Many Faces, Many Races, One People.
9 August, National Day. A Source of pride for many Singaporean citizens, a day in the year when we can bear our pride for the world to see.
Look around you, and you will see the streets decked out in red and white, the colours of our national flag. And in the weeks leading up to National Day, all we can hear in the shopping centres are the melodic tunes of our patriotic National Day songs blasting from the speakers.
How did the 9th of August get the status it has today? Well, 9 August marks the day where Singapore gained independence from Malaysia in 1965. As a new sovereign state, no one knew what would happen. Would Singapore be able to hold onto its newly acquired independence? Would it cave under the pressure? Those fears were all unfounded. Because looking at the bustling, developed economy of Singapore today, we have the answer: Singapore, with the assistance of our determined government, managed to overcome the odds and bring honour and pride to the Singaporean name.
The National Day Parade, or NDP, can be experienced from the comfort of our homes or the proximity of the padang. This year’s theme of NDP is ‘Onward as One’, and is a call to all us Singaporeans to look forward and build our shared future together, as one united people. During the parade, beautiful aerial displays will be put up for all of us to witness: the magnificent aircrafts soaring overhead in various formations. On top of that, concerts and performances will woo us into the evening and ensure that the energy never dies down in the crowd. More details for the Parade can be found on the NDP.gov.sg website.
There is lots to look forward to, too; the ‘Defending Our Nation as One’ segment during the parade enforces the Sinaporean solidarity and responsibility to protect the nation, while ‘Building Our Shared Future as One’ embraces and celebrates the diversity of our multiracial Singaporean society. As quoted from the NDP government website, “The NDP Show comprises four live Acts featuring 43 artistes and 2,400 performers, interwoven with three short films. The films will feature 19 Singaporeans and their stories related to their dreams, passions, aspirations and giving back to society. These stories aim to inspire Singaporeans to build a shared future that is inclusive, full of opportunities and with a society that is kind, caring and big hearted.” Wow, there truly is so much to gain from NDP!
And so, what does it mean to be a Singaporean citizen? In Singapore, we are a multiracial country: our society is made up of Chinese, Malay, Indian, Eurasians, and more. Yet there is one thing that binds us all together, and that is our Shared Singaporean Identity. By living in a multicultural and multiracial society, it comes with the added benefits of being exposed to different traditions and beliefs, helping us to broaden our horizons and forge deeper friendships with those who are different from us.
A prime example of how these differences collide is with our father tongue, Singlish, which is the marriage of a myriad of cultures and expressions in Singapore today. A unique feature of our Singaporean identity that is brash, but elegant. Disarranged, but efficient. Omnipresent in our society, it combines elements of the diverse languages and dialects that have become second nature, as more than just a slang, but a way of life.
As a youth living in Singapore, I am proud of my distinct identity and ability to make friends with people from all different races, traditions, and cultures. We have really come a long way from the nation we once were, where tense racial riots used to break out frequently. But now, this melting pot society is one we can proudly call home, and as we recite our pledge with pride, the hard work of our pioneers should not be forgotten!