It is the elites way of controlling the masses. Apart from the laws, they use religion, the head of state, the race and the fervour of national pride to do it. In Singapore if you are an elite it is ok.
Member of Parliament Penny Low has apologised for using her mobile phone during the singing of the national anthem at the National Day Parade at the Marina Bay floating platform on Tuesday.
A YouTube clip as well as television screengrabs showing Low texting on her phone while other Cabinet members around her were standing and singing the national anthem toward the end of the ceremony are quickly spreading online.
Netizens have criticised Low for being disrespectful, as it is common practice for Singaporeans to stand at attention when the national anthem is sung.
Low, MP for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, told Yahoo! Singapore she wanted to share the "moment of pride" with her residents on Facebook.
"I was so caught up in the wonderful NDP 2011 and felt so proud of being a Singaporean that I wanted to capture that moment of pride at the very tail end of the anthem, to share on Facebook with my residents," she said.
"If in my enthusiasm I offended anyone, please accept my apologies," she said. "NDP is a time to unite, not divide. Majulah Singapura!"