"For any nation to survive, its citizens need to develop a sense of identity and belonging with the country. This sense of national identity is often referred to as “nationalism” or “patriotism”. While Governments are often concerned with fostering a sense of national pride amongst its citizens, different groups of people will have different ideas about how patriotism should be expressed, about what is or is not part of the national identity, a debate that rests fundamentally on their view of what the nation represents and how its citizens should engage with it. "
Do Singaporean have patriotism? This is the question i want to discuss in my article today.
First, i would like to ask what define a Singaporean. In Singapore, it is a unique case. The government had emphsised racial equality. Hence, there is such a mix of culture and traditions that there isn’t one definitive style in which a Singaporean follows. The Chinese can celebrate Christian, the Christian can celebrate Chinese new year, etc. Well, maybe this is a distinguished trait of Singaporean.
Another distinguished trait of Singaporean is singlish. The 'ah' and 'la' are suffixes that are a fundamental part of spoken English in Singapore, these suffixes are the ones that make Singaporean English unique and impart a distinct character to it. The use of these words is what defines the very identity of Singaporean English and makes it different from the way English is spoken anywhere else in the world..
Do Singaporean have patriotism? Personally i feel no. Singaporean do have a sense of identity but not patriotism.
Pupils do not feel the surge of pride when singing national anthem, or saying the pledge. Some even make fun of the pledge. When people insult their country, Singaporean felt a sense of indifference.
Well, what do you think?
