our bronze medal in the Olympics cos I didn't feel that it was ours. Even back in 2008 (I think we won that time also right, the team medal), I didn't feel proud and didn't catch it on tv. Honestly, the government needs to get away from this mindset that money can get you anything (including an Olympics medal, F1, blah blah blah) and go back to what they are supposed to do, ensuring the welfare of its citizens are being taken care of.

There has been a lot of talk about what makes a Singaporean (and no, I don't think it's the color of your IC or passport) and there have been some differing views. To me at least, a Singaporean is one who

• believes in meritocracy (though of course lately I don't think it exists in Singapore anymore) 
• respects other people's religious beliefs,
• works hard,
• get things done (no offense but I think Singaporeans totally win in this respect compared to all other countries)
• speaks a little too fast and switches between English, Malay, Hokkien, Cantonese, Chinese without even realising it
• calls everyone auntie or uncle regardless of whether they are related to you, 
• gets confused between British English and American English spelling

I still love Singapore and I really hope that the government starts to really listen to the people and not just keep repeating the same messages to us without taking into consideration what we really want. I mean, what has happened to the Singapore where a bus driver could afford a HDB flat, bring up 4 kids and send his kids to university? My father was a bus driver and I never thought we were poor when we were kids, sure we didn't go overseas for holidays but we always had food on the table and a roof over our heads. If I had to grow up now in the same circumstances as in the 80s, I think I will feel very very poor. My father probably can't even afford a HDB flat so I don't even know where on earth we will be staying.

Anyway I am rambling and probably not making sense now. Happy Birthday Singapore, though this is one day late.