FIRST, seeing fewer State flags being flown at this time which is traditionally a period when Sporeans show off their pride as citizens, could be that there are now more non citizens staying in those areas since many locals are renting out their homes to make ends meet.
SECOND, it could be that they, like me, would normally wait until the eve of National Day to fly the flag to ensure a spanking new flag which would otherwise be soiled from dust and dirt if flown days ahead.
THIRD, which is scary, is the utter disdain among such locals who are so fed up with their current living conditions that they no longer have pride as citizens because citizenship makes no difference --- except for the National Service they must do --- compared with the legions of PRs and foreigner residents on our soil.
I hope PM Lee and his team will seriously start to rethink very hard as we head for our 50th Anniversary next year.
It will be the start of the end for our country even if we are economically strong but as a nation, socially weak, if our people are so disheartened, disunited and bitter. As they say, even as we continuously strive towards economic excellence, we should not ignore the people's well-being, and learn to stop along the way to smell the flowers and rejuvenate our people so that we can be united for even tougher challenges ahead.
Notwithstanding the angst and unhappiness, for now, I appeal to my fellow Singaporeans to show our love still for our country, our Singapore, our Motherland, even if she's been so blinded by trickery, sweet talks and even treachery especially by those exploiters who had used her as a stepping stone at the expense of the community. As our love for our mothers can never be eroded, let's do so for our Motherland, Singapore too!
Wwepee Weerasak
TRS Contributor