Yesterday, I took part in a National Day Observance Ceremony. It was simple and solemn.
The flag was raised. The pledge was repeat-after-me. The anthem was played, but not few sang.
Most people don’t know the words, let alone the meaning.
At least I was spared the agony of hearing “ya-yat Singapura”. For goodness sake, it’s rakyat.
The flag. The red and white. The crescent moon and five stars.
Universal brotherhood. Equality of man. Purity. Virtue. A young nation rises. Democracy, Peace, Progress, Justice and Equality.
High ideals.
A nation of paradox, born out of paradox.
We were ejected from Malaysia. They say we forced our way out.
First World, yet Unhappy.
A nation of immigrants, pondering about quitters.
Encouraged to express national fervour but told exactly how to do so.
Hentam someone, not criminal offence. Breach copyright law, criminal offence.
Smile! ‘Cos we’re on the world stage.
But still. I believe, in my heart.
Why?
I am a Singaporean.
It’s as simple as that. I can’t imagine being otherwise.
Love truly is blind.
Singapura, oh Singapura. Pretty flowers bloom for you and me.
Original photo by Cole Mottram, modified from
www.flickr.com/photos/cole_singapore/179677104/, under a cc by-nc 2.0 license.
P.S. This is not my ‘I am Singaporean‘ meme post. Saving that for another day.
Technorati Tags: singapore, flag, national+day, national+day+parade, patriotism, nationalism, chinook, flypast
Lam Chun See
/ Wednesday, 9 August 2006Now I can see why the ST guy called you and Ivan “thinking bloggers”. Alas I don’t think much about such issues nowadays. Hope it is simply due to age and not ‘bo-chap’.
Otterman
/ Wednesday, 9 August 2006Ooohhh..nice one Kenneth! Thanks for this.
Victor Koo
/ Thursday, 10 August 2006Nice one, Kenneth. Your post reads like a beautiful poem. Poetry in motion for our nation.
acroamatic
/ Thursday, 10 August 2006@Chun See: No, I don’t think it’s nonchalance (actually, bo chup expresses the sentiment better). Your blog and contributions to yesterday.sg prove that you are very much an active thinking citizen.
@Otterman: Glad that I’ve somehow captured your said and unsaid thoughts.
@Victor: Thanks! It didn’t start off as a poem but as I wrote, the parallel structure (for most part) crept into my writing.
Ivan Chew
/ Thursday, 10 August 2006Mmm, creatively done, Kenneth. I’m not sure but this seems like Blog-Poetry to me, i.e. the meaning and context is complete with the hyperlinks. Nice one. :)
acroamatic
/ Saturday, 12 August 2006@ Ivan: Deeply appreciate your compliment. ‘Blog-poetry’, eh? Wonder if that will catch on…