It’s already end of July. Our National Day is coming soon. Of all the public holidays, I feel that National Day is the most important day. In some countries, it’s called Independence Day. It celebrates a country’s birthday. Preparations for National Day celebrations were done one year in advance. Tons of money are budgeted for it with frequent road closures and even nation wide broadcast of the event on national media.
Without a country, we will not have a national identity, home or family. We identify ourselves as Singaporeans irrespective of race, language or religion. Our home and family are here in Singapore.
Why then the citizens of Singapore do not wish to fly the state flag outside their flats? Is it because they are too busy with their lives, not bothered to take the trouble of hanging up our national flag or is it a silent protest against the current government?
More than 20 years ago, as flat dwellers we had no privilege to hang the state flag to celebrate National Day. I read somewhere that on citizens’ suggestion, HDB started to install a pair of hooks outside our flats just to allow us to hang the state flag to show our love for our country. When it first started, everyone made an effort to hang the flag. If you did not do that, you were considered the odd one out. There must be something wrong with you. It was a common practice to hang the state flag then.
Not any more. Last few years, not so bad. Still got some isolated flags hanging outside in a block of flats. This year virtually none? Why?
Every year around this time, I would hang up our National Flag without fail. I will take it down at the end of August. This morning when I looked around my neighbourhood, there was hardly any flag even with RC office in the same block.
The RC centre at Blk 634 Elias Road
Pls look at the pictures taken this morning. Some people used to tell the residents not to hang our national flag on National Day to protest against the government’s policy. To show unhappiness to the government by boycotting hanging the state flag. I disagree with such childish gesture. There are many avenues to register your protest or unhappiness against the government.
To use the state flag as a weapon or tool of protest is unpatriotic. It shows that you do not take the existence of this country seriously. Imagine foreigners coming to visit our country notice only few isolated miserable flags hanging outside our flats? How would they feel? What kind of mental image or impressions will evoke in them? What do you think?
I appeal to all of you out there irrespective of your political affiliations, irrespective of your language, race or religion, pls display our National Flag to express in simple gesture our love for this little fragile country we call Singapore! If you can’t afford to pay for it, just let me know. I’ve got few to spare.
Those flats are opposite Elias Mall.
MAJULAH SINGAPURA
Mari kita rakyat Singapura
Sama-sama menuju bahagia
Cita-cita kita yang mulia
Berjaya Singapura
Marilah kita bersatu
Dengan semangat yang baru
Semua kita berseru
Majulah Singapura
Majulah Singapura
Click here to read online discussion in the topic.
Click here to read related article.
Click to read this incisive article written last year by blogger – SpeakSpokeWriteWrote.
Quoted from SpeakSpokeWriteWrote blog.
“Never have the lyrics of this song meant so much to me.
This is my country, this is my flag
This is my future, this is my life
This is my family, these are my friends
WE are Singapore, Singaporeans.
Fellow Singaporeans, will you fly the flag too? To remind those in power Singapore belongs to Singaporeans, and not to political parties or economic institutions.”
CNA poll: 78 percent will not fly Singapore flag.
![The Seven-step Verse [七步诗]](https://gintai.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/20120330-230102.jpg?resize=40%2C40){kind=small}
Gintai_昇泰 
I agree. I think the government and the nation should be two separate things. We are not celebrating PAP but singapore.
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Thank you for sharing the same view point as me. Let’s hope that the others also share our common view. Happy National Day to you.
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HDB have drilled holes along the common passage ways for RCs to hang our national flags for display at the common areas. For HDB point blocks there is hardly any passage way and therefore few anchor points to hang the flags.
That hanging of our national flags need assistance from the authorities speak volume of our pride in our nationhood after 49 years of independence.
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Are you proud to be a Singaporean? You didn’t specify.
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I’d like to clarify a bit.
The holes or rather the hooks along common corridors are for the resident to hang their flag. Sometimes, RC ‘kaypoh’ a bit and hang it if the residents don’t. Or they use it to decorate the entire block. So if you happened to be one staying along the common corridors, do put up your Singapore flag before the RC does. They will appreciate.
Another thing is you can hang the flag as early as 1 July and remove by 30 Sep… 3 months.
