National Day

[BABBS]

As a newcomer to Singapore, I'm very keen to learn more about the festivities that take place on the 9th August. I know that everybody congregates around the Stadium for fireworks, but apparantly very difficult to get tickets?
I'm based on the East Coast and would appreciate some suggestions as to how to spend this day.

[jpatokal]

AFAIK you can't even apply for tickets unless you're a citizen or PR.

My advice is to get out of the country, I can't stand the excesses of tripe spewed out around Nationalist Day.

[NBB]

I don't know JP, If I were Singaporean, I'd be feeling a fair amount of pride too. Just go back 50 years, 40 or 20 even, and see what Singapore has accomplished in this time. And is accomplishing as we speak.

I say chapeau!

NBB

[jpatokal]

Sorry, I have fairly iconoclastic views on this subject. I think that nation-states are fundamentally evil and that nationalism is a cancerous disease.

My hat's off to the EU, and I hope ASEAN some day gets its act together and starts following the same path.

[patriotic me]

'I think that nation-states are fundamentally evil and that nationalism is a cancerous disease. '

i don't agree with you wholeheartedly at all. it isn't really a correct word to use 'evil'. every country tries to outdo one another to get a pie of global success. it isn't the evil within the country but the continuism of nationalism that spurs us on to make our country a better place to live in.

'nationalism is a cancerous disease.'
this i definitely do not agree with. Nationalism isn't a disease at all. it is something inculcated in our minds through the glory and recognition of our past memories and of course the probably unneccesary recittal of national anthem every day at sch. (is this a common practice in other countires?). Rather, i would say 'nationalism is a contagious devotion to the interests or culture of one's nation. it's because of nationalism that we are who we are today.


Back to the topic, well, it may be true that only PRs and citizens of singapore can buy tickets to watch at the national stadium(it is logical, isn't it?). Perhaps if i were want to celebrate singapore's national day and i can't do it at the national stadium, i would go to one of the several venues around singapore and celebrate at these areas which does not require me to buy a ticket. (sorry, i ain't sure what the venues are.)

[jpatokal]

i don't agree with you wholeheartedly at all. it isn't really a correct word to use 'evil'. every country tries to outdo one another to get a pie of global success. it isn't the evil within the country but the continuism of nationalism that spurs us on to make our country a better place to live in.

OK, here's a challenge for you. I'll name 5 evil things caused by nation states during the past 100 years: World War II, Stalin's gulags, famines in Mao's China, Pol Pot's Cambodia and the Rwandan genocide. Now name me 5 good things caused by nation states that outweigh these.

this i definitely do not agree with. Nationalism isn't a disease at all. it is something inculcated in our minds through the glory and recognition of our past memories and of course the probably unneccesary recittal of national anthem every day at sch.

Our past memories? What does it have to do with me if somebody else goes and does something glorious like shoot other people in the name of his State?

See, this is precisely what I object to. A "nation" is a randomly drawn border that you have very little control over: you can't choose the nation you're born in and it's pretty damn hard to change your nationality. And, through no fault of your own, The State can decree that you must now go kill other people, and will have you killed if you disagree.

I choose not to choose this. Non serviam.

[patriotic me]

Definitely, there are many more examples that outweigh yours. 5 is just too little to name. however, i'll still name 5: The World War2, Stalin's gulags, famines in Mao's China, Pol Pot's Cambodia and the Rwandan genocide.
It is through experience that our nation states may have tried to avoid falling into these situations knowing it is detrimental and possibly disastrous. Experience may be accompaanied with a heavy price. As the chinese saying goes: ''it is better to sacrifice a few good ones to save the masses''. Had all those 'unfortunate incidents' been initiated in the future, consequences would be many more times of what u have seen in the present.

Our countries' past memories are an important experience to us and teaches us important lessons. In addition, the contributions of our forefathers' could inspire us to make a greater leap forward in our effort for the sake of the country. For eg. our hero LKY. We are proud to mention his name. His name is deemed priceless by everybody because of the good he has done to Singapore, and eventually us.

[quote]A "nation" is a randomly drawn border that you have very little control over.

By the definiton of nation, in this context, what i meant is a democratic nation. It could be representative democracy as in the case of Singapore or a direct democrazy as in the case of switzerland. I may not have alot of control over a nation, but the people certainly have alot of control over the nation. If they feel that something is not right or needs to be changed, as in the context of a democratic nation, it is legal and a person's right to voice it out(though it may not be as effective).

[monicae]

NBB, LKY loves u man....
You are his model "Singaporean"

I can just picture u waving a torch light and doing the WE ARE SINGAPORE number in the stadium with a big Singapore flag painted on both cheeks..... hmmmmm maybe even your chest.

[sherry ho]

As a newcomer to Singapore, I'm very keen to learn more about the festivities that take place on the 9th August. I know that everybody congregates around the Stadium for fireworks, but apparantly very difficult to get tickets?
I'm based on the East Coast and would appreciate some suggestions as to spento how d this day.

i love the fireworks do you

[Pinky]

Sherry, check out the dates of the post, the year in particular.. 8)