We will be celebrating Singapore‘s 36th National Day next Thursday. Older Singaporeans have experienced the arduous task of nation-building, but what do young Singaporeans think about the country？
The arrival of the men in white - a segment on the annual televised National Day parade I‘ve always looked forward to, perhaps conditioned by my mother’s eagerness.
Every year, without fail, she will stay glued to the goggle-box at that very moment and comment on how so-and-so from the Cabinet looks well despite reported illness, or how Mr X has shockingly grown a head of white hair.
But more than just an ogle-fest, if I can put it that way, the entrance of the Cabinet ministers in their immaculate shirts and trousers never fails to remind me of one thing that Singaporeans have enjoyed for a while - stability. It is no secret that Singapore owes it all to its uncorrupt leaders for where it is today.
Stability, in every sense of the word, is a rare and prized asset for any country. But for Singaporeans as young as I am （I am 22 years old）, it is the norm. I was born into stability.
Every morning, I wake up certain that the invincible fighter jets from the Republic of Singapore Air Force will guard the skies overhead in this place I call home. Or so the television ad tells me. I walk the streets assured that no car parked next to the curb will suddenly blow up. Or so I take for granted.
I have become complacent, and as a result, apathetic. And I know I am not alone. For instance, if I am displeased with any governmental decisions, my initial violent protests are often watered down to gripes so common of disgruntled taxi drivers.Then, in no time, the grudges are forgotten.
The government‘s watchful eye on actions that are non-establishment is one major deterrent to anything more ambitious than a bitching session. （Read： demonstrations, whether peaceful or not.） Having said so, I have my doubts as to whether my peers will take any further action in the absence of the watchful eye.
You see, things are fine just the way they are. Why change them？ At least, I for one would think that way. Status quo is perfectly fine. And status quo has it that my family can afford to live in a five-room HDB flat and that I can still buy my favourite CDs regularly.
Since Singapore‘s shaky independence in 1965, the government has worked hard to ensure economic prosperity and worldwide recognition, chalking up a few “bests” along the way.
The Singapore Changi Airport is one of the world‘s best, and the Singapore Cruise Centre was voted the “Best Turnaround Port” from1997 to 1999 in surveys conducted by the UK publication “Dream World Cruise Destinations”。
My generation has grown up in the era of such achievements. We have only read about the Maria Hertogh riots that broke out in 1950 that involved the Malays and the Europeans. We have only glanced through study notes that detailed the political strikes in the 1940s and 1950s.
But we never did experience them. We are only reminded of them, so that we do not repeat a turmoil history.
I must stress that I‘m not trying to incite any social disharmony here, but my point is： the passion that charged the twenty-somethings 50 years ago, when they fought for their cause, is almost non-existent in the people of the same age group today.
Instead, we have taken things for granted. We cannot bring ourselves to care enough. And sadly, that‘s the price of political stability. The price of peace.
（The writer is a final year student at the School of Communication Studies, NTU.）
和平與政治穩(wěn)定的代價(jià)
● 黃小燕
下星期四,新加坡人將歡慶獨(dú)立36周年。年長(zhǎng)者都深切體會(huì)崎嶇的建國(guó)歷程,可是年輕人又怎么看自己的國(guó)家呢？
每年電視現(xiàn)場(chǎng)轉(zhuǎn)播國(guó)慶檢閱禮時(shí),總是我最期待的片段。
每年電視現(xiàn)場(chǎng)轉(zhuǎn)播國(guó)慶檢閱禮時(shí),穿著白衣白褲的國(guó)家政要的蒞臨,總是我最期待的片段。這大概是受我媽媽的影響。
每一年,在那段時(shí)間,她一定會(huì)守候在電視機(jī)前。然后,她就會(huì)開始發(fā)表意見。例如,雖然報(bào)道某某內(nèi)閣成員患病但卻看來氣色不錯(cuò),或者某某人居然已經(jīng)滿頭白發(fā)了等等。
當(dāng)然,我不是喜歡對(duì)別人品頭論足。穿著一身潔凈白衣白褲的內(nèi)閣部長(zhǎng)到來時(shí),總會(huì)提醒我新加坡人多年來享有的穩(wěn)定。眾所周知,新加坡的成功得歸功于我們廉潔的領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人。
