Am I patriotic to Singapore?

The husband mentioned something and I asked him “What is happening tomorrow?” and he looked at me cynically, almost angrily and commented “Tomorrow is National Day. You cannot remember it and you are not patriotic at all.” I laughed and told him “Well, you only remember it because it is a public holiday for you and you waited for this day; whereas I work every day and am self-employed and therefore public holidays are just another day”.

picture taken off the internet

What he said about met set me thinking? Am I a patriotic Singaporean? What is being patriotic then? My late father, used to tell my siblings and I that only when we vote or pay our taxes then we are true citizens of Singapore. Shanmugam puts out a Singapore flag outside the house every year without fail as he is patriotic to Singapore. I am glad for him. I have friends staying in HDB flats where the Residents’ Committee members go door to door selling flags and encouraging residents to put up the flag. Patriotism did not come from the heart for many!! It is even awful to know that some organizations wanted to try to break Guinness Book of Records by hanging the most number of flags on a said date and time!! Well, I do pay my taxes and I do vote but I never put out a flag.

I am not educated enough to understand politics thoroughly but I have enough education to understand, to recognize, to criticize and disagree when I do not like certain political views. And I dare stand up to comment or write to the Forum in the Straits Times without worrying if I am going to be called up or questioned by any authority. Therefore I think I am patriotic because I do not ‘close my eyes’ or behave like a hypocrite and just discuss issues I don’t like amongst good friends and taxi drivers!

I also feel that I am patriotic because I have compassion and tolerance for all the different races that stay with me in Singapore. Every day, I come across so many types of people everywhere. The Filipino domestic maids who wash the cars of their masters at the car park; the Chinese, Thai, Indian foreign workers who travel in the lorries to work; the European expats; the tourists, the PRs and all citizens of Singapore – all living harmoniously – that itself is being patriotic otherwise there will be racial clashes and fights.

Sometimes, I do ask myself a question, especially when I see Tamil movies or watch the Indian news on Sun TV – if I feel so much for the Indians, does it mean I am not patriotic to my country? I realized that being patriotic is different from being compassionate to people whether they are of your kind or from another community. So then does one become patriotic to a country because he was born there? Or can he be patriotic to an ideal country he chooses to be patriotic to? I think you can choose the country you want to be patriotic to.

I see parents bringing their children to watch the National Day Parade or even on TV – they are educating their children about the importance of patriotism. But these are the same parents whom I hear saying “my children have no future in Singapore” and they plan and save to send their children abroad and even encourage them to work and start a family in another country. I see little children with flags painted on their cheeks, I see people wearing red and white clothing, I see so many things happening around me just before National Day………..but how many of these people truly understand why they are doing certain acts or do they understand what is being patriotic to a country.

Will I die for my country? I will if I am standing in the battlefield with the army from another country. But I will not if a foreign worker is going to rob me off my day’s earnings. Being patriotic is about being respectful and trusting to our country just like we would show respect and trust on our spouses or children. Being loyal to my country is very important to me as well as to all who live here. My family and my community shaped me to who I am today and guess what; my community was shaped by the government here. Let us look at it this way – we cannot receive what we want for ourselves unless we give something from ourselves.

I am proud of my country. My red passport says volumes at immigration and custom offices. “I am from Singapore” is always said with the head up and big smile. “You are from Singapore” is always said by the other party with a smile too……..Singapore is a well renown celebrity on its own.

When I go overseas I give patriotic gifts to my friends and hosts. I may not buy a figurine of the Merlion to decorate my house but I will go for it when I want to buy a gift from Singapore. My patriotic gifts are ways to show love, consideration and appreciation to the country I was born in!! I feel patriotism when I give it to someone in another country and explain to them what it is.

I respect all people in uniform be it the army, the police, the nurses, the drivers or the NEA officers. I think they are patriotic too. Just wearing a T-shirt with the Singapore flag on National Day is not patriotic enough. One must treat Singapore like they would look after their homes – flush after you leave the toilet; don’t litter when no one is looking; don’t vandalize or urine in the lift. Don’t speak ill of the ruling party behind their back and then wait for the CPF top up. Pay your taxes so that you get good clean roads that are dug and re-surfaced every few years. Pay your taxes so that you get good telephone and internet service. Don’t try to cheat the government by under declaring your income! In your free time, do some social service for the under privileged brothers and sisters of the nation.

Instead of buying Gucci and Prada, go for locally made products as far as possible. Encourage your family to eat local fruits like papaya and bananas instead of cherries and kiwifruits. Travel round Singapore and know the roads, the back lanes and the place of interest very well before even talking about travelling to Johor! Get to know the stories and history of Singapore. Buy and read story books written by Singaporean authors. Buy and cook from cookbooks written by Singaporeans instead of rushing to buy a Jamie Oliver’s. Buy bouquets of Vanda Miss Joaquim and give your girlfriend or someone in hospital instead of going for imported carnations and roses! Make it a point to watch a Singapore produced film.

Well, instead of running away for the long weekend to enjoy a holiday in a neighboring country, stay back and celebrate with the others. Instead of watching TV the whole of National Day do some constructive work. Learn about each other’s culture and mix around with your neighbors and get to know them first before complaining that Singaporeans are not as friendly as the American who says “hi there” to everyone on the street. Instead of going to Cambodia, Thailand or Haiti to do social work, help the poor and needy in Singapore!! Instead of saying this is an unfair country; see if you have said something unfair after enjoying and indulging the perks you receive from the country.

To me if one does at least 70% of what I have listed above, he or she is patriotic to her country and I found out………….I am patriotic to Singapore!