random thoughts…from steven

In a strange coincidence, over the past few months I have come across a few people in Singapore who have told me that they want to instill patriotism in people. And it’s not just talk, they mean to do so with actual programmes.

I thought and I still think it’s an interesting agenda to have. After all, how do you create patriotism in someone? It’s like saying, let me teach you to how to “like singing”. Don’t you just like it or not?

But that’s not why I write today. I write because I’m actually more surprised that there are now champions of patriotism. And I say that with some pride.

Yes, Singapore did transform itself from a fishing village to the modern metropolis it is today, I can’t say I really feel for that because much of it happened before I grew up, I was born in the 1970s and by then Singapore was already fairly developed.  But from my 37 years on earth, with most of it in Singapore, I dare say we’ve turned a point and not just in terms of a physical transformation. Today there are many Singaporeans who are proud to wave the red and white flag and proud to tell the world they are Singaporean. I am one of them but it’s only been in the last ten years that I’ve felt this way.

I had the opportunity to pursue my university education abroad and at the time (early 1990s), I admit I was not an ambassador for the country. Maybe it was the singlish we spoke or the way we attacked the books, often forgetting that it was meant to be a learning experience and not a memorisation effort. There were many stereotypes that came with being Asian and I did not want to associate myself with them. At the time, being Singaporean was the same as being Asian and it did not help you stand out from that pact.

So I took great efforts to mix with students from other parts of the world, I spoke up in class, I asked questions…I did all the things they would not expect the Asian kid in class to do.

It is with that in mind that I now say we have changed and grown as a people and as a country.  Sure, we still speak singlish, but now many of us know how to “code switch” between the two, so we can speak fluent english when we need to and singlish is our own uniquely endearing way of speaking with fellow Singaporeans.

At the same time, I have grown and matured and now understand how and why many things are the way they are in Singapore. In some ironic sense, the young university graduate that returned with many idealistic notions has grown into a more mature and realistic adult…still with some ideals, just more tempered ideals.

Therefore to hear someone say they want to champion patriotism…well, I doubt anyone would have had that in mind some ten years ago. Yet at the same time, it’s a cause I actually believe can be achieved.

Today I am a father with a young daughter and a wonderful wife who though not Singaporean, has been warmly welcomed into the country. Had she not been, I would never have met her. So I say thank you to those who have helped make Singapore what it is today. And I hope that in my own small way, I can continue to contribute to a country that I know, will one day be my daughter’s too.

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