This is what it takes to truly be a Singaporean
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Most of us grew up here in Singapore — we understand Singlish, we have our favourite hawker stalls, and we all like to complain on Facebook when the MRT breaks down.
However, former 987 FM DJ Divian Nair wonders what exactly unifies us Singaporeans.
And what prompted him to make the video was a single question:
“Would you die for Singapore?”
Who would?
If you haven’t seen the video here it is:
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In this video, Divian addresses a few things:
- The problem with not willing to die for Singapore
- Â Our missing national identity
- To develop a belief from Singapore’s history to unite our country
The problem with asking Singaporeans to die for their country
Divian asks:
“If this is the only home I have ever known, then why is it that I, and so many others who shared my experience, not want to defend it with all our hearts?”
True enough, some Singaporeans were not keen with the idea of dying for Singapore.
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This is one of the compelling reasons why Divian wanted to make this video because he felt that there was no apparent reason for Singaporeans to bond over.
People who support Majulah
Derived from our national anthem, Divian suggests that we build the concept of Majulah on three principles — ownership, compassion, and courage.
Majulah, a unique colloquial expression, cannot be found in the Malay dictionary, thus rendering it perfect to encapsulate
“Maju” means onward and progress in malay and the suffix “lah” is created by the people of Singapore with different cultural backgrounds and spoke different languages.
To Divian and many of his supporters, Majulah is indeed an excellent belief that we could develop as a nation.
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These people truly believe that it is time for some changes and to inculcate the Majulah spirit.
Maybe the problem is Majulah
To a handful, Majulah is the very reason that has gotten us into this predicament.
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There are people who completely miss the point
And then, there are always people who prefer to drown in their own financial grievances and fail to see the larger picture.
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Onward Singapore
During Lee Kuan Yew’s passing, Singaporeans gathered to send him off despite the torrential rains. Some Singaporeans even took the initiative to pass our free bottled drinks to the public.
We do have that sense of belonging and graciousness in us, like what Divian said.
So what exactly is our glue that will bind us together as one?
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Featured Image via We Are Majulah Facebook
