<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR>Pleasant, familiar signs of patriotism as National Day approaches
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->AS I hurried to the bus stop in my No. 4 uniform, the sight of HDB blocks decked out in red and white stopped me in my tracks.
As I waited for the bus, patriotism was in the air and sentiments ran high. A boy in a prominent pink kindergarten uniform was waving a Singapore flag and singing the National Anthem enthusiastically. Not far away, a lady in her 20s was wearing a red top with a white skirt.
I am sure such little acts of patriotism are common in Japan and China, but what intrigues me is the spell which Singapore, a small country with no long history to boast of, has cast on its citizens to make us carry a spark of patriotism in our hearts.
Perhaps it is the Asian values that have been ingrained in our minds, or the message of armed forces advertisements on public transport, or simply the study of history in school - I don't know.
But I do know my time as a full-time national serviceman has shed light on the issue of patriotism, which I believe lies at the core in all of us.
Like soldiers before me, I still break out in a cold sweat when I think of my army days. After 'mosquito sessions' in field training, muscle cramps after a seemingly impossible number of push-ups and unreasonable extra duties imposed for making the slightest mistake, who would not?
While we were preoccupied with counting the number of days to ORD (operational ready date), the seeds of patriotism had been planted in our hearts through bittersweet memories in NS.
In today's world, patriotism is not just about fighting for your country but also ensuring your country does not have to fight.
While we wave the flag this National Day, we must remind ourselves to protect our fragile social fabric and be careful not to step on any racial landmines.
Chan Hang Yang
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->AS I hurried to the bus stop in my No. 4 uniform, the sight of HDB blocks decked out in red and white stopped me in my tracks.
As I waited for the bus, patriotism was in the air and sentiments ran high. A boy in a prominent pink kindergarten uniform was waving a Singapore flag and singing the National Anthem enthusiastically. Not far away, a lady in her 20s was wearing a red top with a white skirt.
I am sure such little acts of patriotism are common in Japan and China, but what intrigues me is the spell which Singapore, a small country with no long history to boast of, has cast on its citizens to make us carry a spark of patriotism in our hearts.
Perhaps it is the Asian values that have been ingrained in our minds, or the message of armed forces advertisements on public transport, or simply the study of history in school - I don't know.
But I do know my time as a full-time national serviceman has shed light on the issue of patriotism, which I believe lies at the core in all of us.
Like soldiers before me, I still break out in a cold sweat when I think of my army days. After 'mosquito sessions' in field training, muscle cramps after a seemingly impossible number of push-ups and unreasonable extra duties imposed for making the slightest mistake, who would not?
While we were preoccupied with counting the number of days to ORD (operational ready date), the seeds of patriotism had been planted in our hearts through bittersweet memories in NS.
In today's world, patriotism is not just about fighting for your country but also ensuring your country does not have to fight.
While we wave the flag this National Day, we must remind ourselves to protect our fragile social fabric and be careful not to step on any racial landmines.
Chan Hang Yang
