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[h=2]The flag flies…[/h]
August 9th, 2012 |
Author: Contributions
The hanging of flags in HDB estates is a practice that started in the 1980s. When it first began, the response was robust. You have almost every unit of HDB putting up their flags, voluntarily. If patriotism is measured by this spontaneous act, the index scores well.
In recent years, the number of flags hang had dwindled. A walk down through couple of neighbouring HDB estate showed a dearth in the display.
Can we naturally attribute this citizenry reluctance to their angst at the host of unpopular government policies that had caused deep resentment and widespread unhappiness?
From immigration to transport, from housing to healthcare, and governance in general, we witnessed growing dissatisfaction. On a deeper level, it reflected a worrying sense of cynicism that brought them to associate hanging of the flag with their like(or dislike) of the government. The national flag has deemed closely associated with the government in power.
We cannot blame such behavior because we do live in a unique political entity when one party has been first the mid-wives of a nation and then patriarchal entity that raised that very nation to prosperity. It was a unique relationship.
The reluctance to hang the flag in the face of mass civil displeasure is saddening because the Singapore flag is not a pot of flower that one can choose to display at a moment’s of whims. It is also not an object for any citizen to assuage their displeasure with the ineptitude of politicians or failings of an insensitive bureaucracy.
The national flag is a sacred representation of our national history and a crystallization of the sacrifices made by generations of Singaporeans, our forefathers.
The Singapore flag is forged under exceptional moments, when history was made in the midst of mayhem; when brave men and women made sacrifices, at the risk of arrest and the possibility of losing life, limb and property.
The national flag represented the milestone of history that led to our birth as a nation. It is flying high because of the courage and sacrifices of generations of Singaporeans before us.
Singaporeans, young and old, especially the older ones will remember these milestones.
The Hock Lee bus riots which represented the start of civil disobedience of a colonial society; the grant of self-rule in 1959; the display of courage and fortitude of our first generation of political leaders, Goh Keng Swee, Toh Chin Chye, Ahmad Ibrahim, S. Rajaratnam led by an intrepid Lee Kuan Yew in the face of communism, and eventually communalism.
We honour those battles, on both economic and social fronts, that we fought to stay alive after we were kicked out of Malaysia. We honour the grit and burning desire to stay on our feet and not our knees.
=> But 60% have decided to kow tow to the FAP Traitors and their Foreign Pets!
At another level, the National Flag stay buoyant because of the courage of an electorate, our grandparents, and our parents, who stood up and refused to be cowed by enemies and odds. They voted according to their conscience and made it possible for us to be born a proud and independent people. These generations of Singaporeans survived the withdrawal of the British armed forces in 1970s. They survived the two oil crises who packed a wallop for our tiny but growing economy. They survived the economic crises of the eighties, nineties and that flag stay buoyant and flying.
The responsibility to hold that flag now rests on our generation. Do we forgo it just because we are angry with an insensitive political leadership, inappropriate policies and influx of immigrants?
To do so, to choose not to fly or hang the National Flag is doing earlier generations of Singaporeans a disservice. We are not honouring their sacrifices, which made it possible for Singapore to survive and prosper.
We are discrediting our forefathers.
By choosing not to fly our flag, as a vent of our frustration with one political party is to lend credence to the fact that our National Flag, the sacred symbol of battles fought, and won, by generations of Singaporeans is just another of their creation. It is not because the National Flag belongs to all Singaporeans, past and present.
Singaporeans, born and bred here, must rise about the petty display of frustration and be proud to hang our flag. We reclaim our nation through active and constructive dialogue and participation. We reclaim the right to chart our destiny by speaking up, loud and clear; not by awkward display of frustration.
This National Day, let that flag fly high. Hang it with pride.
It is the only right way to honour those Singaporeans who had sacrificed and forged that path that led to where we stand today.
.
George
* George spends his official work validating business ideas and business proposals of all oddities, and turns them into pitchable gems. Slogging out at one of the local university (the strategically located one…no! not on the ranking table), he has the privilege of working with dreamers of all denominations, and challenged the boundaries of possibilities with them. He blogs at http://sgscribbler.com.
