[h=2]Please fly our National Flag[/h]
July 31st, 2012 |
Author: Contributions
It’s already end of July. Our National Day is coming soon. Of all the public holidays, I feel that National Day is the most important day. In some countries, it’s called Independence Day. It celebrates a country’s birthday. Preparations for National Day celebrations were done one year in advance. Tons of money are budgeted for it with frequent road closures and even nation wide broadcast of the event on national media.
Without a country, we will not have a national identity, home or family. We identify ourselves as Singaporeans irrespective of race, language or religion. Our home and family are here in Singapore.
Why then the citizens of Singapore do not wish to fly the state flag outside their flats? Is it because they are too busy with their lives, not bothered to take the trouble of hanging up our national flag or is it a silent protest against the current government?
The RC centre at Blk 634 Elias Road
More than 20 years ago, as flat dwellers we had no privilege to hang the state flag to celebrate National Day. HDB on citizens’ suggestion started to install a pair of hooks outside our flats just to allow us to hang the state flag to show our love for our country. When it first started, everyone made an effort to hang the flag. If you did not do that, you were considered the odd one out. There must be something wrong with you. It was a common practice to hang the state flag then.
Not any more. Last few years, not so bad. Still got some isolated flags hanging outside in a block of flats. This year virtually none? Why?
Every year around this time, I would hang up our National Flag without fail. I will take it down at the end of August. This morning when I looked around my neighbourhood, there was hardly any flag even with RC office in the same block.
Pls look at the pictures taken this morning. Some people used to tell the residents not to hang our national flag on National Day to protest against the government’s policy. To show unhappiness to the government by boycotting hanging the state flag. I disagree with such childish gesture. There are many avenues to register your protest or unhappiness against the government.
To use the state flag as a weapon or tool of protest is unpatriotic. It shows that you do not take the existence of this country seriously. Imagine foreigners coming to visit our country notice only few isolated miserable flags hanging outside our flats? How would they feel? What kind of mental image or impressions will evoke in them? What do you think?
I appeal to all of you out there irrespective of your political affiliations, irrespective of your language, race or religion, pls display our National Flag to express in simple gesture our love for this little fragile country we call Singapore! If you can’t afford to pay for it, just let me know. I’ve got few to spare.
.
Gintai
* Gintai is a Singaporean living in the Eastern part of Sg. He works in SMRT as a Train Officer. He likes to tweet on current affairs & inspirational quotes and blogs on issues or events of interest. He also shares some of the interesting jokes, stories or anecdotes from his friends or observations on his blog.
It’s already end of July. Our National Day is coming soon. Of all the public holidays, I feel that National Day is the most important day. In some countries, it’s called Independence Day. It celebrates a country’s birthday. Preparations for National Day celebrations were done one year in advance. Tons of money are budgeted for it with frequent road closures and even nation wide broadcast of the event on national media.
Without a country, we will not have a national identity, home or family. We identify ourselves as Singaporeans irrespective of race, language or religion. Our home and family are here in Singapore.
Why then the citizens of Singapore do not wish to fly the state flag outside their flats? Is it because they are too busy with their lives, not bothered to take the trouble of hanging up our national flag or is it a silent protest against the current government?
More than 20 years ago, as flat dwellers we had no privilege to hang the state flag to celebrate National Day. HDB on citizens’ suggestion started to install a pair of hooks outside our flats just to allow us to hang the state flag to show our love for our country. When it first started, everyone made an effort to hang the flag. If you did not do that, you were considered the odd one out. There must be something wrong with you. It was a common practice to hang the state flag then.
Not any more. Last few years, not so bad. Still got some isolated flags hanging outside in a block of flats. This year virtually none? Why?
Every year around this time, I would hang up our National Flag without fail. I will take it down at the end of August. This morning when I looked around my neighbourhood, there was hardly any flag even with RC office in the same block.
Pls look at the pictures taken this morning. Some people used to tell the residents not to hang our national flag on National Day to protest against the government’s policy. To show unhappiness to the government by boycotting hanging the state flag. I disagree with such childish gesture. There are many avenues to register your protest or unhappiness against the government.
To use the state flag as a weapon or tool of protest is unpatriotic. It shows that you do not take the existence of this country seriously. Imagine foreigners coming to visit our country notice only few isolated miserable flags hanging outside our flats? How would they feel? What kind of mental image or impressions will evoke in them? What do you think?
I appeal to all of you out there irrespective of your political affiliations, irrespective of your language, race or religion, pls display our National Flag to express in simple gesture our love for this little fragile country we call Singapore! If you can’t afford to pay for it, just let me know. I’ve got few to spare.
.
Gintai
* Gintai is a Singaporean living in the Eastern part of Sg. He works in SMRT as a Train Officer. He likes to tweet on current affairs & inspirational quotes and blogs on issues or events of interest. He also shares some of the interesting jokes, stories or anecdotes from his friends or observations on his blog.
