Kirsten Han is a Singaporean blogger, journalist and filmmaker. She is also involved in the We Believe in Second Chances campaign for the abolishment of the death penalty. A social media junkie, she tweets at @kixes. The views expressed are her own.
Singapore’s history – as most of us know it – is short and oft-repeated. We learn it in school and see it constantly replayed year upon year in National Day celebrations. Framed as a ‘rags to riches’ story, we’re encouraged to feel deep pride in how far we’ve come and how we’ve proved naysayers wrong by being the tiny island that made good.
Which is why Stephanie Koh (also known as Steph Micayle) set off an uproar when she said she wasn’t proud to be a Singaporean. A contestant from reality TV show K-pop Star Hunt 3, her comments propelled her into the public eye, gaining the attention of even of those with no interest in Korean pop culture.
Koh’s comments weren’t particular earth-shattering. Her criticism – relating to Singapore’s regimented lifestyles and creativity-killing environment – was neither new nor radical. Plenty of people have made such comments before, and it’s generally accepted that more could be done to encourage creativity and the arts scene in the country.
What’s most interesting about the embittered response to Koh’s opinion is that it betrays the belief that national pride should somehow be compulsory. It’s a belief that needs to be examined and questioned: why is it so important that Koh be proud to be a Singaporean?
This insistence on national pride is a futile exercise. Castigating Koh for her opinion is hardly going to make her heart burst with pride. Besides, it barely matters: Singapore does not need slavish patriotism to succeed. The country thrives on the quality and ingenuity of its residents, and these residents don’t even need to be Singaporean to contribute.
What’s more important is that Singapore becomes an environment where people aren’t afraid all the time – afraid to speak their minds or take risks. What’s more important than pride in being Singaporean is the space where people can grow, contribute in their own way and be respected and valued for it. If Singaporean society can provide such a space, people will be able to do their part and pull their weight regardless of whether the crescent and stars are stamped on their hearts.
National pride might be fun at a parade where everyone’s singing songs and waving flags, but it’s little more than a construct and a story we tell ourselves. Once we recognise this and chill out about demanding patriotism from everyone, we’ll be able to turn our attention to making Singapore a better place for everyone – whether they’re proud of their passports or not.
COMMENT: Compulsory pride in Singaporean hearts
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