By Ghui

Patriotism and a sense of identifying with one’s “home” country are certainly not straightforward issues. This is especially not clear-cut in the age of globalisation. Singapore has seen its own share of immigration. Indeed, this is a worldwide phenomenon and immigration to Singapore is a sign that Singapore has joined the ranks of global cities, which are seen as favourable cities in which to live.

In any scenario, there are always pros and cons. In the Singapore example, the boon of global recognition as a sought after city had the accompanying bane of perceived overcrowding. It has also forced us to confront the issue of our own national identity. What makes one Singaporean? What constitutes distinctly Singaporean characteristics?

Feng Tianwei’s recent triumph at the Olympics has sparked another controversy on “Singaporeanness”. While some were proud of her victory, others were more reticent, believing that her achievements were not the achievements of Singapore because she was originally Chinese. I do not know Feng personally but I can imagine that this would be a bitter pill to swallow. An Olympics medal is the culmination of years of blood, sweat and tears. It is no mean feat. The public see only the elation of the victors and the disappointment of those who underperformed. They do not see the years of training and sacrifice that go on behind closed doors regardless of the eventual result.

Of course, there is no denying that if she won a medal, she would be handsomely rewarded and now that she has indeed triumphed, I have no doubt that her bank account has received a healthy boost. However, it is important to bear in mind the unpredictability of winning. Even if she had not won the sought after medal, she would still have had to put in the same amount of effort sans the monetary reward of victory.

If Feng had failed, we would have said she was a complete waste of time and resources but now that she has finally brought home an individual medal, we begrudge her the success she is due. In short, she can never win. But is it about her? No, not really – it is about our own tussle with national identity that has brought the issue of her victory to the forefront.

Do other countries suffer from the same quagmire? 

When Mo Farah, who is Somalian by birth, won the 10,000 metres for Team GB, he knelt on the floor in a prayer of thanks before draping the Union Jack across his tired but victorious shoulders. For all the British who were watching, that was a momentous moment for he had managed to retain his cultural roots while still embracing “Britishness”. He was living example of acceptance and integration.

When asked if he would rather be representing Somalia, his simple response spoke volumes. ‘Not at all, mate. This is my country.’.  Has anyone ever asked Feng the same question?

While Mo may have embraced his adopted country, he has also set up The Mo Farah Foundation to support victims of drought in the country of his birth. Clearly, one can embrace both British and Somali values at the same time without conflict. Can Feng not be a Singaporean who cherishes the opportunities of her adopted land without relinquishing the fact that she was once a Chinese citizen? The two are clearly not mutually exclusive.

As the country comes to grips with the impact of mass migration, coupled with the government’s lack of adequate planning, there will no doubt be hurdles to overcome. But, let’s not miss the forest for the trees. This is not about individuals but a collective national identity. Perhaps, we should think about what makes us Singaporeans as opposed to singling out non- Singaporeans.

Singapore is a country built on the toil of our forefathers, many of whom were immigrants. With their industry and hard work, a nation emerged from a tiny fishing village. Perhaps then, the qualities that make one Singaporean are drive, perseverence, a willingness to work hard and a commitment to put down roots rather than arbitrary standards of “Singaporeaness”.

Are the British more willing to accept Mo more than we are able to accept Feng because the British are more secure in their national identity? I do not know but I do know that xenophobia does not solve the problem.

The government has to do its part but we too have to give some thought to what makes one Singaporean before attacking anyone perceived as foreign.

You May Also Like

暂无计划调整最低七天法定年假 杨莉明:续监督我国就业趋势

人力部长杨莉明日前表示,近期内暂无调整七天法定年假的计划,而人力将持续针监督我国就业趋势,并结合国外情况以及检视法律与政策。 据《雅虎新闻》报道,义顺集选区议员黄国光于国会中质询,人力部是否有意检讨法定最低七天年假,让我国国民与其他发达国家相比,享有更好的年假待遇。 而杨莉明则认为,每个经济发达的国家对年假的制定并不相同,例如英国与澳洲两国均对年假有“相对慷慨的规定”,但美国则没有相应的联邦法律来规范带薪年假。 杨莉明续指,我国的法定最低年假则与台湾和香港司法管辖区较为相似。 目前以我国《就业法》为例,员工年资3个月以上,不超过一年,将获得法定最低年假7天,而员工若满一年以上者,其法定最低年假将增加到最多14天。 杨莉明也指出,新加坡的法定最低年假,还应与其他法定例假如带薪病假、育儿假和其他形式的休假加以看待考量。 年假待遇与香港相似,但仍显不足 日前一份报告显示,新加坡在40个城市中的“工作与生活平衡”指数排名第32位,仅次邻国之下,显示新加坡人花在工作的时间是世界城市中最长之一。 调查结果显示,新加坡在“工作过度“栏目中,以每周工作44.6个小时排名第二,仅次于吉隆坡的46个小时。 报告续指有23巴仙的新加坡全职员工,更是每周工作超过48小时,该比率竟在40个城市中排名第一,紧跟在后的吉隆坡比率为22巴仙,香港和东京同为20巴仙。 而针对年假,新加坡员工每年年假仅14天,排名第19。那其他发达国家的年假又该如何计算?部分发达国家如澳洲与新西兰的年假,是一年20天;而韩国则获得15-25天的年假。 而新加坡年假是否与香港和台湾相似?…

PM Lee invites new M’sian premier Ismail Sabri for official visit during congratulatory call

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has extended an invitation to his newly-sworn…

HDB policy on singles: Singaporean vs Permanent Resident

Leong Sze Hian Why are Permanent Residents (PRs) who are single buying…

Hijab in S’pore’s uniformed professions: Over 50 years of closed-door discussions have brought issue “nowhere”, says SPP’s Khan Osman Sulaiman

More than 50 years of closed-door discussions have brought the issue of…