Celebrating Singapore’s 46th National Day

In 1965, I remember standing outside my neighbor’s house. I was watching a black-and-white TV programme when it was interrupted for an important announcement.

Singapore became an independent nation.

After the announcement, there were no major celebrations on the street. None of the usual jubilation over the birth of a new country.

I remember the Prime Minister, Mr. Lee Kuan Yew cried when he broke the news.

There were fears and worries in many corners of our nation. Many questions were left hanging in the air.

‘Can Singapore survive?’

‘What will happen to our future?’

‘Will we have to struggle and suffer to make ends meet?’

Singapore is a small country.

We do not have any major natural resources. There are not enough water to keep ourselves alive.

Our people were mostly migrants and from other countries. Many of them harboured the desire at that point in time to go back eventually to their ‘motherland.’

We are a multicultural society that unfortunately was not in complete and total harmony. Did you know we had racial riots on the street?

At that point in time, there were many protests and civil unrests. There were people who burned buses and destroy properties.

Curfews were enacted and we were not allowed to go out to play on the streets.

We even had to stock up food in the schools just in case it was not safe to go back home.

I am sharing this because I hope we will never forget where we came from.

We will never take for granted how our leaders and people had to work hard to build this beautiful country.

We came a long way – from being a relatively poor country to being one of the most admired countries in the world.

On Singapore’s 46^th birthday, I do not have a new wish for my country.

I have the same wish that took Singapore from where we were to where we are today. The same wish that may help us to become one of the greatest nations in history.

I wish for the same wish that has been beautifully crafted in our National Anthem and the Singaporean Pledge.

In HSR’s major events, we sing the National Anthem. I do not know of any other company that does it. We do it because we owe a lot to our country.

We must do everything to love and protect Singapore for our future generations.

Please join me to take the Singapore Pledge into our heart.

‘We, the citizens of Singapore,

 pledge ourselves as one united people,

 regardless of race, language or religion,

 to build a democratic society,

 based on justice and equality,

 so as to achieve happiness, prosperity

 and progress for our nation.’

 

 I hope this message will find a place in your heart.

By the way, I have also recorded other reflections.

Please go to ‘Notes’ found below my profile picture.

Visit my Inspiration blog at http://liewinspiration.wordpress.com

Visit my Transformation blog at http://hsrpatrickliew.wordpress.com

Please read them and continue to teach me.

Life is FUNtastic!

 

Question: How can we do more for our country?