As National Day approaches, it is an appropriate time for us to reflect on the values we hold as Singaporeans. The Online Citizen would like to have your opinion on what you think these values are or should be – individually and as a nation.
The five stars on our flag represent the values of democracy, peace, progress, justice and equality. What do these mean for you? How would you interpret each of these values?
Please share your opinion and thoughts.
@Serene
(A) One where there is no war, no bloodshed, no need to fear of death, but also absolutely no say in governance.
What makes you think that authoritarianism will guarantee stability? One danger of authoritarianism is the lack of check and balance and concentration of state power in the hands of a few or even just one man. If the leader is wise, honest and capable, fair enough. But can you ensure that their subsequent successors that they will never abuse this unlimited power?
Ferdinand Macros used to be a honest politician but he slowly allowed himself to be consumed by greed and obsession for power.
Benevolent dictatorship may be the best form of government, but its one fatal flaw is how do you ensure that unlimited power won’t be abused?
@serene
I agree that Democracy is lacking in Singapore, but this will become my priority for improvement after the economic conditions are more stable.
But haven’t we always touted that we have successfully progressed from the “Third World to First”?
And after economic conditions are more stable, would you then turn around and say that there is no point rocking the boat?
(B) One where people can always exert their influence on the government and different faction of people are fairly represented. But also one where opposing forces do not reconcile, and so resulting in civil unrest or even war.
Can you tell us why stability and democracy are mutually exclusive? In fact both democracy and authoritarianism are capable of producing instability and disaster and the leaders decided to do the country in. Mugabe, Mobutu and Marcos did not produce progress; they created catastrophes instead. It seems preferable to have democracy in the long run because checks and balance would minimize the possibility of abuse of power in a developed and mature democracy with a vibrant middle class.
@timothy
I suppose Thailand is more democratic than China, while the latter is more peaceful than the former. Thailand or China? I pick China.
Then did Thailand become better after the 2006 coup produced a military-appointed government? Gen Surayud Chulanont proved to be an inept leader. Under the military-appointed govt, investors’ confidence plunged to a new low with the policy blunder of the capital controls and the chaotic opening of the Suvarnabhumi Airport.
So did a non-democratic government fare better? I doubt so.
As for China, you seem to forget the rampant corruption which traces its origins to the CCP’s monopoly of power and tight political control. Look at the collapsed school buildings due to the local party officials’ corruption. Why are they able to silenced the parents of the dead school children if not for political repression?
5 stars on the flag represent the 5 values of SIngapore – democracy, justice, equality, peace and progress. Now let’s examine whether they do exist here or not.
Democracy – We have 84 parliamentary seats but 82 of them are of PAP, 1 of WP and the other 1 of SDP. Govt’s tactics to win votes include ‘giving money’ to people just before elections, but later recovered them all through increase of taxes. You call this democracy?
Justice – NKF’s TT Durai shamed the entire Singapore with his corruption charges, yet only served under 1 yr of jail term. Mas Selamat’s escape shook the nation, but Wong Kan Seng, being minister for home affairs, NEED NOT step down. You call this justice?
Equality – Singapore citizens not preferred by firms for the same job offered to foreign talents, reason being not local talent. Govt remind people to upgrade so they upgrade, but doesn’t guarantee their jobs permanently. Can you upgrade yourself faster than the govt bringing in more foreign talents?
Peace – Multiple price hikes in the form of transport fares, including buses, MRTs and taxis – and recent fuel prices in the absence of wage increments left most people eating less for the same price. So the equation becomes: good economy = eat less.
Progress – Political progress? Nope, coz it’s still the same party running the country. Economic progress? Nope, coz we have worked so hard, contributed a lot to GDP, yet wages remained about the same. Social progress? Nope, coz there are still much vice in Geylang and Joo Chiat but police ain’t doing much, and recently got many cases of foreign workers fighting with locals.
What does it mean, selling out your own people?
Once upon a time, these 5 values are held so dearly to most Singaporeans. We had given all we had and all we can to achieve the essence of these values. We were almost there.
Today, I speak for myself. These values are all but meaningless. Neither one are of its true essence that it is supposed to be. It is beyond recognition. You do not feel a strong sense of belonging anymore. You generally felt something is amidst. Something we knew should have change for the better. Yet, time and again, we were somehow deprived and can only watch helplessly. Sad indeed(sigh)
The 5 stars on the flag then represent the values we would strive to achieve as a young nation. After 43 years of nation building, sadly most of those values are still as far away as the stars in the sky
Now no need values anymore, it is every man for himself.
In Singapore, the 5 stars represent money, money, money, money and more money…
The moon ?? Money also
Five stars arising music and lyrics by Lim Su Chong. Red is not exactly the same as crimson. Lyrics in this song is “crimson is the blood of all mankind”. Crimson- the strong, bright, deep red blood which humans need to live and when we die our bodies become cold and pale.