Comments on: Appreciating Singapore

By: The Singapore Daily » Blog Archive » Weekly Roundup: Week 33

The Singapore Daily » Blog Archive » Weekly Roundup: Week 33 — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 03:35:39 +0000

[...] [Recommended] – To Fix a Mocking Peasant: Flammable Spirits: My National Day Nonsense – TOC: Appreciating Singapore – TOC: A National Day video by TOC – The Void Deck: This Thing About National Day – Just Stuff: Can [...]

By: The Singapore Daily » Blog Archive » Daily SG: 11 Aug 2008

The Singapore Daily » Blog Archive » Daily SG: 11 Aug 2008 — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 03:48:48 +0000

[...] in Singapore? – To Fix a Mocking Peasant: Flammable Spirits: My National Day Nonsense – TOC: Appreciating Singapore – TOC: A National Day video by TOC – The Void Deck: This Thing About National Day – Just Stuff: Can [...]

By: CelluloidReality

CelluloidReality — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 02:52:16 +0000

Or better yet, enjoy the best of all nations. Must admit it’s addictive..

By: Tan Kin Lian

Tan Kin Lian — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 00:03:41 +0000

I will be writing an article about the “best years for Singapore”. They were during the 1970s. I shall explain why, in my article.

I am old enough to go through the best years. Many young Singaporeans were borne after that decade. I hope that my points will give good lessons on how we can go back to the good years.

By: C J

C J — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 23:36:57 +0000

Ok, sure. We have a CLEAN, SAFE, and STABLE environment to what?
- to TOIL, SUFFER, & LIVE FRUGALLY IN!
While our all wise, and ‘caring’ government hikes their salaries to the moon and beyond… so that their crutch mentality that paying themselves higher and higher salaries, keeps corruption away. And the poor and needy cannot be accorded welfare because it will become a crutch mentality….

..celebrate lah… celebrate…

By: C J

C J — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 23:27:40 +0000

It is easy to ‘appreciate’ Singapore IF you are in the high income category.
But for the general and large majority of mid, low and zero-income, ‘appreciating’ Singapore is the furthest thing in their minds. Believe me…

And as far as I am concern, I’m TOTALLY disconnected from all this national festivity and fervors. I find it has lost its meaning – what the heck are people supposed to be celebrating? Progress for who, in what way, and are we progressing? What the hell is there to appreciate? Appreciate all the appreciating costs of living???

By: Le2er

Le2er — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 12:23:49 +0000

Why dont you send your article to the ST. I guarantee you it will sure get published!
Sorry I do not share your sentiments because I also get to travel and also notice how blessed the other countries are and I ‘ll be out of here when the opportunity comes.

By: Landlord

Landlord — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 10:38:48 +0000

@m9
“create chaos and turmoil by supporting the opposition parties” ?……you are making presumptions about the opposition and their supporters. Care to elaborate how you come to have such an idea ?

“infiltrate the govt by being a President Scholar or govt bond holder and then hopefully carry our agendas for the betterment of the society as a whole”
…..nice idea, but give the readers example/s of such success to date.

“if not, we are just going to be a country of individuals”
…..we have reached a stage where we have elites running the country as they please and looking after themselves extremely well !

Nice to hear you mention using both heart and mind…..
……….sadly lacking in the present leadership.

By: m9

m9 — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 07:13:59 +0000

I have come to realise that as much as we focus on the various issues with the PAP and the govt as a whole, we have lost the meaning of just focussing on the heart share aspect.

Are we going to waste one whole lifetime just cursing and swearing at the govt?

What abt the simple things that we can sit down and laugh over with with our family and friends?

Yes, granted all the various issues are valid.Nevertheless, do we still come home to our family which are safe and education needs taken care off so that we can launch ourselves for the future.

To make our Country sustain in the next few years, I guess we can either create chaos and turmoil by supporting the opposition parties which do have valid arguments as well. Or we can “infiltrate” the govt by being a President Scholar or govt bond holder and then hopefully carry our agendas for the betterment of the society as a whole.

