This post is a response to Steph Micayle’s “Why I am not proud to be Singaporean” youtube video.
Dear Steph,
I invite you to read my post and come to a fair conclusion on your behaviour in the Kpop Star Hunt and also in your recent youtube video.
Background
I am a 23-year-old male who has served national service and since then have been staying in America for three years. As one of the fortunate few who has been traveling abroad throughout my 23 years and hence has experienced life in Singapore and outside of Singapore, I daresay that I have a pretty good judgement of where Singapore stands amongst other countries.
To begin the discussion, I would like to list your reasons for why you aren’t proud to be Singaporean.
1. No place for an artist.
2. Singaporeans are narrow minded.
3. Singaporeans are not creative.
4. Singaporeans are submissive.
5. Singaporeans are not happy.
6. Singaporeans are not nice people.
7. Everybody just follow rules. (Sic)
Singapore
With those reasons in mind, let us consider Singapore as a country, and subsequently compare her to other countries, since you seem to be comparing Singapore with Australia, Taiwan and South Korea.
Singapore gained independence in 1965 and back then, she was still a third world country with third world politics, educational systems, healthcare systems, heck, everything was third world.
Of course, many of us know what happened after independence. We were blessed with a charismatic leader who had, most importantly, vision. LKY led Singapore, along with many other young leaders, into the first world country that is Singapore today. As you have mentioned, we are a safe country and we have an efficient government that is transparent, if nothing else. Our economy is prospering and our standard of living has been increasing. These are undeniable facts.
Our “hardware”, which includes our infrastructure and our political, healthcare and transport systems, are already developed. However, our “software”, which includes our history, our culture and the maturity of our society (societal norms), is still developing. That is to say, as a people, we are still living in the 80s. Want to know why? Because, people are resistant to change. Why would your parents encourage you to go off the beaten track? Why would anyone’s parent encourage their children to take risks? Know that societies take decades, even centuries, to change. The fastest, most substantial and most probable method of change in any society will be between generations. Take a look at people our age, for a change. So many of my friends are defying societal norms (and their parent’s wishes) and delving into music, arts, new media(youtube etc.) and even entrepreneurship. And we aren’t even talking about the privileged kids. Of course the majority of Singaporeans are still going to be bankers, lawyers, engineers etc. Like I mentioned, change takes time. I would say we’re doing pretty well as the children of the baby boomers. Suddenly, the seven reasons you mentioned don’t seem as serious as you make them out to be anymore.
Be Thankful
If you’d compare Singapore with any other country that has little land and no natural resources, I’d say we’re far ahead. The only other “country” that is comparable to us is Hong Kong. Hong Kong, however, had a much earlier head start, and had finances and demand from China that helped it grow. Singapore had Malaysia, a huge contributor to our growth nonetheless, but an even greater competitor. The main takeaway for all of us is to appreciate coming from a country that has given us the basic building blocks of life, and be thankful that we are even capable of critical thinking, which leads me to my next point.
Improving Singapore
Now that we know what Singapore has excelled in, where she falls short, and how she compares to the world, maybe we should consider where to go from here. As SUCH a young nation, I think the responsibility to develop our “software” into the first world, 21st century model that you seek lies on our shoulders, the 15 to 30 year olds. We need our generation’s LKYs to step up and take the reins. We need creative, loud and charismatic young people, such as yourself, to lead our generation to develop our own Singaporean culture, and make Singaporean history, instead of having these creative minds leave for greener pastures. Our parents have given their time in creating an environment to live, learn and eat in. Now It’s our turn to provide an environment for our children to be creative, be spontaneous, and to be individual in. So start a movement. Or start a non-profit organisation to promote the arts. Sing about it. Make youtube videos about it.
About Steph
The final topic i’d like to address is you, and the people like you. You’re different, but you’re not that different. I know many Singaporeans who flee Singapore in search of “better” countries. Countries that are culturally richer, or are generally a “nicer” place to live in. Countries that aren’t as expensive. Sure, everyone likes to take the easy way out. Here in America, cars cost 1/6th of that in Singapore and houses ten times larger than in Singapore cost 1/5th the price. Of course I’m tempted to stay here and retire at the ripe old age of 30. But no, I don’t want to. Because I know I owe a duty to Singapore. I think many find your sense of self-entitlement repulsive, if not childish.
Here’s an analogy:
Every child loves their parent and vice versa. As a kid, I always could find flaws that my parents possess that I wish they didn’t have. All those times they tried to force their wishes down my throat. I wish I could have YOUR parents, who support you for whatever decision you make. But after ALL is said and done, I still love my parents. I love them a hell of a lot because of what they’ve done for me unconditionally. I hope you see where I’m going with this. Just because we can choose our nationality unlike how we can’t choose our parents, it doesn’t mean that we can enjoy Singapore’s “hardware” and leave in search of better “software”. Would you abandon your parents and choose other parents because they have better values/ideals? Or would you try and explain to your parents what you think is better and hope to change them for the better? With that in mind, I challenge you to stay and contribute. I know I will. I’ll be back in Singapore as soon as I can, and I will do whatever I can, however small, to help change our country.
Anonymous
*The writer blogs at http://crouchingtigerhiddenmerlion.wordpress.com/