Very sad hoh, to celebrate something so simple. Yet some of us are not sure whether it is right (legal) to do so or not. Sometimes, we trumpet the many niceties that we have aplenty but the frightening part is that we also question some basic common sense that should come to us naturally.

I can’t agree more! Thank you for sharing John – I look forward to more! :)

Whether the opposition parties do or do not celebrate is of course the choice of the individual parties.

You are right to bemoan the explicitly linkage between the governing party and Nat Day.

But do not forget that it was the was government in the 1960s that created the tradition of Nat Day parades (shades of USSR, Eastern European and Red China) and celebrations. Trying to create a nation, or so the government said.

It’s just that the governing party remained the same. So it does make sense: in a way.

But the tradition has taken a life of its own, independent of its creator with S’poreans celebrating Nat Day in their own ways: sometimes resenting the linkage between governing party and offical celebrations.

As evidence for both, one can cite what John, Jian Wei, Gerald, and the TOC people behind the video have done.

And the WP MRT ride yet again shows that patriotism is not a governing party monopoly. Incidentally, did the WP have to get permission for that ride?

BTW, I seem to see less flags being flown in HDB estates and high rise apartments this yr. What do others think?

What DOES OG stand for? Ocean Garments

And what am I referring to when I order rochor mee?? SImply, hokkien mee.

=)

When the tv says “Celebrate 43 yrs of achievements”, I wonder what is there to celebrate when so many issues are still outstanding and not properly addressed eg. inflation, income disparity. And the fact that ministers can increase their own salaries but not ours, this really makes me angry.

As far as I am aware, the theme is static and increasingly stale, endless repetition of the myth of how Singapore transformed from a fishing village into a modern metropolis.

Associations of the NDP with the rampant abuses of national service personnel changed the event from bland to distasteful. And distaste worsened into revulsion when one considers the extravagant display in contrast to the tight-fisted penny-pinching policies when it comes to spending to help Singaporean fallen to dire straits.

Earnings of lower income Singaporeans have dropped despite GDP growths. Conservancy charges have increased steadily despite huge surpluses in town funds reaching record heights. Transport operators granted fare increase after fare increase despite abundant profits. And wage increases for the workforce are blamed for contributing to inflation.

What is there to celebrate?

Indeed, some people even believe true love doesn’t need the other party to reciprocate.

Patriotism has an interesting definition. “Love for or devotion to one’s country” according to merriam webster.

I think different people show love and devotion in different ways. And others have different expectations and definitions.

I think however one thing is for sure. If no citizen contributes to the country, just like any relationship, there won’t be one.

“by the way, which town has a name which means Back Of The River?
What DOES OG stand for?
And what am I referring to when I order rochor mee??”

Good point Weijia. How can these be “essences of the city” if there are people who don’t know even one of these facts?

The government is paying themself record dollars and raising the price of everything, ERP gate everywhere getting closer and closer, CPF going further and further. The young scared they will replace by FT, the old are picking drink can from rubbish bin.

While the rich elite have time and money to decorate their big house with flags, drink red wine, eating agar agar, amusing each other with inner circle jokes and discussing philosophic about what is patriotic or not patriotic.

Very funny TOC, I think I know what is going on.

I spent mine with friends and family, having a good time, on our own terms.

Yes, I did shoot the flypast, because I’m a sucker for aerial photography.