All That Flag Waving Patriotism ...

National Day. Patriotism. It just doesn't ring a bell for me. And most of my family really. Don't know of its because we're just cynical people or maybe because Singapore's social and political system just doesn't engender that much nationalism in its people. Of course I do know some patriotic friends around who trot down enthusiastically every year to watch the parade, bask in the spectacle of the fireworks and generally sing patriotic songs in tune with Stephanie Sun or someone else. This is no one undermines my feelings for this country ... or this land rather. My attachment to this island is based more on my friends, my childhood experiences here rather than from any nationalistic sentiments. I feel a gratitude to this country surely for allowing me the experiences, the oppurtunity to flourish in safety and relative comfort yet its not a nation (for example the US) that actually arouses more, basic or raw emotions - the kind of loyalty to the nation that leads men to die for the nation's ideals and such. It is this barrier that our nation has to breach - the apathy towards politics that most Singaporeans have, the blatant cycnism we hold towards our government and any social organization that harbours idealistic views, the lack of consideration for our fellow citizens in almost every aspect of our lives. We are taking steps in this direction. Yet in my view, these baby steps are hard handed and lacking the grass roots involvement of civil society common to the European states and the US. Still I hope to see a more involved civil and social society in the next decade or so. When this happens, and only then, will our country will make the final transition from a city-state to a nation-state.
Anyways I spent the day in relative obscurity. A light of game of squash in the morning, Hakka Yong Tow Fu for lunch followed by yeah shopping at Robinsons with my aunt! Bought lotsa stuff for UK - pans, clothes etc. Even met Fern with her mom shopping for some weird coffee cups. They were discussing the merits of black coffee cups vs. white tea cups? Haha very weird ... I didn't know enuf about the topic to give an objective view haha.