對(duì)任何國(guó)家來說,穩(wěn)定都是不可多得的資產(chǎn)。但是,對(duì)于像我這樣的年輕新加坡人,我今年22歲,穩(wěn)定似乎是理所當(dāng)然的。我可以說是出生在太平盛世。
每一天,我都能帶著一份安全感起床。我們的空軍毫無疑問的,會(huì)保衛(wèi)我們的家園的領(lǐng)空,就如電視廣告中所說的那樣。走在大街上,我也不必?fù)?dān)心停在路邊的車輛,會(huì)突然間爆炸；至少我不認(rèn)為這樣的事情會(huì)發(fā)生。
我已經(jīng)變得自滿,甚至因此對(duì)周遭的事務(wù)變得漠不關(guān)心。當(dāng)然,有很多人也和我一樣。如果我對(duì)任何政府政策覺得不滿,開始時(shí)的強(qiáng)烈*總會(huì)逐漸的變成抱怨,有如一些滿腹牢騷的德士司機(jī)。最后,就什么也不記得了。
政府密切注意反對(duì)現(xiàn)有體制的行動(dòng),是人們只敢抱怨,不敢進(jìn)行例如*等強(qiáng)烈活動(dòng)的一大原因。另一方面,就算沒有政府的密切監(jiān)督,我也懷疑和我同一代的人,會(huì)有什么驚人之舉。
理由很簡(jiǎn)單。目前的一切都很好,為什么要改變現(xiàn)狀呢？至少我的看法是這樣。我完全不反對(duì)維持現(xiàn)狀。因?yàn)槲液透改讣靶值芙忝?可以繼續(xù)住在我們的5房式組屋,我也可以照樣時(shí)常購(gòu)買自己喜歡的激光唱片。
自從新加坡在1965年前途茫茫的情況下獨(dú)立以來,政府便努力不懈,為國(guó)家爭(zhēng)取經(jīng)濟(jì)繁榮和國(guó)際認(rèn)可。在建國(guó)的道路上,我們甚至獲得了幾個(gè)“第一”。
新加坡樟宜國(guó)際機(jī)場(chǎng)是全球機(jī)場(chǎng)之一,從1997到1999年,新加坡游輪中心連續(xù)3年,被英國(guó)刊物 “Dream World Cruise Destinations”選為客運(yùn)港。
我們這一代,在國(guó)家不斷取得顯著成績(jī)的情況下成長(zhǎng)。1950年馬來族群和歐裔人,因?yàn)楹商m籍女子瑪麗亞撫養(yǎng)權(quán)問題發(fā)生的種族*,我們只從書本中得知。1940和1950年代因?yàn)檎螁栴}造成的罷工潮,我們也只從研究文章中略知一二。
但是,我們沒有親身的經(jīng)歷。我們只是時(shí)常被提醒,不要讓*的歷史重演。
我必須強(qiáng)調(diào),我不是要激起任何社會(huì)糾紛。我要說的是：50年前讓當(dāng)時(shí)20出頭的人,為他們的理想奮勇向前的激情,在這一代同年紀(jì)的人身上,幾乎已經(jīng)不存在。
我們把一切視為理所當(dāng)然。我們無法讓自己付出更多關(guān)懷。可嘆的是,這卻是政治穩(wěn)定、和平的代價(jià)。
The arrival of the men in white - a segment on the annual televised National Day parade I‘ve always looked forward to, perhaps conditioned by my mother’s eagerness.
Every year, without fail, she will stay glued to the goggle-box at that very moment and comment on how so-and-so from the Cabinet looks well despite reported illness, or how Mr X has shockingly grown a head of white hair.
But more than just an ogle-fest, if I can put it that way, the entrance of the Cabinet ministers in their immaculate shirts and trousers never fails to remind me of one thing that Singaporeans have enjoyed for a while - stability. It is no secret that Singapore owes it all to its uncorrupt leaders for where it is today.
Stability, in every sense of the word, is a rare and prized asset for any country. But for Singaporeans as young as I am （I am 22 years old）, it is the norm. I was born into stability.
Every morning, I wake up certain that the invincible fighter jets from the Republic of Singapore Air Force will guard the skies overhead in this place I call home. Or so the television ad tells me. I walk the streets assured that no car parked next to the curb will suddenly blow up. Or so I take for granted.
I have become complacent, and as a result, apathetic. And I know I am not alone. For instance, if I am displeased with any governmental decisions, my initial violent protests are often watered down to gripes so common of disgruntled taxi drivers.Then, in no time, the grudges are forgotten.
The government‘s watchful eye on actions that are non-establishment is one major deterrent to anything more ambitious than a bitching session. （Read： demonstrations, whether peaceful or not.） Having said so, I have my doubts as to whether my peers will take any further action in the absence of the watchful eye.
You see, things are fine just the way they are. Why change them？ At least, I for one would think that way. Status quo is perfectly fine. And status quo has it that my family can afford to live in a five-room HDB flat and that I can still buy my favourite CDs regularly.
Since Singapore‘s shaky independence in 1965, the government has worked hard to ensure economic prosperity and worldwide recognition, chalking up a few “bests” along the way.
The Singapore Changi Airport is one of the world‘s best, and the Singapore Cruise Centre was voted the “Best Turnaround Port” from1997 to 1999 in surveys conducted by the UK publication “Dream World Cruise Destinations”。
My generation has grown up in the era of such achievements. We have only read about the Maria Hertogh riots that broke out in 1950 that involved the Malays and the Europeans. We have only glanced through study notes that detailed the political strikes in the 1940s and 1950s.
But we never did experience them. We are only reminded of them, so that we do not repeat a turmoil history.
