Saturday, January 30, 2010

Continuation of Socratic Seminar

Hello again.

Today I will be discussing (with myself) about whether the Singapore government had been successful in establishing a national identity. Firstly, we know that Singapore has not been very successful in pushing Singaporeans to be more responsible for the cleanliness of Singapore. Compare us to Japan for example. For them, cleanliness has become a habit and this has also turned into part of their identity as Japanese which is globally recognised (or at least I recognise it). For us, however, we continue letting the cleaners to do their job and has thrown this responsible quality for the cleaners to uphold. Therefore we cannot say that a clean garden city is our identity.

Another issue is the Speak Good English and Huayu Cool campaigns, which seek to increase the standard of our speaking. This seems to be an act suppressing the Singlish of Singaporeans, which many take pride in and perceive as our national identity. However, these are some of the government's efforts to raise us to a world-class standard. This is what I recognise as the underlying problem. By trying too hard to gain the acceptance of the world as a well-developed model nation, Singapore has put too much importance on being a world-class nation. This has led to our country lacking a unique quality which we can see as our national identity. We have emulated many other great countries worthy of our appreciation and shaped ourselves like them. We have exchanged our individuality for a globalised nation. We have left ourselves orchids, merlions and language to base our national identity upon. This, as I believe, is a reason for the difficulty we have encountered in trying to seek a national identity for ourselves.

Lastly, I would like to comment on whether
Singaporeans can ever have a national identity. The answer is quite obvious and it is a yes. Any country who puts effort in creating an individualised image for herself and with her citizens working hand-in-hand will always achieve what they aim for. Given some period of time, i believe we will be able to create a national identity which will further outshine any Singlish or Merlion.

Regards, Yi Pin.

2 comments:

  1. Hi,

    I am Jin Yang. After reading your post, I feel as though you are saying that Singlish is the only way for us to establish our identity and without it, we have no more identity. However, is language sufficient? Does having a unique language create a national identity? Many other countries have different languages but is that counted as a form of nartional identity? I don't think so.

    Even if Singlish is our national identity, your last paragraph contradicts what you mentioned at the front. In your last paragraph, you state that Singapore needs more time to establish a national identity. However, based on your point of view, haven't you already stated that Singlish is our identity. Since Singlish has yet to completely fade out, it means that Singapore still has an identity.

    Personally, I feel that having a unique language does not forge a national identity, and indeed, Singapore is too young to have a national identity.

    Anyway, good post, as your point of view may be correct too!!

    Best of luck,
    Jin Yang

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  2. Actually, i was not asserting that Singlish is the only way for us to establish a national identity. Instead, i am refuting the point that Singlish can serve as one for one country. Which is why you may have the same point of view as me, but we have misunderstood each other.

    ng yi pin.

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