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:
“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 is what our forefathers had in mind for our nation, 47 years ago.
Live it.