HOW do you feel about our 35th National Day？
I posed this question to some friends and the common reply was “Nothing. Just stay home and watch the parade on TV”。
Their tone gave the impression that it would be just an ordinary day for them but watching the parade was a must even though they didn't sound enthusiastic.
Maybe they were looking forward to a day of rest. Or have they taken the significance of National Day for granted？ Are they “bored” because they have been to the parade and seen it umpteen times on TV？
Or are they just shy of expressing their love of their country？
Or maybe they were feeling solemn — for National Day is a respectable and serious occasion, unlike, say, New Year's Eve.
I feel that as long as they bothered to catch the grand parade of the new millennium on TV, it is already a good sign. They, like me, wanted to witness those taking part in what was a truly Singaporean celebration.
We wanted to hear the National Anthem, the pledge and the Sing Singapore songs.
The songs, which sounded contrived when they were launched, have become a part of us. They gave me a warm feeling inside, and no longer eeky goose bumps. All of us — even the couch-potato participant — I believe, felt proud to be a Singaporean especially on that day.
We were proud of our military might when we saw the mobile columns making its way through the housing estates.
I told a friend that a mobile column would be appearing in his HDB estate in Tampines according to the newspaper. His eyes lit up and I could see great excitement in them. He kept asking me for details. I wondered： “Why would a national serviceman, who has seen the best of tanks and weaponry, be so turned on by the presence of a mobile column in his neighbourhood？”
I asked another national serviceman what's the importance of showing off our defence hardware. His reply： “The region isn't exactly stable. We have to tell others that they cannot take advantage and bully us.” He was also one of those who had earlier told me that they would be doing “nothing” on National Day except watching the parade on TV.
Back to our mobile column in Tampines. The day after the parade, I asked my Tampines friend whether he managed to catch it.
This was his report： “Do you know we waited and waited till 11 pm？ There were many people — including grandmothers and babies. But the mobile column didn't pass by.”
Such was their enthusiasm. Anyway, the newspaper reported that the mobile column would roll down their avenue but it did not state where it would end.
A few days later, I visited a friend who lives in Bedok, and asked her whether she saw the mobile column passing through the main road of her estate .
A housewife in her 30s and one who hardly reads newspapers, she raised her voice： “What？ Why didn't you tell me about it？ I would have gone down to watch it.”
Hers is a typical single-income HDB heartlander family. Although she is not well-to-do, she is still a proud Singaporean.
She said： “The fireworks are much better now. When we were young, the fireworks came one at a time and we had to wait for the next one. But still, we were also very happy.”
However, she was envious of the parade spectators who were given goodie bags.
I asked： “Why do want the goodies？ They're not expensive items.”
Her reply： “No. I want just the bag.”
Stumped, I asked： “Huh？ Why do you want the bag？ It's just a bag. You have better bags.”
She replied： “No. No. No. This bag is a historic bag.” Hmmm……somewhat quirky idea but admirable, I thought. It's the first time that a Singaporean has expressed to me her interest in keeping a National Day goodie bag for posterity.
Then she turned to her 10-year-old daughter and said： “Let's queue up for the National Day parade tickets next year okay？”
The girl jumped in approval as she said： “Yes. Yes. Yes！”
（The author is writer/sub-editor in SPH.）
組屋民眾為國慶自豪
● 陳靜文
“國慶35周年,你有什么感想？”
我向幾位朋友提出這個(gè)問題,得到的回答都一樣：“沒什么；只是待在家里,看看國慶*的電視轉(zhuǎn)播罷了?！蹦强跉饨o人的印象是,他們覺得這一天只是個(gè)平常的日子,但*是非看不可的,盡管說起來似乎不很熱衷。
他們或許盼望著一天的休息,或許國慶的意義對他們已是理所當(dāng)然,或許曾經(jīng)參加過*、在電視上也看過不知多少回了,因此覺得“乏味”。
或許他們其實(shí)是熱愛祖國的,只是羞于表達(dá)？他們也許感到莊嚴(yán)肅穆,因?yàn)閲鴳c畢竟是個(gè)可敬而嚴(yán)肅的時(shí)刻,與除夕之類的節(jié)日不同。
以筆者之見,只要人們還有心追看這千禧新年里的盛大*的電視轉(zhuǎn)播,已是個(gè)好現(xiàn)象了。像我一樣,人們都想一睹同胞們參與這場地道新加坡慶典的風(fēng)采。
我們也都想聽人們奏國歌、念誓約,高唱愛國歌曲。這些歌曲在當(dāng)初推出時(shí),聽起來似乎造作,但如今已經(jīng)深入人心了。我聽著這些歌曲,身上不再起雞皮疙瘩,而是心里騰起一股溫暖。我想,尤其是在那一天,人人都會(huì)因身為新加坡人而自豪——連倚靠在沙發(fā)上看電視轉(zhuǎn)播的人也不例外。
看到機(jī)動(dòng)部隊(duì)的軍車駛過組屋區(qū),我們都為新加坡的強(qiáng)大軍力而自豪。筆者告訴一位朋友,報(bào)紙上的消息說,軍車隊(duì)將要駛過他居住的淡濱尼組屋區(qū),他立即興奮得兩眼發(fā)亮,直向我打聽詳情。我覺得奇怪：“一個(gè)當(dāng)過兵的人,什么尖端的坦克、武器都見過了,怎么一聽說機(jī)動(dòng)部隊(duì)要經(jīng)過他的組屋區(qū),還是那么興奮呢？”
我又問另一名戰(zhàn)備軍人,展示國防武器裝備的意義何在,他答道：“本區(qū)域的局勢還不很穩(wěn)定,必須讓人知道不可趁機(jī)來欺負(fù)我們啊?！边@位朋友,就是回答說國慶節(jié)那天只打算在電視上看看*的那幾個(gè)人之一。
再說說機(jī)動(dòng)部隊(duì)的*吧。*過后第二天,筆者問一位住在淡濱尼的朋友看到坦克軍車了沒有。他回答說：“你知道嗎？我們等啊等,直到晚上11點(diǎn)！好多好多人,連老阿嬤、小嬰兒都出動(dòng)了,可軍車隊(duì)就是沒過來?！?BR> 可見人們的熱情是那么高漲。報(bào)紙的消息只說機(jī)動(dòng)部隊(duì)將要經(jīng)過他們那條街道,可是畢竟沒指明將走到哪一段為止。
幾天后,我過訪一位家住勿洛的朋友,問她有否看到機(jī)動(dòng)部隊(duì)經(jīng)過當(dāng)?shù)亟M屋區(qū)的大路。
這位三十來歲的家庭主婦平日難得看報(bào)紙,聽我一說,立即高聲問道：“什么？怎么沒早告訴我？否則我一定會(huì)下樓去看的?！边@是組屋區(qū)里一個(gè)典型的單收入家庭；盡管不富裕,這位主婦仍然是個(gè)自豪的新加坡人。
她說：“如今的煙花好看多了。我們小時(shí)候看到的煙花是一次放一朵,要等一等才有另一朵看,可那時(shí)我們還是很高興。”不過,看見別人到*現(xiàn)場分得禮品包,她還是十分羨慕。
筆者問：“那禮品又不是些值錢的東西,為什么想要呢？”她答道：“不是要禮品；我是想要那個(gè)包。”回答出人意料。“是嗎？”我問道,“為什么想要那個(gè)包？不就是個(gè)包嘛,哪有你自己的包好呢？”她連忙答道：“不,不是的,那個(gè)包有歷史意義?！?BR> 唔,不錯(cuò),想法是有點(diǎn)奇特,可是我覺得很可敬。這是第一次聽到一個(gè)新加坡人對我說起有意把國慶節(jié)禮品包珍藏起來。接著她轉(zhuǎn)身問十歲的女兒：“我們明年去排隊(duì)領(lǐng)看國慶*的票,好不好？”女兒高興得跳起來,連聲說：“好,好,好！”
I posed this question to some friends and the common reply was “Nothing. Just stay home and watch the parade on TV”。
Their tone gave the impression that it would be just an ordinary day for them but watching the parade was a must even though they didn't sound enthusiastic.
Maybe they were looking forward to a day of rest. Or have they taken the significance of National Day for granted？ Are they “bored” because they have been to the parade and seen it umpteen times on TV？
Or are they just shy of expressing their love of their country？
Or maybe they were feeling solemn — for National Day is a respectable and serious occasion, unlike, say, New Year's Eve.
I feel that as long as they bothered to catch the grand parade of the new millennium on TV, it is already a good sign. They, like me, wanted to witness those taking part in what was a truly Singaporean celebration.
We wanted to hear the National Anthem, the pledge and the Sing Singapore songs.
The songs, which sounded contrived when they were launched, have become a part of us. They gave me a warm feeling inside, and no longer eeky goose bumps. All of us — even the couch-potato participant — I believe, felt proud to be a Singaporean especially on that day.
We were proud of our military might when we saw the mobile columns making its way through the housing estates.
I told a friend that a mobile column would be appearing in his HDB estate in Tampines according to the newspaper. His eyes lit up and I could see great excitement in them. He kept asking me for details. I wondered： “Why would a national serviceman, who has seen the best of tanks and weaponry, be so turned on by the presence of a mobile column in his neighbourhood？”
I asked another national serviceman what's the importance of showing off our defence hardware. His reply： “The region isn't exactly stable. We have to tell others that they cannot take advantage and bully us.” He was also one of those who had earlier told me that they would be doing “nothing” on National Day except watching the parade on TV.
Back to our mobile column in Tampines. The day after the parade, I asked my Tampines friend whether he managed to catch it.
This was his report： “Do you know we waited and waited till 11 pm？ There were many people — including grandmothers and babies. But the mobile column didn't pass by.”
Such was their enthusiasm. Anyway, the newspaper reported that the mobile column would roll down their avenue but it did not state where it would end.
A few days later, I visited a friend who lives in Bedok, and asked her whether she saw the mobile column passing through the main road of her estate .
A housewife in her 30s and one who hardly reads newspapers, she raised her voice： “What？ Why didn't you tell me about it？ I would have gone down to watch it.”
Hers is a typical single-income HDB heartlander family. Although she is not well-to-do, she is still a proud Singaporean.
She said： “The fireworks are much better now. When we were young, the fireworks came one at a time and we had to wait for the next one. But still, we were also very happy.”
However, she was envious of the parade spectators who were given goodie bags.
I asked： “Why do want the goodies？ They're not expensive items.”
Her reply： “No. I want just the bag.”
Stumped, I asked： “Huh？ Why do you want the bag？ It's just a bag. You have better bags.”
She replied： “No. No. No. This bag is a historic bag.” Hmmm……somewhat quirky idea but admirable, I thought. It's the first time that a Singaporean has expressed to me her interest in keeping a National Day goodie bag for posterity.