One thing is for sure : as of now, we have to think with our minds and not with our hearts. The competitive environment has caused to think only abt functional benefits and tangible incentives, looking at the lack of pro family iniatives at the workplace. We need to be strong to be able to sustain our heart share in our country. If not, we are just going to be a country of individuals.

For me, I am going to try work hard using both my heart and mind. Happy National Day Spore. 43 years together and counting.

By: intent

intent — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 11:47:28 +0000

I agree with the writer. I get a lump in my throat when singing Majulah Singapura.

And frankly I’m a little fed up with the attitude of fellow Singaporeans. Don’t equate everything with PAP. You should all be proud when singing the national anthem. It’s not PAP’s anthem. It’s our anthem. I guess the fault is the education system here. When Zubir Said composed it in 1958, it wasn’t intended to be a propagandist tool like what the rest of the national songs are. It was composed in an era when there was hope and dreams. Singapore was not an economic success. But there was pride. And it shouldn’t matter who the ruling party is or who your MP is. We are all Singaporeans.

By: Charles

Charles — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 04:07:11 +0000

As Singapore celebrates its National Day, the recent news of the authorities denying Burmese activists their visas is a serious matter which reflects the country’s unfulfilled obligations towards its migrants. As I argue in my blog, (and which if you are interested to read, just click on the link), ‘Singapore was an immigrant society prior to independence’ and that it continues to open its doors. Unfortunately, it has failed in many aspects when it comes to the immigration issue.

By: ahsayman

ahsayman — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 18:35:17 +0000

Oh I never give up what is mine , never. Those who knew me when I was much younger, would never believe their eyes, when I kept my head down, gritted my teeth, suppressed my tears of fury, all in the name of making a living. This government had taken away the most basic of freedom. The freedom to earn a living with dignity and not as a punching bag to uphold the debatable axiom of “The customer is always right.” So much so as to perpetuate an ever widening merry-go -round of “giving as much as one had taken.” Where will that lead us to as a people, as a nation? That’s reality in live mode for you. Cheers Cell.

By: CelluloidReality

CelluloidReality — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 16:57:42 +0000

Ahsayman,

That’s defeatist attitude.. I was taught that I should not give away what is mine to others..

Haha

By: artmgs » Blog Archive » Reflections on our National Day

artmgs » Blog Archive » Reflections on our National Day — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 14:25:46 +0000

[...] It dawned on me that it was really all about how passionate one felt about being a Singaporean. – Appreciating Singapore, by Tan Jian [...]

By: ahsayman

ahsayman — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 10:15:18 +0000

No can do, Cell, it belongs to the Lee family and those he favours. The rest of us are just tenants. 99 years leases and a lifetime of toil.

By: CelluloidReality

CelluloidReality — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 08:45:28 +0000

Sing the anthem with pride, and take ownership of what it means. It belongs to us.

By: lulu

lulu — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 08:36:34 +0000

yeah..once we finish our studies, i really cant recall any occasions where we get to sing the anthem..but well, if u wake up early / stay up late enough daily..u will get to watch the national anthem on tv..its not as shiok as singing it out loud..(especially, if i am on the bus and the tvmobile starts showing the anthem)..but i find myself humming to it..if i am home, i will be singing along..!

By: singaporean in foreign land

singaporean in foreign land — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 07:05:51 +0000

I like her voice as well. I think it will carry the message through. I hope everything is fine in blogosphere. I have just read something that has disturbed me.

http://aaron-ng.info/blog/the-sad-state-of-blogosphere.html

I hope it is not true. I hope like national day and everything great in singapore, we can all sort out our differences. Even if we cannot agree, let us agree to disagree, but to just walk out is horrible. I dont like it

By: opeth

opeth — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 05:08:10 +0000

Good for you!!!! I rather sing some Megadeth or Slayer songs though.