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08-01-2015, 07:00 AM
An honorable member of the Coffee Shop Has Just Posted the Following:
IN HIS commentary ("Do it like Duric... See what makes us Singaporean"; last Friday), Singapore Kindness Movement general secretary William Wan urged Singaporeans to "focus less on what makes others different and more on what makes us all Singaporean".
We tend to pay attention only to the commonalities in cultures, tenets and behaviours as an indicator of national identity.
Instead, we should look at national identity as a dual relationship between the people and the nation. The first is our sense of belonging; the second concerns our obligation and responsibility to our nation, which includes loyalty and patriotism.
The Japanese excel in these.
Unlike Japan, our national identity is subject to dilution because of the influx of foreigners. Globalisation, job mobility and greying of the population make sustaining our identity for the next 50 years much harder.
Foremost, we have to treat newcomers well and integrate them into our society. If we did not appreciate retired Singapore footballer Aleksandar Duric's contributions, and blamed him for stealing a job, we would have a different Duric.
We have to better overcome the negative feelings some of us have towards newcomers.
New immigrants are mostly well-educated. Some will set up firms and become our bosses. In time to come, they would form a huge customer base for shopping malls and eateries.
Then there are the permanent residents who are more reluctant to give up citizenship of their home countries, posing a challenge to national obligation and loyalty to Singapore.
Newcomers who want to stay here for good should understand that it is not in their interest should our national identity weaken, as that would lead to unstable social and political situations.
Ideally, all of us here should play our role to strengthen this dual relationship with Singapore. Only a robust kind of national identity will be able to withstand adversities threatening our survival as a nation in the future.
Ng Ya Ken
http://www.straitstimes.com/premium/...spore-20150108 (http://www.straitstimes.com/premium/forum-letters/story/strengthen-dual-relationship-spore-20150108)
Click here to view the whole thread at www.sammyboy.com (http://www.singsupplies.com/showthread.php?197450-Sinkies-Should-Be-Less-Xenophobic&goto=newpost).
IN HIS commentary ("Do it like Duric... See what makes us Singaporean"; last Friday), Singapore Kindness Movement general secretary William Wan urged Singaporeans to "focus less on what makes others different and more on what makes us all Singaporean".
We tend to pay attention only to the commonalities in cultures, tenets and behaviours as an indicator of national identity.
Instead, we should look at national identity as a dual relationship between the people and the nation. The first is our sense of belonging; the second concerns our obligation and responsibility to our nation, which includes loyalty and patriotism.
The Japanese excel in these.
Unlike Japan, our national identity is subject to dilution because of the influx of foreigners. Globalisation, job mobility and greying of the population make sustaining our identity for the next 50 years much harder.
Foremost, we have to treat newcomers well and integrate them into our society. If we did not appreciate retired Singapore footballer Aleksandar Duric's contributions, and blamed him for stealing a job, we would have a different Duric.
We have to better overcome the negative feelings some of us have towards newcomers.
New immigrants are mostly well-educated. Some will set up firms and become our bosses. In time to come, they would form a huge customer base for shopping malls and eateries.
Then there are the permanent residents who are more reluctant to give up citizenship of their home countries, posing a challenge to national obligation and loyalty to Singapore.
Newcomers who want to stay here for good should understand that it is not in their interest should our national identity weaken, as that would lead to unstable social and political situations.
Ideally, all of us here should play our role to strengthen this dual relationship with Singapore. Only a robust kind of national identity will be able to withstand adversities threatening our survival as a nation in the future.
Ng Ya Ken
http://www.straitstimes.com/premium/...spore-20150108 (http://www.straitstimes.com/premium/forum-letters/story/strengthen-dual-relationship-spore-20150108)
Click here to view the whole thread at www.sammyboy.com (http://www.singsupplies.com/showthread.php?197450-Sinkies-Should-Be-Less-Xenophobic&goto=newpost).