I read this post by xizor2000 about canceling NDP and I cannot help but think it is way off the mark. We should not cancel nor ever considering canceling our National Day Parade.
In fact, I was saying, just do away with the NDP entirely. What is the point of a flypast and all that military display? Are we a communist nation like… North Korea?
Firstly, celebrating National Day with parades, even military ones are not unique to authoritarian or semi-authoritarian states.
I understand the grievances that xizor2000 posted on his blog. I share many of them. But canceling NDP will not make those problems go away.
Maybe it seems there is nothing to celebrate but I think that’s not true. Each year, there are many things about Singapore worth celebrating and we as a nation should celebrate.
I find it ironic that we accuse our leaders of just making decisions based solely on hard, cold, logical reasoning that are usually economically motivated and then one of the reasons we give for canceling the NDP is founded on economic considerations.
Of course, people asking for the NDP to be canceled might be pointing out the hypocrisy in wasting resources for a parade at a time when the government is asking us not to waste. I think if that is the intention, then there might be some merit.
However, do note consuming resources is different from wasting resources. NDP consumes resources but is it necessarily wasting resources? I believe that question is still open to debate and not an open-shut-chopped-stamped-signed-sealed-with-model-answer question.
Of course the cynic will always wonder what good a National Day Parade does. To be honest, I don’t think it does any lasting good for the rest of the year after the parade. Our hearts may be stirred by the proceedings of the day but once the we get back to the daily grind, a lot of the goodwill is lost as we fight for survival or the quest to make sure it is our foot stomping on another person’s face.
Yet without it, what it means is we don’t even have one day, one pivotal event on the calendar to stop and think what it means to be Singaporean and yes, feel Singaporean. We don’t even have that once chance to generate goodwill in some of us that hopefully last through the year.
I agree it is pretty pathetic to accord one day so much power to make things slightly better. And National Day shouldn’t be such a day. It should be part of many days. No. It should be the bookends to a year filled with many such days. A day when we celebrate the progress made in the past year, and look forward to greater heights as a society the next year. An Annual General Meeting for the citizens and Auditing of the nation’s conscience and consciousness.
The National Day Parade isn’t the complete solution as we try to make Singapore a better place and develop our identity as a nation. Yet, while it is not a sufficient condition, it is to me, a necessary one.
Note: If you have reached the end, you will probably come to a certain little thought - National Day and National Day Parade are two different things. We can cancel the National Day Parade and still keep our National Day - just find different ways to celebrate it. I agree. I think that is a viable direction we could, or possibly should, head towards. There might be more meaningful ways to celebrate our National Day.
When I wrote this post, I wrote it from the Singaporean view that in most of our consciousness, the National Day Parade has been indelibly linked with National Day. Canceling one seems like canceling the other.
xizor2000 | 25-Jun-08 at 5:37 pm | Permalink
* yawn *
If you would pay my part of GST, ERPs, fuel taxes etc for the parade, by all means go ahead and have the grandest parade in the world!
iantimothy | 25-Jun-08 at 5:44 pm | Permalink
You do realize I share your grievances? I just don’t think canceling NDP ( and for now, by extension National Day) those problems will go away. I also think we as a nation lose much more by canceling NDP ( and for now, by extension National Day).
Also, having NDP does not mean our leaders aren’t trying to solve the problems and doesn’t mean they can’t solve it.
We definitely can, and should, try to progress to less ostentatious, more contemplative celebrations though.
WhiteDuskRed | 25-Jun-08 at 5:49 pm | Permalink
Cancelling NDP for Singaporeans is like a Chinese not celebrating CNY. Guess how sad one will be if no one remembers his/her birthday. OF COURSE we must celebrate National Day! Even if we are a poor nation we must give it a good show (even more so because Singapore is a rich country no matter how you see it).
A show like the NDP will generate alot of revenue for certain industries (tourism, costume designs etc).
Anyway, Singaporeans just love to bitch. Complain this complain that… The increase in price is a global issue! Stop the flypast just because the oil is expensive? Tell that to Malaysians or Hongkongers and we’ll be the joke of Asia.
Wendy | 25-Jun-08 at 6:17 pm | Permalink
All some Singaporeans do is complain.
The NDP Parade is so important on so many levels, including:
1. Celebrating independence.
2. Showing we are somewhat capable of defending our country through military displays.
3. A chance for many Singaporeans to gather to watch the parade and forge some sense of belonging.
There are of course many other reasons for having an NDP that I don’t think I have realized yet.
All the hikes in “GST, ERPs, fuel taxes etc” may be annoying to us at times. However, people who do nothing other than repetitively whine about the government on their computers are not doing anything constructive.
Either they can try to run for a position that would influence these policies, or write to the people who make decisions. Or do *something* lah.
Rather than just complain and complain and complain some more.
iantimothy | 25-Jun-08 at 6:48 pm | Permalink
Hey … Thanks for listing down those reasons.
Feel free to add more when you think of them.
