Category: social issues
Original articles (both from Today newspaper)
Personal response
We are seldom conscious of it, but embodied by the Singlish we casually utter, each plate of char kuay teow we gulf down, or our kiasu spirit, is the Singaporean soul. It is alive and well, a beating heart shared by the four million disparate individuals on the island – and perhaps even beyond. It is about our common set of values, ideology, preferences, and practices.
Every society, from an entire nation, down to a class of students, has its own soul – be this broken or joyous. I daresay the Singaporean soul, blessed with the peace of mind accompanying peace and prosperity, is a relatively blissful one (for most, probably, but maybe not for those left behind).
The Singaporean soul, too, is marked by pride in the nation. While few Singaporeans will claim to be contented, I believe this pride is why Singaporeans often walk with a smug air of superiority while on holiday overseas, grumbling about how foreign cities pale in comparison to our own. It is also why touching down at Changi Airport never fails to confer an indescribable sense of familiarity, for me at least.
And yet this soul is a shy one, its character and energy masked beneath the hum of economic productivity. With uneventful routines that trap many a workaholic Singaporean into repetitive activity cycles, Loh explains that the Singaporean seldom pauses to reflect on what he is doing, but rather applies himself with zest and energy.
After all, built deep into our DNA is an unmistakable sense of ambition. Some call it greed, but it is this ambition compels us to toil for a better future – just as it has done for our forefathers, making Singapore what it is today. The trade off is that we tend to see things in dollars and cents, failing to appreciate of the finer things in life, hence appearing boring and even workaholic.
Regardless of this, it is these inexpressible passions that transcend the imposing pressure of day-to-day realities, conferring a uniquely Singaporean identity. A city’s vibrancy and character, with which the world may remember it, is a reflection of its soul – mention “New York”, and you are likely to get an awe of familiarity even from those who have never stepped foot into Manhattan.
No soul is static. Just as well that the Singaporean soul is gradually being redefined by new generations of well-educated young adults. While the Singlish, the char kuay teow, and the kiasu-ism are unlikely to fade away, we see a new urge for self-expression (our population has the world’s largest percentage of bloggers), and a new appreciation of arts and culture emerging. Hopefully, the Singaporean identity and the city’s character will be transformed with more energy and character.
What remains constant is that the Singaporean soul will remain beating in all of us. The next time you tear your parking coupons according to the ‘carpark time zone’ (10 minutes ahead of local time), chew on this.
(497 words)
