National Day Week Series: My vision for Singapore

By Ng Yi Shu –

“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.”

This was what our forefathers had in mind 47 years ago – when S Rajaratnam wrote this, he believed that we were divided as a nation along racial lines (not as differently as we are now).

47 years later, the same ideals stand – justice, equality, prosperity, progress – but the people are different. 47 years later, we have become economically wealthier. We live richer – far richer than what the previous generation dreamed of – and even though poverty still exists in our country, 90% of Singaporeans are happy with our standard of living.

Being of the 90’s generation, I was not a part of this economic transformation. In fact, I have never lived in a state of poverty – I have never experienced the hardship our forefathers had experienced building our country. As a young child, I often wondered about the times where ‘people said that Singapore couldn’t make it’ – I had never felt the despair our forefathers had felt when we were suddenly thrown out of Malaysia. Innocently, I believed that this state of socio-economic prosperity would go on.

But as I grew up, I slowly began to see what we were lacking in – freedoms, for one, and equality, for another. I began to see that perhaps we were not truly happy, prosperous and making progress. I began to see that perhaps equality as an ideal never extended to the powerless minorities – to the homosexuals, to the naturalized citizens and migrant workers here for a job, to the poor. I began to see that perhaps happiness as an ideal never really existed – for I saw people who were perpetually never really happy for what they had, people who believed they would never be enough. I began to see that perhaps we didn’t really live an ideal of justice – for there were still people being discriminated for their beliefs or their status.

I also saw people who were trying, truly trying to make the lives of people around them better. I saw people fighting for equality for sexual and political minorities. I saw people fighting for equality for migrant workers and eventually fighting for equality for naturalized citizens and permanent residents. I saw people fighting for justice.

When I was young, I idolised these people.

I hoped that one day I could become like them, standing on a stage and inspiring others.

But honestly, I didn’t. I went with the times – I became xenophobic and anti-PAP just because a large number of people around me were doing so. I supported the opposition because they had better rhetoric, not better ideas. I began to read alternative news just because contentious journalism clicked with my idea of freedom – starting with Temasek Review, and when I got tired (even disgusted) at its angry rhetoric, I started to read The Online Citizen.

I guess I never really dreamed of writing for them. I became part of the community – taking common stands with people, debating, bonding over apathy, activism, care and fear. I felt empowered by this community – for it allowed me to speak even if my opinions were unpopular. I felt as though I could make a difference – but I didn’t.

I didn’t choose to make a difference, even though when I was little I idolized the people who did and aspired to become them.

Personally, I didn’t choose to make a difference because I believed it was hopeless to do so. I did not personally aspire to lead, to talk about win-win, about possibility, community, gratitude, wisdom and abundance. I didn’t choose to make a difference because I believed no one would listen. I didn’t choose to make a difference simply because I felt that I couldn’t make a difference – because things never change.

Even now, at times, I still believe that these beliefs are true. People have time and again shown me otherwise; they have told me that these were simply illusions I held – that these were simply obstacles from my goal, assumptions I held against others.

People have told me – and I have discovered for myself – that I want something bigger than my own self.

I have a vision of building a nation of community – where people come together despite their differences, political or otherwise. I have a vision where these people come together aligned with the goal of building a better future for our children. I have a vision where these people have a common identity – of being Singaporean, instead of being homosexuals, foreign-born or poor. I have a vision of a nation building love, not hate. I have a vision where we choose to live in prosperity – to give, not take; to be together, not apart; to be enough, not filling an endless gap.

I have a vision where we live by the ideals of our Pledge – equality, justice, freedom, democracy, prosperity and progress.

I choose to be here because I believe that I can bring hope – even as a mere 18 year old.

I choose to make a difference because I believe that we can be something bigger than our own selves. I choose to make a difference because I believe I have enough – that even though I don’t earn a multi-million dollar salary, I can still give – in time, in spirit, in words. I choose to make a difference because I believe that I am responsible for myself and the people around me – and I believe that they will live a better future.

It sounds crazy, because I don’t know how we will get there. I don’t even know if we will get there. I don’t even know if I will achieve this vision.

But I am committed today to this – just as how our forefathers were committed to the ideals of the Pledge when they wrote it.

This is why I write, for I have pledged that: