This National Day, meet the New
Patriot
Patriot: One who loves, supports and defends one's country
(American Heritage Dictionary)
Yvonne Lim
Night editor
AS YOU turn on the television to watch the National Day Parade at
home, or wave that little red-and-white flag in the midst of the
excitement at Marina Bay or perhaps just enjoy the public holiday
with family and friends consider this: Does doing any of this
make you any more, or less, of a patriot?
.
We could have asked that question differently, as we set about our
survey of 466 Singaporeans here and
abroad to mark the nation's 42nd birthday. We could have
just simply asked: "How patriotic are Singaporeans?" as if there
was some fixed formula to calibrate this.
.
But looking at all the families who turn up in red-and-white face
paint to support the footballing Lions, and every 18-year-old male
who surrenders? part of his life
to the military, how do you measure any individual's love for and
willingness[color] to stand up for his
(or her) country when it truly counts?
.
[color=red]What defines the "country"? Who deserves your
allegiance? The state, the community, the physical land, your
family?
.
And who's to say if a "stayer" who
votes responsibly, raises his children here, works within "the
system" and donates to the needy knows any more about patriotism
than the growing number of globe-trotting
citizens, who seek opportunities abroad but continue to criticise
and defend Singapore beyond her shores?
.
So, instead of doing the predictable and holding a measuring rod up
to Singaporeans, we asked them to tell us: What is important to you about being a citizen? What
does this tiny city-state mean to you?
.
Who, in short, is the new "patriot" and does that image in the mirror comfort or disturb
us?
.
TO LOVE
.
IF Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong's worry once was that Singapore would become more like a hotel than a home
to its people, here's some heartening news.
.
Of the resident citizens polled in TODAY's National Day Survey, 76
per cent said they were proud or very proud of being Singaporean -
72 per cent of Singaporeans overseas shared this sentiment.
.
It was perhaps not a surprise that, when asked to rank the reasons
for this bond (they were asked to pick three out of 11 statements),
the top pick for both groups was "a place
where my friends and family are".
.
Both also agreed Singapore was where their roots were, however far
a-field they ventured and to a lesser extent, that they'd like to
raise and educate their children here.
.
But is Singapore "a place to live out one's dreams"? Maybe not
.
This statement scored the lowest overall ranking among overseas
respondents, and not much higher among Singaporeans at home.
.
Tellingly, overseas citizens felt a more poignant connection to
the food and culture of home, than to
Singapore as a place that they wanted to live out the rest of their
lives something residents, on the other hand, felt
strongly about.
.
But even if the Singapore Dream isn't shared equally by all, at
least, it was clear that few endorsed cynical statements such as
"I'm here because I've no choice"
or "this is a fallback if I fail it make
it elsewhere".
.
SUPPORT
.
Asked what being a supportive citizen meant, there were
starkly different answers from the
overseas and resident groups.
.
Generally speaking, resident citizens thought in tangible terms
that you had to be physically here, contributing to the economy and
society. That you helped those around you. That you hung out the flag every August, and watched
the parade if not in person - then at least "live" on
television.
.
Politically, being supportive implied
compliance. Back the Government so that it could run the
country more effectively. Stay out of
trouble, pay your taxes, study hard.
.
For the Singaporean living abroad, on the other hand, physical
presence was for obvious reasons the
last thing on their minds.
.
Rather, being a supportive citizen to them was more likely to mean
speaking out critically and
constructively in newspaper forums, in
cyberspace, through official
channels if, and when, policies proved inadequate. Or even
trying to drive change if they felt
something was wrong.
.
Despite their disagreements with the state on some issues, the Singaporean expatriate felt
that it was also important to speak up in defence of Singapore when
outsiders criticised her.
.
Which leads us to the third aspect of patriotism
.
AND DEFEND
.
Are Singaporeans prepared to die for the
love of their country?
.
If the survey results are to be believed, and they
were done professionally by Media
Research Consultants, just over half of the Singaporeans
polled here and abroad - are willing to lay down their life for
their nation.
.
Should we be disturbed that 23 per cent
of overseas citizens and 13.5 per cent of locals do not
attach any importance, or willingness, to make the ultimate
sacrifice for the nation the rest
aren't sure either way.
.
Does this mean Singaporeans will refuse
to take up arms, or worse, turn tail and run, if a threat
loomed?
.
No, some would argue, pointing to this study's limitations.
.
Most Singaporeans from the post-65
generation don't feel this urgency because they have never
faced the threat of actual hostilities. The real test, will not
come in the shape of a survey question, and may well evoke a
completely different response when the stark prospect of losing
everything is thrust in one's face.
.
But others worry because they see a young country with a
population, which has largely not had its
character, nor its patriotism, tested in the fires of war,
disaster or real hardship.
.
They see a people, cultured and
conditioned to entrust important decisions to wiser
authorities, as they speed down the road of globalisation passing
pastures green with opportunities.
.
Against this broad canvas, one wonders about the character, and
characteristics, of the new Singapore "patriot". And if this
patriot's ties to country centre solely on factors such as food,
family and jobs, or even pure happenstance of birth can this be enough?
.
The TODAY team explores these questions, in this special National
Day issue.
Patriot: One who loves, supports and defends one's country
(American Heritage Dictionary)