Year 2022
The hanging of flags in HDB estates is a practice that started in the 1980s. When it first began, the response was robust. You have almost every unit of HDB putting up their flags, voluntarily. If patriotism is measured by this spontaneous act, the index scores well.
In recent years, the number of flags hang had dwindled. A walk down through couple of neighbouring HDB estate showed a dearth in the display.
Can we naturally attribute this citizenry reluctance to their angst at the host of unpopular government policies that had caused deep resentment and widespread unhappiness?
From immigration to transport, from housing to healthcare, and governance in general, we witnessed growing dissatisfaction. On a deeper level, it reflected a worrying sense of cynicism that brought them to associate hanging of the flag with their like(or dislike) of the government. The national flag has deemed closely associated with the government in power.
We cannot blame such behavior because we do live in a unique political entity when one party has been first the mid-wives of a nation and then patriarchal entity that raised that very nation to prosperity. It was a unique relationship.
The reluctance to hang the flag in the face of mass civil displeasure is saddening because the Singapore flag is not a pot of flower that one can choose to display at a moment’s of whims. It is also not an object for any citizen to assuage their displeasure with the ineptitude of politicians or failings of an insensitive bureaucracy.
The national flag is a sacred representation of our national history and a crystallization of the sacrifices made by generations of Singaporeans, our forefathers.
The Singapore flag is forged under exceptional moments, when history was made in the midst of mayhem; when brave men and women made sacrifices, at the risk of arrest and the possibility of losing life, limb and property.
The national flag represented the milestone of history that led to our birth as a nation. It is flying high because of the courage and sacrifices of generations of Singaporeans before us.
Singaporeans, young and old, especially the older ones will remember these milestones.
The Hock Lee bus riots which represented the start of civil disobedience of a colonial society; the grant of self-rule in 1959; the display of courage and fortitude of our first generation of political leaders, Goh Keng Swee, Toh Chin Chye, Ahmad Ibrahim, S. Rajaratnam led by an intrepid Lee Kuan Yew in the face of communism, and eventually communalism.
We honour those battles, on both economic and social fronts, that we fought to stay alive after we were kicked out of Malaysia. We honour the grit and burning desire to stay on our feet and not our knees.
=> But 60% have decided to kow tow to the FAP Traitors and their Foreign Pets!
At another level, the National Flag stay buoyant because of the courage of an electorate, our grandparents, and our parents, who stood up and refused to be cowed by enemies and odds. They voted according to their conscience and made it possible for us to be born a proud and independent people. These generations of Singaporeans survived the withdrawal of the British armed forces in 1970s. They survived the two oil crises who packed a wallop for our tiny but growing economy. They survived the economic crises of the eighties, nineties and that flag stay buoyant and flying.
The responsibility to hold that flag now rests on our generation. Do we forgo it just because we are angry with an insensitive political leadership, inappropriate policies and influx of immigrants?
To do so, to choose not to fly or hang the National Flag is doing earlier generations of Singaporeans a disservice. We are not honouring their sacrifices, which made it possible for Singapore to survive and prosper.
We are discrediting our forefathers.
By choosing not to fly our flag, as a vent of our frustration with one political party is to lend credence to the fact that our National Flag, the sacred symbol of battles fought, and won, by generations of Singaporeans is just another of their creation. It is not because the National Flag belongs to all Singaporeans, past and present.
Singaporeans, born and bred here, must rise about the petty display of frustration and be proud to hang our flag. We reclaim our nation through active and constructive dialogue and participation. We reclaim the right to chart our destiny by speaking up, loud and clear; not by awkward display of frustration.
This National Day, let that flag fly high. Hang it with pride.
It is the only right way to honour those Singaporeans who had sacrificed and forged that path that led to where we stand today.
.
George
* George spends his official work validating business ideas and business proposals of all oddities, and turns them into pitchable gems. Slogging out at one of the local university (the strategically located one…no! not on the ranking table), he has the privilege of working with dreamers of all denominations, and challenged the boundaries of possibilities with them. He blogs at http://sgscribbler.com.
Year 2022
