Brah wrote:Fortan wrote:What national identity is that? Can you explain to me what national identity a Singaporean has - except being born in Singapore? What makes a Singaporean unique? I am just curious as I can't see the identity here. What I see is the opposite - a lack of identity.
You don't have your own language, Singlish is taken from the neighboring countries mother tongue. A Singaporean is not Malay, you are not Chinese, you are not Indian but you are a Singaporean.
With a 49 year old 'culture' that I can't see…. This is not a post to piss on Singaporeans or anything along those lines, I just don't see any culture here except for eating and talking about food - and of course shopping.
However, I might be completely missing the Singaporean identity, even in my Singaporean friends… I just can't find it.
I have to agree with everything you wrote. I've been here longer than you and I have yet to find it either, and I have looked and integrated and ended up pulling out every time.
The culture is not much more that a lot of talking about food that is mediocre at best and pales in comparison with almost any other Asian nation, and shopping malls for things that are more expensive here than anywhere (?) else. It's just all so empty - safe, pleasant, but empty.
And before the
Troll With Multiple Accounts reacts by telling people about leaving, well you have to realize that not everyone here who is not from here wants to be here or even enjoys being here.
To both,
Being a young nation, Singapore has borrowed it's culture heavily . It's true that our people all originated from other places at one time or another but over time, we have meshed these cultures into one that is our own. It may not be the most colorful or the most desired but from what I can see, we are moving in the right direction. Every country has their unique food and culture and regardless of how old or young the nation is, culture is always evolving.
If someone does not like or conform to the culture of the place, I rather they leave. Taking myself as an example, I cannot stand the culture in China, therefore I make a conscious decision not to involve myself there.
What we do not need most now is a step back, because of the failure of certain groups of people to integrate.
What I believe in and I'm sure what most people believe in, when in Rome, do as the Romans do.