The SG cyberspace was thrown into a new drama (again) when a Kpop Starhunt 3 finalist, Stephanie Koh said that she wasn't proud to be a Singaporean and later uploaded a video explaining why. I am not interested to refute her points, at the same time I am not here to say that I am proud of Singapore. Instead, as the title suggests, I shall write on the 5 things I like about Singapore (however shallow they may be).
It Is Safe
Sure, it is getting a little unsafe these days, with the riots, protests and uptick in murders... but it IS still generally safer than other countries (gang rape of a Danish woman in India and violence protests in Thailand etc etc). I like that we are able to reach home even at 1, 2am without having to worry too much about our safety (worry a little, because it will increase your vigilance). This point has been mentioned so many gazillion times but I like to point out that this didn't come spontaneously or naturally. Before I bore you with our history of racial and ideology riots, let's realise that despite rich histories, most countries are still not able to achieve this level of safety and let us continue to play our part and keep the island safe.
Singlish
Oh mai god, I don't care if other people say Singlish is bad English, it is a language HOR. Maybe because I lived in Singapore all my life, Singlish gives me a sense of familiarity. It is the quickest way for me to break ice with Singaporeans (those who didn't think that Singlish is beneath them) and the addition of Singlish to any video I seen online makes it instantly enjoyable for me lor.
Whenever I travel overseas, hearing people speak Singlish or Singapore-accented English is always nice. It makes me feel as if as I know someone few thousand miles away from home lor. This is especially so in Europe, where people spoke not just in English, but French, German and Italian - sorry hor, I have no money to learn all these languages so I do feel a little alienated there until I see or hear a Singaporean :D
A Shared Culture
Ok this is a very abstract word 'Culture', but I don't know how to describe this properly lol. I try okay?
It's not that I share the exact same culture with my Indian and Malay friends, but is just that because we are all living in the same country, we see, hear and probably eat the same food. It's precisely because of this, we know what it means when someone comment 'Tuck Yew!!' or 'You better REPENT hor'. Some people strive to be the most unique person in the world, but sometimes knowing what the masses do and think just gives me a sense of belonging.
People Standing Up For Things...
Keyboard warriors or not. I like that we now have many bloggers who discusse issues pertinent to many Singaporeans. I like that we now have various alternate media for us to tune into, however bias they may sometimes get. I like that we are actually warring online, because apart from those who only contribute Tuck Yew!!! to a debate, some others do take the chance to write what they really feel and this in itself tells me that as Singaporeans, we care about what is going on around us. Remember, the opposite of love is not hate, but indifference.
We don't just war online right ? We seen episodes of people breaking up an old men's fightlol and tying a thief with cable ties etc etc. We do stand up for what we think is right (now 'right' is a personal opinion), and that to me is much better than a group of robots saying yes to everything PAP said.
It Feels Like Home
With all the 4 points above, this fifth point sums it up nicely for me. Singapore feels like home. Sure, there are a lot of things I dislike about Singapore (fare price adjustment anyone?) but like every conflict in my house, I don't stay angry for too long. I am not sure how many of you still feel this weird tingly (but nice) sensation in your heart when you hear people singing the National Anthem at National Day Parade, at Hong Lim park or that feeling you get when your flight hits Changi, if you still feel that, I think it's safe to say Singapore still has a place in your heart =)
5 Types
*The writer blogs at http://5types.blogspot.sg/