Singapore: A Question of Soul or Spirit

last SG · 2007-07-30T10:19:27+00:00

Correct, the greatness of Singapore comes from its people, and not one or two individuals as if the people owe them a living. And of course, if you see a sy...

HyperFocal SG

In search of the Singapore soul
Loh Chee Kong

FOR 12 years in school, I memorised the lyrics of Majulah Singapura (even though I had no idea what they meant) and sang with gusto, the same way I recited the Singapore Pledge.
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During National Service, alongside fellow wide-eyed recruits, I pledged to lay down my life for the country and I meant it.
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Call it blind loyalty if you will. I'll call it the "Singapore soul", for lack of a better term. It's the same spirit that stirs me when things are not going right in this country.
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Just don't ask me to define it. I've not figured that out and I suspect many Singaporeans haven't either.
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But as the airwaves get inundated by chest-pumping National Day songs yet again as Aug 9 draws near, my mind in part to seek solace from the cheesy lyrics is invariably occupied by the question: What is the Singapore soul?
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Surely, it does not reside in the double-digit economic growth, the skyscrapers, the durians or the char kway teow. I also do not think it's in the ties and kinship that would have been fostered just the same if I had been born somewhere else.
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Is it about the secure environment, which has given me ample education and employment opportunities? We all know how Singapore is clean, safe, politically stable and efficient a businessman's paradise. But even companies try to go beyond the pay cheques. Money gets you mercenaries, not committed employees much less loyal citizens.
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No, it's not the material comforts.
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What about history and tradition? Singapore boasts neither. It's not even a nation yet, by conventional yardsticks.
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How about a set of common values?
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Since independence, Singapore has struggled to reconcile its version of capitalism with moralistic principles.
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The Great Confucian Experiment of the 1980s didn't connect despite the Government's best efforts.
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In 1991, a national committee headed by current Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, no less presented five "shared values" after an extensive study. But I doubt many even remember that initiative, let alone what those values were.
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Singapore's national ideology, or its lack of one, has fascinated academics for years.
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Various reasons were given, most notably the view that the values desired by our political leaders were out of sync with government policies.
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Singapore can't be exhorting family values when it implores its women to work, says American sociologist Joseph Tamney, an emeritus professor at Ball State University, in a 1997 book on The Struggle Over Singapore's Soul.
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Neither can its political leaders preach compassion while driving capitalism and meritocracy.
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Back in 1970, former Deputy Prime Minister Goh Keng Swee had his own theory on why Singaporeans were unlikely to ever be preoccupied with the search for a national identity.
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It's just not in the Singaporean DNA to indulge in lofty ideals, he said.
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Said Dr Goh then: "The Singaporean ... is happiest when he is engaged in doing something. Not being of a philosophical bent, he seldom pauses for a moment to reflect on whether there is any point doing it. Instead, he applies himself with zest and energy, hoping to improve his skill or knowledge or to make money or whatever may be the purpose."
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But as Dr Goh had predicted, times are changing. The mushrooming of civic organisations and political blogs has provided the perfect riposte to the stereotypically apathetic Singaporean.
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Still, the absence of unifying organisations to "defend and define" the counter-culture which manifest in the arts, civic and opposition political circles meant that any change would be slow, as Prof Tamney points out.
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The next decade will be critical as Singapore approaches the half-century mark.
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It now stands on the cusp of what could be the second defining period of nationhood the adolescence period of intense growing pains, if you will.
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Possible fault lines are plenty be it between foreigners and locals, Singaporeans young and old, new and old media, rich and poor, liberals and conservatives.
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Yet beyond these chasms lies a common point where the Government objective of unity meets the people's aspiration to be part of the decision-making process.
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The societal forces at work mean that for once, we do not have to talk in terms of the Government's preferred economics lingo. And the Government has also ceded more public space.
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But a new culture has to be reinforced. Former journalist Cherian George takes a shot at defining it in his book, Singapore: The Air-conditioned Nation. It is a culture "in which Singaporeans know that they matter because everyone matters, that their views count because everyone's does", he writes.
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Yet, to borrow one of Dr Goh's favourite adages: There's no need to reinvent the wheel.
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After all, Singaporeans of today are merely transferring the "can-do" spirit, inherent in our migrant stock, to a greater calling beyond their livelihoods.
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Therein, perhaps, lies the Singapore soul one that desires so fervently to shape the fortunes of a freak country faced with a perpetual, if justified, sense of insecurity.
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Close the channels to make a difference, and the Singaporean closes his heart to the country.
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I wasn't quite sure what the Singapore soul was when I started writing this article. But I think I have a better idea now.
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It's right there staring us in the face in our country's name. Maybe a certain Palembang prince in the 13th century got it spot on when he coined the name "Singapura" "Lion City" in Sanskrit.
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Be it against the British colonialists, the communists, the challenges that globalisation brings or a possible rogue government in the future, the Singapore soul or the spirit of courage and wherewithal embodied by a lion, and fuelled by a deep sense of justice and the knowledge that nothing can be taken for granted will always rise to the occasion.
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Then again, it could be nothing more than just my youthful idealism.
Loh Chee Kong

Fingolfin_Noldor SG

I have always maintained my respect for the Old Guard of ministers, and it seems they represented the old idealistic zeal of old that pervaded Singapore then.