I must stress that I‘m not trying to incite any social disharmony here, but my point is： the passion that charged the twenty-somethings 50 years ago, when they fought for their cause, is almost non-existent in the people of the same age group today.
Instead, we have taken things for granted. We cannot bring ourselves to care enough. And sadly, that‘s the price of political stability. The price of peace.
（The writer is a final year student at the School of Communication Studies, NTU.）
和平與政治穩(wěn)定的代價(jià)
● 黃小燕
下星期四,新加坡人將歡慶獨(dú)立36周年。年長(zhǎng)者都深切體會(huì)崎嶇的建國(guó)歷程,可是年輕人又怎么看自己的國(guó)家呢？
每年電視現(xiàn)場(chǎng)轉(zhuǎn)播國(guó)慶檢閱禮時(shí),總是我最期待的片段。
每年電視現(xiàn)場(chǎng)轉(zhuǎn)播國(guó)慶檢閱禮時(shí),穿著白衣白褲的國(guó)家政要的蒞臨,總是我最期待的片段。這大概是受我媽媽的影響。
每一年,在那段時(shí)間,她一定會(huì)守候在電視機(jī)前。然后,她就會(huì)開始發(fā)表意見。例如,雖然報(bào)道某某內(nèi)閣成員患病但卻看來氣色不錯(cuò),或者某某人居然已經(jīng)滿頭白發(fā)了等等。
當(dāng)然,我不是喜歡對(duì)別人品頭論足。穿著一身潔凈白衣白褲的內(nèi)閣部長(zhǎng)到來時(shí),總會(huì)提醒我新加坡人多年來享有的穩(wěn)定。眾所周知,新加坡的成功得歸功于我們廉潔的領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人。
對(duì)任何國(guó)家來說,穩(wěn)定都是不可多得的資產(chǎn)。但是,對(duì)于像我這樣的年輕新加坡人,我今年22歲,穩(wěn)定似乎是理所當(dāng)然的。我可以說是出生在太平盛世。
每一天,我都能帶著一份安全感起床。我們的空軍毫無疑問的,會(huì)保衛(wèi)我們的家園的領(lǐng)空,就如電視廣告中所說的那樣。走在大街上,我也不必?fù)?dān)心停在路邊的車輛,會(huì)突然間爆炸；至少我不認(rèn)為這樣的事情會(huì)發(fā)生。
我已經(jīng)變得自滿,甚至因此對(duì)周遭的事務(wù)變得漠不關(guān)心。當(dāng)然,有很多人也和我一樣。如果我對(duì)任何政府政策覺得不滿,開始時(shí)的強(qiáng)烈*總會(huì)逐漸的變成抱怨,有如一些滿腹牢騷的德士司機(jī)。最后,就什么也不記得了。
政府密切注意反對(duì)現(xiàn)有體制的行動(dòng),是人們只敢抱怨,不敢進(jìn)行例如*等強(qiáng)烈活動(dòng)的一大原因。另一方面,就算沒有政府的密切監(jiān)督,我也懷疑和我同一代的人,會(huì)有什么驚人之舉。
理由很簡(jiǎn)單。目前的一切都很好,為什么要改變現(xiàn)狀呢？至少我的看法是這樣。我完全不反對(duì)維持現(xiàn)狀。因?yàn)槲液透改讣靶值芙忝?可以繼續(xù)住在我們的5房式組屋,我也可以照樣時(shí)常購(gòu)買自己喜歡的激光唱片。
自從新加坡在1965年前途茫茫的情況下獨(dú)立以來,政府便努力不懈,為國(guó)家爭(zhēng)取經(jīng)濟(jì)繁榮和國(guó)際認(rèn)可。在建國(guó)的道路上,我們甚至獲得了幾個(gè)“第一”。
新加坡樟宜國(guó)際機(jī)場(chǎng)是全球機(jī)場(chǎng)之一,從1997到1999年,新加坡游輪中心連續(xù)3年,被英國(guó)刊物 “Dream World Cruise Destinations”選為客運(yùn)港。
我們這一代,在國(guó)家不斷取得顯著成績(jī)的情況下成長(zhǎng)。1950年馬來族群和歐裔人,因?yàn)楹商m籍女子瑪麗亞撫養(yǎng)權(quán)問題發(fā)生的種族*,我們只從書本中得知。1940和1950年代因?yàn)檎螁栴}造成的罷工潮,我們也只從研究文章中略知一二。
但是,我們沒有親身的經(jīng)歷。我們只是時(shí)常被提醒,不要讓*的歷史重演。
我必須強(qiáng)調(diào),我不是要激起任何社會(huì)糾紛。我要說的是：50年前讓當(dāng)時(shí)20出頭的人,為他們的理想奮勇向前的激情,在這一代同年紀(jì)的人身上,幾乎已經(jīng)不存在。
我們把一切視為理所當(dāng)然。我們無法讓自己付出更多關(guān)懷。可嘆的是,這卻是政治穩(wěn)定、和平的代價(jià)。