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Alright. Thks for the information. I didn’t know that we could hang it as early as 1st July!
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Check this out if you’re not sure what you can or cannot do with our national flag.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Singapore
Cheers to all who proudly make a stand to declare ‘I am Singaporean!’
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Aiya so kek sim with garmen where got mood to hang flag?
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Alamak. It’s not the same lah. Singapore belongs to all of us – citizens of this country. Nothing to do with govt. Today govt is white and maybe will turn blue, orange or pink many many years later but it still doesn’t change the colors of our flag! The colors of our flag i.e. red and white with a crescent moon and five stars will (hopefully) be there forever! U may langgar anything or anybody but as loyal citizens we don’t langgar our own beloved country lah.
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Ok lah ok lah. I hang lah. You should sell ice to eskimos.
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Eskimos won’t buy my ice. They got plenty. No value to them. I shld sell it to the Arabs. They will exchange black gold i.e. oil for my ice. Only those Arabs will appreciate and value my ice which save their life.
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He complimenting your awesome selling skills lah.
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Its not about political affiliation.Did the PAP government bother about us.We ve to struggle for a roof over our head because we ve family.But PR from Malaysia rent out their flats and stay in Johore,commuting daily to Singapore.
Republic China PR rent out their flats and either share room with friends or even left Spore and work elsewhere only collecting rental from atm card.
Malaysian Indian men took our security officers job and the women took our factory or cleaner jobs.
Look at SMRT even the x CEO is a Malaysian and the interim CEO is another Malaysian.Foreigners have taken our flats,our schlarships and our jobs.You ecpect us to rejoice.Siow ah you
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I can understand your rants. Whatever your rants, pls don’t call people by names. If you want to vote against this govt, pls go ahead. I’m not speaking up for them.
You are not listening or paying attention when I said this country doesn’t belong to PAP. It belongs to all of us. I’m not “siow” to make such a stmt by flying your own country flag doesn’t mean you support PAP. Even the opposition wards celebrate National Day with enthusiasm. Are they “siow?”
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You can tell that to whole group of Sporeans who are not bothered about the flag.The flag signify the country.But the country is run not by itself.It is run by politician.You can go to war for your country but on the command of politicians in the name of tne country.This forum or blog request comments and comment is two ways unless this blog is PAP branch to indoctrinate readers.About opposition wards,they re politicians and dont want PAP to brand them as traitors.I’m a end user who buy product that serve me.
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This is not a political blog to indoctrinate others if only you care to read other posts here. I speak as a true Singaporean with my own independent views. Of course you are entitled to your own opinions but pls respect others’ views and not pass derogatory remarks which are uncalled for. We do not behave in such uncivilized manner. Who doesn’t have issue with the govt of the day one way or another? Even amongst family members and siblings sometimes we don’t agree!
When there is a war, we set aside our differences and fight the aggressors to defend our country, home and family. You don’t understand this basic simple fact do you?
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Government consists of the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and the system by which they are organize.Government is the means by which state policy is enforced, as well as the mechanism for determining the policy of the state. A form of government, or form of state governance, refers to the set of political institutions by which a government of a state is organized. Synonyms include “regime type” and “system of government”. So can a country and government be separated?
So can a flag be changed by the gov of the day or state be sold by the govt of the day?So you serve the govt or the country?
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So what is a state,what is a goverment and what make a country?So make flying a flag an obligation.Thousand or millions died for their country without flying a flag
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Question – Ask what I can do for the country?
Answer -Years of National Service and reservists.
Question – Ask what the country can do for me?
Answer 1 – Every 8/9, PM’s speeches to see what sort of policies will favor me.
Answer 2 – Once every 4 years, election goodies for my estates.
Answer 3 – Lifetime of spurs in my hides, miseries and rising cost of living.
Answer 4 – You are on your own. Welfare is a dirty word, bail-out is a favorite term.
The flag can be changed by the gov/regime of the day eg. Taiwan’s flag was taken down in London Olympics, but replaced with Taipei of China. The state can also be sold by the govt/regime of the day to the highest bidders eg. Greece selling assets left/right/center. So your Raffles Hotel is already sold to foreigners, and your citizenships are in le-long. What else is not possible?