Yet, 40 years later, this zeal has all but died. Perhaps the Old Guard should have been more public about the tantrums of LKY instead of staying silent about it.

BTW, you might want to delete the duplicate article.

HyperFocal SG

hehee.. thanks for the pointer... I must be sitting to far back...
left my reading glasses in the office...
Mr. Green

Mat Toro SG

what exactly is this Loh trying to say? Govt's fault again for him not having any patriotism?

I remembered back in the 70s and even 80s where people do have patriotism. Thats when we had less prosperity and less history. Indonesians are very patriotic today, yet they are poor and their govt corrupt.

The difference today is, we have more history, more prosperity but people are more self centered. So who can Loh blame? The govt for bringing us prosperity?

HyperFocal SG

Brought us all prosperity???
You mean to say, that we are ALL prosperous???

I must say that we now earn more than before... but we also pay much much more than before in daily, monthly, and yearly living as well as in business operations...

prosper?? Maybe you refering to those staying in Bt Timah and the likes?

Fingolfin_Noldor SG

I was just about to say something caustic, but I realised Mat Toro’s mental faculties is probably incapable of even understanding something too abstract and I should not blame him for being too stupid.

HyperFocal SG

I shall say that poeople still have soul... but the Spirit of Singaporeans is rather down-trodden by ever increasing living costs...

AndrewPKYap SG

You are very good at saying plenty without saying anything... Laughing

LazerLordz SG

A part of the Singapore soul, can ironically be found in the Singaporean diaspora. Cool

charlize SG

So sad.

These days, Singapore appears prosperous but beneath it all, lacks a soul.

Haiz. Laughing

qlqq9 SG

Mat Toro, blabbering nuisance again! Why link patriotism with the gahmen?

qlqq9 SG

.... .. yeh by increasign living costs and the oppression as well.

BillyBong SG

40 years on, SG is what the ruling party has made it.

We are a city state, complete with an educated population, employment and night life. We have endeavoured to make the most of our very limited resources.

We have emerged from uncertain circumstances in the 60s and 70s like a metamorphosis into something better. For that we have to be eternally greatful to the old guard of ministers and their team, who gave their whole lives to building our nation. National day should forever be celebrated in reverence to them, not just a standing ovation to MM Lee, who takes all the credit now that they are gone.

Never forget that he asked them to step aside when the call for renewal came; yet he himself did not.

Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. ~ Lord Acton

With years of stability has come years of complacency. Our 'manufacturing' of human resource automatons to fill the growing need based on govt directives, has slowly but surely proven more and more incapable of meeting the needs of the global demand. FTs are flooding our shores, less people are settling down, our dependency is rising steadily, and we are handing out citizenships like handouts for the needy.

Our govt agencies are becoming far too frivalous with taxpayer's monies: the Marina bay 'renaming' execise, the braddell road angsana tree conservation. And the govt calls it yet another expensive tuition fee.

This insinuates that the scholarlistic system setup by our leaders to retain the best have not succeeded i.e. we are still 'paying their S$200k tuition fees. We are relying too much on book-trained academics and have forgone experienced hands; either that or we are not rewarding these unsung types enough to retain them in the govt sector.

Patriotism? It's just a hollow word. It has lost the zeal and gusto of earlier years, where people pledged their life to this country, wholely and without hesitation.

Atobe SG

Lions are known to be bold, and it reflected the vision of the original founder of Singapore - a Prince from Palembang named Sang Nila Utama - and had originally called this place "Temasek", which meant 'Sea Town'.

The island was reputed to have been renamed ''Singapura'' - ''for the first animal he saw was the lion, which he did not recognise. He then asked his men what animal it was, but none of them could tell him. Finally he asked an old wise man who had come with him. The old man told him that the animal was a lion and that it was a good omen that the prince had seen one.''

The characteristics of the Lion are certainly displayed in the various merchant communities that resided in Singapore since before Raffles arrival and through the Colonial Period.

They showed the Lion's perseverence, the bravery, the daring, the intelligence to succeed in its hunt, the majesty of its charity and generosity towards the Community with its success.

Unfortunately, from the 1950s - ONE Lion insist on its pride of Lions to dominate Singapore - by either keeping some lions of today in cages, while keeping others in the limited ground of the ''Singapore Zoo''. The dominating Lion and his pride will take the better chunk of the meat, while leaving the smaller morsels and bones for the others lesser animals in the zoo.

It is common knowledge that in-breeding is genetically dangerous to the Lion's pride, and we should question th persistent insistence with the present Singapore Elitist culture.

To make matters worst, the present Lion is thinking of injecting new DNA of unusual breeds into the Singapore Lion's DNA.

Are we to expect the Singapore Lion to grow the 'wings of an Eagle', or the 'speed of the cheetah', or the 'agility of a chipanzee' - in an experiment conducted within the confines of the Singapore Zoo ?

