'We are one Singapore,
One nation strong and free,
A thousand different voices,
Sing in harmony,

We will stand together,
Together hand in hand,
One united people,
Singapore,
My homeland..

National Day always makes me wonder, what is patriotism? Is it a large celebration of bright colours and uniform dances, spontaneous dances and impromptu speeches, or being prepared to die for your country?

You know, I honestly do not know anymore. I mean, watching the National Day Parade tonight, I felt rather neutral. Does one have to be overcome by tears and emotion to prove their patriotism and loyalty to their country? What is patriotism anyway? The dictionary defines it as being willing to defend your country, but does this emotion have to be conjured up via mass uniform dances that are festooned with smiling, varnished faces? I just realised that I despise propaganda. I know of a place in France where the people are so patriotic, they sing the national anthem every time the bell tolls.

To me, that should be what patriotism is like. A quiet support for your country, that is present all the time, and doesn't just appear on National Day itself. Have you noticed that there seem to be less flags on display this year compared to last year's National Day? This alone already speaks of most Singaporeans' reactions and feelings towards Singapore. Just because your country's economy is bad doesn't mean you don't display your support for it! And why is it that these signs of patriotism only appear on National Day and not on any other day?

Are all the pomp and festivities just for the sake of conjuring up a feeling of being pro-Singapore that dies down after the party is over, like a hangover? Not that all Singaporeans are unpatriotic, but they seem awfully apathetic most of the time, as proven by their reaction to the war, and I truly do not like synchronized dances, at all. They seem too much like a facade to me, too much of just propaganda. As though it was arranged for the sake of creating an atmosphere of patriotism.

Imagine there's no countries,
It isn't hard to do,
nothing to kill or die for,
And no religion too,
Imagine all the people,
Living life in peace...

--'Imagine', John Lennon.

I wish I didn't have a passport that tells the world I am a Singaporean, I wish we didn't have passports to segregate the world population into different groups of people. I don't want to have the citizenship of any country at all.

No country to live or die for, just drifting with the wind...

last - next