Did you want to see what my "dance team" looked like?
The National Day Observation ceremony was this morning; the teams drew lots last week and we got to go first. Which is how I wanted it, actually. Get up there, shake the booty, get it bloody over and done with, off the stage, end of story. I'm the one in the back row with the mad grin and curly hair.
It was scary - 400 people crammed into HQ's auditorium, all waving flags and singing national songs. I mentioned to my bud, J, that it felt a little like a cult gathering. Swept up in nationalistic fervor.
Actually, I can understand why there was such a push, initially, when Singapore was first born. Just kicked out of the Malaysian federation, a tiny island peopled by chinese, bordered by 2 MUCH larger land masses filled with Malays and Indonesians. As unpolitically correct as it may seem, the then government needed to make sure the racial card was never ever an issue again, especially after the racial riots of the 1950s and 1960s.
Even until this day, racial cohesion is a carefully deflected cornerstone of Singaporean society. On the surface, all is calm. And indeed, most of us don't care what race you are. But attest - our identity cards carry a person's race. All governmental forms will ask you to identify your race too. If we're truly a multi-racial community, then why continue to ask?
Heavy thoughts as the Nation turns 40. Yes, that's how young Singapore is. Inspite of it all, I think we've come a tremendous way and have done most excellently. I'm quite proud of THAT.
Happy Birthday, Singapore.
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