What kind of soul or spirit can come out of this experiment - when the dominating Lion is afraid of the original Spirit of the Lion, and prefer to see it beaten into submission ?

Mat Toro SG

We are definitely richer than we ever are and can afford much more and better.
But with this comes less partiotism and community spirit as people became more materialistic and individualistic.

Atobe SG

Originally posted by Mat Toro:
We are definitely richer than we ever are and can afford much more and better.
But with this comes less partiotism and community spirit as people became more materialistic and individualistic.

For every cent that Singaporeans get richer by, someone will take away two cents from our pockets.

Yes, Singaporeans can afford much more and better but at WHAT PRICE ?

Yes, Singaporeans today are paid more than those generations since the 1950s, are we any richer as we get older compared to those generations before us - those born in the 1910s through 1930s ?

What is the worth of the Singapore Currency today, compared to the 1950s ?

Singapore's Economic Tzar Dr Goh Keng Swee had implemented the economic theories of comparative advantage - to get Singapore to abandon Primary Production in animal husbandry and agricultural farming in favor of higher-value human endeavor so as to increase our wealth and purchase power.

What became of this theory when our neighbors continue to produce these products at lower costs for more then 40 years, but the same are not sold any cheaper despite the Singapore Dollar getting stronger by more then 2 times the value of the currencies of all our neighbors ?

Loyalty to the Nation, the President and the Government does not mean loyalty to the Politics of the Ruling Party - its political cronies and its appointees.

We may recognise and pledge loyalty to the Public Institutions but we do not have to be loyal to the political persons in office.

Who do you think has caused this Singapore culture of Materialism ?

Who has been in power for more then 40 years and has the arrogance to think and decide whatever is best for Singapore; what and how Singaporeans should live in this Globalised World ?

Who was the political personaility who decide on gearing Singaporeans towards a SWISS Standard of Living ?

Can ELITISM exist without Individualism ?

Are Singaporeans to be blamed for this individualistic traits in an ''Elitist Rat Race'' environment to be ''The Best Amongst the BEST'' ?

Lin Yu SG

for someone who needs $$$ increment to stay uncorrupted to run the country, there's neither patriotism nor soul to talk about Evil or Very Mad

Mat Toro SG

Originally posted by Atobe:
[b]

[color=darkred]For every cent that Singaporeans get richer by, someone will take away two cents from our pockets.

Proof please?
If what you said is true, how can singaporeans be richer over the years?
Your maths just don't add up.

Yes, Singaporeans can afford much more and better but at WHAT PRICE ?

We have a better life, we have more wealth.
What price exactly are you talking about?

Yes, Singaporeans today are paid more than those generations since the 1950s, are we any richer as we get older compared to those generations before us - those born in the 1910s through 1930s ?

You think we are poorer than 10s thru 30s during the depression years? Really?

What is the worth of the Singapore Currency today, compared to the 1950s ?

What is the comparative worth please.

Singapore's Economic Tzar Dr Goh Keng Swee had implemented the economic theories of comparative advantage - to get Singapore to abandon Primary Production in animal husbandry and agricultural farming in favor of higher-value human endeavor so as to increase our wealth and purchase power.

What became of this theory when our neighbors continue to produce these products at lower costs for more then 40 years, but the same are not sold any cheaper despite the Singapore Dollar getting stronger by more then 2 times the value of the currencies of all our neighbors ?

Wait a minute, you just said our dollar value is weaker didn't you? Now you say it is stronger. Aren't you contradicting yourself?

Loyalty to the Nation, the President and the Government does not mean loyalty to the Politics of the Ruling Party - its political cronies and its appointees.

We may recognise and pledge loyalty to the Public Institutions but we do not have to be loyal to the political persons in office.

Did any of our leaders tell us to be loyal to PAP?
What are you talking about?

Who do you think has caused this Singapore culture of Materialism ?

human nature.

Who has been in power for more then 40 years and has the arrogance to think and decide whatever is best for Singapore; what and how Singaporeans should live in this Globalised World ?

don't anybody do that? you call that arrogance. I think you are more arrogant yourself to think you know what bis best for Singaporeans.

Who was the political personaility who decide on gearing Singaporeans towards a SWISS Standard of Living ?

is it wrong to aim for better life?

Can ELITISM exist without Individualism ?

individualistism can exists w/o elitism.

Are Singaporeans to be blamed for this individualistic traits in an ''Elitist Rat Race'' environment to be ''The Best Amongst the BEST'' ?

Wrong. We can be the best w/o being individualistic.
UIf you do equate individualism autiomatically to excellence, then you are saying it is wrong for govt to want better life for singaporeans. You realise how ridiculous you are?

spinsugar SG

There's no question when it comes to Singapore.. it's Soul and spirit.

As in, care for it too much and it will break your spirit, then take your soul. Neutral

"If you love Singapore too much, first it will break your heart, then it will break your soul." -Alfian Sa'at

will4 SG

In here, people tend be more ambitious over five C. I agreed on ur point with regards on matter in Indonesia. The present president is trying his best to

deal with the corruption. Progress although hate to say is slow but okay.