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Patriotism, Singapore-Style Leh!
Hello, Friends!
I thought it was peculiar, the choices Singapore has made in order to instil patriotism.
“It's not a critical newspaper; it's all propaganda,” my friend, Ryan, harrumphed about his city-state's largest circulating daily broadsheet, The Straits Times. Ryan is a natural sceptic, of course. He also proclaimed the National Day celebrations at City Hall “a terrible waste of time and resources.”
Earlier in the day, local TV was flooded with ads that promoted “Singaporean values.” I personally found these to be little more than emotional blackmail—anything that makes me cry is. But if it's true that campaigns must appeal to the lowest common denominator (in this case, the basest of emotions) in order to be successful, then the ads must be incredibly effective.
By the by, Chris and I trooped to City Hall, hoping to see the parade. Alas, locals started filling up the bleachers as early as noon, which meant that Chris and I had to watch the proceedings from a satellite viewing location, an open field behind St. Andrew's.
“The rain has stopped! Take your paddle pops out of your 'fun pack'! Raise your paddle pops! Let's make a beautiful flag! Make sure you're raising the right colour! Sir—you there in the third row—you have the wrong colour!! Look at your neighbour and make sure they have the right colour! The president is coming! Show your love for Singapore! Let's make a perfect flaaaag!!!” the MC shrieked.
“You think they are enjoying this?” I asked Chris, surveying the sea of people clad in red, plastic raincoats.
“They must be. They're here. Look at their faces,” Chris urged.
To be fair, it was impressive to see how integrated all of Singapore seemed to be—Muslim, Chinese, Peranakan, Indian. Chris was right. There they were gathered, friends and families, in celebration of a system that works. Singapore is pristine, peaceful and prosperous.
For all our fears about the Politburo encroaching on our rights, we remain lucky in Hong Kong—we practically devour public protests for breakfast. Hurrah for freedom of expression.
I can't tell what the next 50 years hold for this tiny nation in Southeast Asia, but at 43 years this year, Singapore is in the pink of health. If free speech must be sacrificed for the sake of national unity, then hurrah for patriotism, Singapore-style.
Later that night at the Raffles Hotel, as Chris, Ryan and I sipped Singapore Slings, Ryan recounted his trip to Prague.
“Martina was very sweet,” He reminisced about our common Czech friend. “She spent two entire days showing me around the city, and all I did was complain about Singapore.”
We laughed.
“But in the end,” Ryan continued, “I gave her a coffee table book about Singapore.”
And then he paused wistfully.
“So I guess I must love this place, after all.”
With Affection,
Astron
Post-It:
A sea of raincoat-clad Singaporeans just behind the Esplanade.
These "Recycle Mounds" were a clever installation designed to minimize littering.
A "heart" formed by the Black Knights, a sextet of pilots that performed daredevil stunts on F 16 jets. The crowd was instructed to yell "I love Singapore!" when the hearts were formed.
Chris looking skyward in wondrous amusement.
I thought it was peculiar, the choices Singapore has made in order to instil patriotism.
“It's not a critical newspaper; it's all propaganda,” my friend, Ryan, harrumphed about his city-state's largest circulating daily broadsheet, The Straits Times. Ryan is a natural sceptic, of course. He also proclaimed the National Day celebrations at City Hall “a terrible waste of time and resources.”
Earlier in the day, local TV was flooded with ads that promoted “Singaporean values.” I personally found these to be little more than emotional blackmail—anything that makes me cry is. But if it's true that campaigns must appeal to the lowest common denominator (in this case, the basest of emotions) in order to be successful, then the ads must be incredibly effective.
By the by, Chris and I trooped to City Hall, hoping to see the parade. Alas, locals started filling up the bleachers as early as noon, which meant that Chris and I had to watch the proceedings from a satellite viewing location, an open field behind St. Andrew's.
“The rain has stopped! Take your paddle pops out of your 'fun pack'! Raise your paddle pops! Let's make a beautiful flag! Make sure you're raising the right colour! Sir—you there in the third row—you have the wrong colour!! Look at your neighbour and make sure they have the right colour! The president is coming! Show your love for Singapore! Let's make a perfect flaaaag!!!” the MC shrieked.
“You think they are enjoying this?” I asked Chris, surveying the sea of people clad in red, plastic raincoats.
“They must be. They're here. Look at their faces,” Chris urged.
To be fair, it was impressive to see how integrated all of Singapore seemed to be—Muslim, Chinese, Peranakan, Indian. Chris was right. There they were gathered, friends and families, in celebration of a system that works. Singapore is pristine, peaceful and prosperous.
For all our fears about the Politburo encroaching on our rights, we remain lucky in Hong Kong—we practically devour public protests for breakfast. Hurrah for freedom of expression.
I can't tell what the next 50 years hold for this tiny nation in Southeast Asia, but at 43 years this year, Singapore is in the pink of health. If free speech must be sacrificed for the sake of national unity, then hurrah for patriotism, Singapore-style.
Later that night at the Raffles Hotel, as Chris, Ryan and I sipped Singapore Slings, Ryan recounted his trip to Prague.
“Martina was very sweet,” He reminisced about our common Czech friend. “She spent two entire days showing me around the city, and all I did was complain about Singapore.”
We laughed.
“But in the end,” Ryan continued, “I gave her a coffee table book about Singapore.”
And then he paused wistfully.
“So I guess I must love this place, after all.”
With Affection,
Astron
Post-It:
A sea of raincoat-clad Singaporeans just behind the Esplanade.
These "Recycle Mounds" were a clever installation designed to minimize littering.
A "heart" formed by the Black Knights, a sextet of pilots that performed daredevil stunts on F 16 jets. The crowd was instructed to yell "I love Singapore!" when the hearts were formed.
Chris looking skyward in wondrous amusement.
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