Then she turned to her 10-year-old daughter and said： “Let's queue up for the National Day parade tickets next year okay？”
The girl jumped in approval as she said： “Yes. Yes. Yes！”
（The author is writer/sub-editor in SPH.）
組屋民眾為國慶自豪
● 陳靜文
“國慶35周年,你有什么感想？”
我向幾位朋友提出這個(gè)問題,得到的回答都一樣：“沒什么；只是待在家里,看看國慶*的電視轉(zhuǎn)播罷了?！蹦强跉饨o人的印象是,他們覺得這一天只是個(gè)平常的日子,但*是非看不可的,盡管說起來似乎不很熱衷。
他們或許盼望著一天的休息,或許國慶的意義對他們已是理所當(dāng)然,或許曾經(jīng)參加過*、在電視上也看過不知多少回了,因此覺得“乏味”。
或許他們其實(shí)是熱愛祖國的,只是羞于表達(dá)？他們也許感到莊嚴(yán)肅穆,因?yàn)閲鴳c畢竟是個(gè)可敬而嚴(yán)肅的時(shí)刻,與除夕之類的節(jié)日不同。
以筆者之見,只要人們還有心追看這千禧新年里的盛大*的電視轉(zhuǎn)播,已是個(gè)好現(xiàn)象了。像我一樣,人們都想一睹同胞們參與這場地道新加坡慶典的風(fēng)采。
我們也都想聽人們奏國歌、念誓約,高唱愛國歌曲。這些歌曲在當(dāng)初推出時(shí),聽起來似乎造作,但如今已經(jīng)深入人心了。我聽著這些歌曲,身上不再起雞皮疙瘩,而是心里騰起一股溫暖。我想,尤其是在那一天,人人都會(huì)因身為新加坡人而自豪——連倚靠在沙發(fā)上看電視轉(zhuǎn)播的人也不例外。
看到機(jī)動(dòng)部隊(duì)的軍車駛過組屋區(qū),我們都為新加坡的強(qiáng)大軍力而自豪。筆者告訴一位朋友,報(bào)紙上的消息說,軍車隊(duì)將要駛過他居住的淡濱尼組屋區(qū),他立即興奮得兩眼發(fā)亮,直向我打聽詳情。我覺得奇怪：“一個(gè)當(dāng)過兵的人,什么尖端的坦克、武器都見過了,怎么一聽說機(jī)動(dòng)部隊(duì)要經(jīng)過他的組屋區(qū),還是那么興奮呢？”
我又問另一名戰(zhàn)備軍人,展示國防武器裝備的意義何在,他答道：“本區(qū)域的局勢還不很穩(wěn)定,必須讓人知道不可趁機(jī)來欺負(fù)我們啊?！边@位朋友,就是回答說國慶節(jié)那天只打算在電視上看看*的那幾個(gè)人之一。
再說說機(jī)動(dòng)部隊(duì)的*吧。*過后第二天,筆者問一位住在淡濱尼的朋友看到坦克軍車了沒有。他回答說：“你知道嗎？我們等啊等,直到晚上11點(diǎn)！好多好多人,連老阿嬤、小嬰兒都出動(dòng)了,可軍車隊(duì)就是沒過來?！?BR> 可見人們的熱情是那么高漲。報(bào)紙的消息只說機(jī)動(dòng)部隊(duì)將要經(jīng)過他們那條街道,可是畢竟沒指明將走到哪一段為止。
幾天后,我過訪一位家住勿洛的朋友,問她有否看到機(jī)動(dòng)部隊(duì)經(jīng)過當(dāng)?shù)亟M屋區(qū)的大路。
這位三十來歲的家庭主婦平日難得看報(bào)紙,聽我一說,立即高聲問道：“什么？怎么沒早告訴我？否則我一定會(huì)下樓去看的?！边@是組屋區(qū)里一個(gè)典型的單收入家庭；盡管不富裕,這位主婦仍然是個(gè)自豪的新加坡人。
她說：“如今的煙花好看多了。我們小時(shí)候看到的煙花是一次放一朵,要等一等才有另一朵看,可那時(shí)我們還是很高興。”不過,看見別人到*現(xiàn)場分得禮品包,她還是十分羨慕。
筆者問：“那禮品又不是些值錢的東西,為什么想要呢？”她答道：“不是要禮品；我是想要那個(gè)包。”回答出人意料。“是嗎？”我問道,“為什么想要那個(gè)包？不就是個(gè)包嘛,哪有你自己的包好呢？”她連忙答道：“不,不是的,那個(gè)包有歷史意義?！?BR> 唔,不錯(cuò),想法是有點(diǎn)奇特,可是我覺得很可敬。這是第一次聽到一個(gè)新加坡人對我說起有意把國慶節(jié)禮品包珍藏起來。接著她轉(zhuǎn)身問十歲的女兒：“我們明年去排隊(duì)領(lǐng)看國慶*的票,好不好？”女兒高興得跳起來,連聲說：“好,好,好！”