CelluloidReality | 25-Jun-08 at 8:28 pm | Permalink
We should not discard the Parade. But we can certainly look for alternatives to NDP for a National Day celebration as well, something perhaps community-driven and not state-driven.
A poetry reading festival would be nice, and each participant can share his or her opinion on what Singapore is or should be.
It should be a day of reflection, and not just grandiose displays of military might, though being a military enthusiast and a photographer, I’ll strenously object to any removal of any parade.
We just need to include more events that are not “official”. Even having a BBQ with friends on that public holiday is ironically celebrating National Day too.
We’re independent and we should celebrate that.
iantimothy | 25-Jun-08 at 10:18 pm | Permalink
Hmmm… you are right. It is really up to us citizens to start having more unofficial events.
Fox | 25-Jun-08 at 10:47 pm | Permalink
The National Day Parade is organized using cheap conscript labour, who are used to move heavy equipment, pick up litter, pack the goodie bags, etc. Most of the conscripts would rather not be spending their weekends (around 10) ‘helping’ out. Furthermore, the whole idea of using conscripts as free labour for non-military purposes demeans and insults the concept of national service.
joe | 26-Jun-08 at 12:11 am | Permalink
When I was much younger, I felt good about NDP, those parade moments can almost bring tears. I was even participated in one of those parades.
When you become older, you see far, you listen longer, you read more, you reason better. You then realise life is not so simple at all. National Day and NDP have been tainted with politics.
Evil has many faces.
Desmond Lim | 26-Jun-08 at 8:50 am | Permalink
Just a bit of trivia. The only other countries that have “National Day Celebrations” like ours is North Korea and China.
No other democratic, first-world country does it.
chillycraps | 26-Jun-08 at 10:15 am | Permalink
if penning down our thoughts is considered complaining and whining, then there are a lot of complainers and whiners around (that includes most if not all bloggers).
The next thing you know, people will say LV and Prada are important.
iantimothy | 26-Jun-08 at 10:25 am | Permalink
Well chillycraps, penning down your thoughts is not complaining and whining.
Whether you are complaining or whining really just depends on what you are writing and how you are writing it.
I think it would be unfair to xizor2000 to say his post was merely a complaining and whining one. I know you didn’t say it. I’m just saying that I don’t think his post was such.
xizor2000 | 26-Jun-08 at 10:27 am | Permalink
Ian, the Americans do not forget the 4th of July just because they didn’t have a national day parade.
Now tell me what more we are going to lose without having a communist-style parade.
I would have much more to say, but I have no time to rebut little girls who complained about taxi drivers and then talk big about big truths on comments on other people’s blogs.
iantimothy | 26-Jun-08 at 10:47 am | Permalink
Hey xizor2000, could you elaborate on this line - “Ian, the Americans do not forget the 4th of July just because they didn’t have a national day parade”?
Thanks.
Hmmm…what do you consider a communist-style parade?
Anyway, don’t consider it rebutting. Call it enlightening? I am really interested in what you have to say.
The Singapore Daily » Blog Archive » Daily SG: 26 Jun 2008 | 26-Jun-08 at 11:21 am | Permalink
[...] Discourse - TOC: Give adequate wages to low income workers - Ian on the Red Dot: Huh? We Absolutely Should Not Cancel Our National Day Parade. - The Extra Scoop: More babies - so what? - Singapore Indian Voice: Campaign the Singapore [...]
CelluloidReality | 26-Jun-08 at 12:03 pm | Permalink
Desmond,
Individual States in America organise their own 4th of July celebrations too. These are also official celebrations by the State Governments.
Panzer | 26-Jun-08 at 2:07 pm | Permalink
How can we cancel the National Day Parade. You know how many SAF scholars would lose the change to “shine” and be promoted to COL/BG or higher?
Also, NDP supports so many contractors to put up the buntings, printing companies for making those buntings and of course all those suppliers to SAF in fuel, food and other supplies to sustain the NDP efforts.
Mediacorp would also lose one mega event for advertising slots to sell? How can we impact the GLC’s top people’s rice-bowls?
Majullah Singapura.
The SS | 26-Jun-08 at 5:01 pm | Permalink
No issues with having a NDP. We are all Singaporeans and we should be proud of it….BUT…….
Why is it so lob sided with a PAP contingent only amongst all our political parties? Blatant.
Why must we build a white elephant to hold this costing how many millions? Smug.
Should we not scale back the amount wasted on Fireworks every week for several weeks on end? Propaganda for the school kids and self glorification.
Should we reduce the amount we blow on this? Utter waste of money.
So if you can take these away, I guess, YES ! we should celebrate National Day!
CelluloidReality | 26-Jun-08 at 7:21 pm | Permalink
Well, one issue I have with the NDP is that the ruling party attends in their party attire.
Somehow, someone forgot the dictionary definition of Nation and mixed it up with Party.
