Where I belong by Tanya Chua

Patriotism

Eve of National Day.

I heard the ever-so-familiar tune of Majulah Singapura while i was getting ready to go office. Not from the radio(auto-off at 8am), nor the TV(wasnt on). It came from the toddlers at the kindergarten downstairs.

Kids "screaming" the National Anthem, and the other numerous songs which makes their appearance only during National Day, with little knowledge of wat it really means.(I dun understand either, or shld I say, I forgot the meanings.)

I m envious of them. THEY GET HALF DAYS!!! Or rather, ITS A NON-SCHOOLING DAY!

Sensing their innocence, I wondered when was the last time i sang Majulah Singapura, or even, say the pledge. Was it last yr? or 2 yrs ago when i went for the NDP preview? Couldnt rem.

On my way to office, I passed by countless HDB flats. Only a few units had hung the Singapore flag and amongst them, the Singapore flag exists in variety of colors; faded, eroded, weather-washed, and of cos, the brand new bright red ones.

A few yrs ago, I rem there was a penalty on those who 1)dun hang out the flag during National Day; 2)hang out discolored/disfigured flags; 3)Not keeping the flag within the stipulated timeframe after National Day; 4)Not hanging the flag properly(ya, ppl can hang it in all sorts of other ways round). THAT, was the time where u see most units on each block having the flags out and the whole city looks like a sea of reds and whites.

Gradually, the excitement faded off. Aunties start to think,"Aiya, Lazy lah, Next yr then hang lor. No big deal. Nobody catch."(The "next yr" will nvr come.) Elderly think,"Cannot reach the hook lah. Later I fall down how?" Yuppies think,"I'll be painting the town red anyway. No pt hanging" Kids think," Dunno mummy got hang flag out anot leh."

The true meaning behind hanging the Singapore flags during National Day has been overshadowed. Govt cant go door-to-door and force each and every household to hang their flags or face serious consequences. The next best thing they could do is to rope in the help of the town councils, who hang long flags all over the place and even "flying fox" resemblance across 2 buildings. All that, amidst the bland, empty, HDB corridors.

I dun hang out my Singapore flag. My mum didnt do it for a long time. Cant really be bothered. I aint a true-blue patroit anyway. National Day to me is 1) public holiday, no work! 2) NDP on tv.

The companies along the stretch of Jurong Port to Jalan Buroh showed their support to Singapore's 40th Birthday with merely a flag (tattered/faded/well-maintained)on a stick situated at their company gate. The more elaborative ones had other kinds of pillar flags or small flags which they take out yr-after-yr. Most probably, they too, had forgotten the celebration mood of National Day.

2005, 40 yrs from when LKY officially announced that Singapore will have her own independence.

Happy Birthday Singapore!

p.s. anyone interested in the fireworks display tmr? Since they're using our tax $$ for the display, might as well watch it live rite?