Either they ditch the Party attire or the other parties’ MPs, NCMPs should wear their own party colors there.
jackyblue | 26-Jun-08 at 9:40 pm | Permalink
I think the way to go is do away with “conscripting” and forcing people to be involved with organising NDP, the way it is now. Make it a volunteer-driven event. Or if it’s too big an event to be run by real volunteers, then do it smaller-scale at community level. That way, those who feel passionately enough about it, can get a chance to go “do something” to show. Those who can’t be bothered can then be certain they will never get conscripted into something that they have no interest in. And likely they can go find some other way to celebrate ND (without the P) that’s more meaningful to them personally.
Paul Ananth | 26-Jun-08 at 10:50 pm | Permalink
Why not a NDP without the military like advanced developed non-communist countries? We could have marching bands, the Sokka groups, cultural performances, stilt walkers, activists etc. Would be much more meaningful
Dex | 26-Jun-08 at 11:52 pm | Permalink
Well, i happen to know quite a bit how NDP is organized because i happen to be in one of the SAF units tasked to do the job last year. I disagree on that part where you deem it as a Annual General Meeting. At an Annual General Meeting, shareholders can raise their concerns. NDP is a parade where you can’t do that.
I’d like to see this Parade idea scrapped. Firstly, you’ve got to see who actually does the work in this parade. Not well paid volunteers, but rather, poorly paid National Servicemen. Heck, some of these guys may not even be Singaporean yet they’re doing dirty tasks such as this. Is it alright to use soldiers, whose number 1 priority is to defend Singapore, to set up, tear down and usher people around during NDP? Ask yourself this question. If we use this kind of logic then the Australian Army will be organizing Mardi Gras and the Melbourne Cup every year, and lending a hand during England vs Australia at the MCC. Or imagine the British Army distributing fireworks to kids during Guy Fawkes Day.
Secondly, i hate to say this but we’re better off not having this parade when members of your creative crew happens to come from the streets of London, the shores of Australia and the mountains of New Zealand. Yes sir, you’re not going to get them to do it in the name of National Service, slap them a beautiful paycheck first, with several round trip air tickets on the world’s “best” airline from their homelands and Singapore. Where are the Singaporeans in all this, besides being the performers and the sandbag warriors? Where are our own creative people in all this?
Thirdly, it’s a show of nationalism. I totally diss the idea of Nationalism. And it’s a PAP thing.
Fourthly, the fuel. Not just the aircraft, but the boats and the trucks!
Also, i’ve never seen the North Koreans or Chinese have a “Preview” Parade”.
If we’re proud to be Singaporean, let’s show it, day by day. On National Day, do something with your friends and family and live up the occasion. Don’t sit in front of TV and enjoy the parade, that’s really unhealthy!
Onlooker | 27-Jun-08 at 1:07 am | Permalink
How about Workaround. No or lesser military hardwares (N Korea/China reference we didn’t want others to think our old man and son as dictators now, do we?)
Immigrant nowadays ….(|shake head| are so soft) Would not volunteer for NS some more.(not so serious;)
(serious) Do a smaller scale parade like that time when we can’t afford the frills but are really proud to be Singaporean Padang. Ah yes, I know Early immigrants need to work really hard to succeed and they did it without scholarship and incentives but the pride that radiated from their face to be involved in the parade then is priceless
(joke;)And FT have to participate compulsory not must take up at least 2 to 3 week in a stay in camp where they have to homat sen ja ta,hanta kaki and coconut loose loose(wrong order!!:). They must parade to show the world what kind of talents we like(surprisingly mainly high caste people and PR C)not all bad but then not all good(joke;)
(my opinion)Darth meant it as a joke/satire thing lah so lighten up k :)(opinion = possibly wrong||right)
(opinion)People wear white to funerals what could they possibly be thinking wear white to a ND celebration? And I thought those things only come out during hungry ghost?(Chinese pt of view opinion)
(recommend)Red shirt with moon and five star pocket or white cresent moon(young nation) shaped pocket with 5 white star button(representing democracy?, peace, progress, justice???? and equality???? )
(recommendation)
iantimothy | 27-Jun-08 at 5:46 am | Permalink
Hello everyone..thanks for sharing your thoughts.
@Paul Ananth - is it really true that only non-advanced, non-developed, communist-like countries show their military in their national day celebrations? I wonder…. time for me to do more research!
@Dex - you’re right.. Currently, NDP and National Day isn’t really like an AGM. I was saying let’s work towards that. My English can sometimes be unclear. I’m sorry for that misunderstanding.
@Dex - I so agree with you about how if we are proud to be Singaporean, we should show it day by day. And you’re right. We shouldn’t sit in front of the TV and just enjoy the parade!
Thanks for the suggestions on how we can make National Day better.
The Singapore Daily » Blog Archive » Weekly Roundup: Week 26 | 28-Jun-08 at 11:11 am | Permalink
[...] May Destroy Our Last Village - TOC: Give adequate wages to low income workers - Ian on the Red Dot: Huh? We Absolutely Should Not Cancel Our National Day Parade. - The Extra Scoop: More babies - so what? - Singapore Indian Voice: Campaign the Singapore [...]