Enough said!
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The state is the basic organisation determining the distribution of power in a given geographic area. The government is the mechanism that allows and controls its day-to-day operations.
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The idea of flag as a symbol of a county only was introduced sometime in the 19 century.Before that billion had fought and died for their country
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Flags reminded me of a story about a little boy who dash across the road without looking out for vehicles just to ensure that the flag which fell does not touch the ground.But this happen in ROC Taiwan.
Me,trying very hard not to get involve with this topic on flag here but I just cannot resist my temptation .
Saying something about flag whether its party affiliated or not can be sensitive and can invite langgar and trouble.Fine.Hang the flag wrongly or when other feel is dirty can also get trouble.Fine.Wash the flag and hang together besides the underwear will also invite kaypoh to take photo.Fine.Throw the used dirty flag in the bin without properly wrapped in a plastic bag also sala.Fine.
Cannot even ask what is the advantage of hanging it as I may be accuse of being someone not proud of my country.
IMHO,the voluntary display of flags by citizen to me shows the rough percentage of proud and happy Singaporean. This to me is not a good sign as it is like telling others how many soldiers we have to defend ourselves.
Whatever the case,Ah Tai,please be reminded not to be a Phua Kay and spend unnecessary by getting your contractor putting up flags everywhere just to impress others.
I declare I am a loyal Singaporean.
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“There are many avenues to register your protest or unhappiness against the government”
Quite simply, this is considered as many as an avenue.
While I agree that state and government are two different issues, I think after decades of PAP rule, Singaporean equate them as the same. It may not be theoretically right but I think the people are giving the government a message in our own unique manner.
It came to my attention that in my estate, the blocks of HDB facing the MRT have all the flags hung out along the corridor units and not the corner units. This is because the RC/CC people hang them whereas the corner unit are not accessible to RC/CC people. My block which is not facing the MRT has hardly any flag. Why so ? This is because the RC/CC people must be given instruction to hang them on prominent places to project a happy nation. Flag hanging has become political.
If flag-hanging can be politicized in this matter (PA is PAP), why can’t Singaporeans convey their message in same manner ? We are a nation of people who have been silenced by the law and media and flag-hanging is merely one of the very few ways that law-abiding citizens can express their dissent.
To answer your question, I love Singapore. However, I love being Singaporean more. This is truly uniquely Singaporean’s expression of their feeling. You quite simply can’t brush it off as a unpatriotic act, since this meaning behind this gesture has been twisted by the PAP and its cronies and hence, but not hanging our flags, we are letting the government know our message at an issue that the government cares about
“To use the state flag as a weapon or tool of protest is unpatriotic. It shows that you do not take the existence of this country seriously. Imagine foreigners coming to visit our country notice only few isolated miserable flags hanging outside our flats? How would they feel? What kind of mental image or impressions will evoke in them? What do you think?”
Your reasoning is all wrong- I do not care for foreigners coming into my homeland and judging us based on a few flags. This is exactly what years of media has done to your perspective. It is as if that our image of a happy loyal nation state is all important because of how other people view us. This is wrong. Let the citizens of Singapore do what feels right to them, as opposed to doing what feels right for the foreigners.
Quite simply, a happy nation will hang its flags. Unhappy citizens would not.
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“Quite simply, a happy nation will hang its flags. Unhappy citizens would not.”
Great summary.
May I add:
Patriotic citizens will rise to the occasion in needs of need. Unpatriotic ones would not.
As a country, we doing fine. As a nation, we all know the trajectory we are in.
Singapore is my country, my home. Thus I share the pain.
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“To use the state flag as a weapon or tool of protest is unpatriotic. It shows that you do not take the existence of this country seriously. ”
Every abled son of this island has served 2-3years of their NS for the country, plus 20+ years of reservists. Every mother of this island has to watch their sons risk their lives during the period. If this is not patriotism, then tell me, what is? How much more patriotic do you expect one to be if this is not sufficient? Saying the mere refusal or reluctance to display a national flag is an act of unpatriotism is simply too simplistic.
From Nigeria, to North Korea to China, when these nation celebrates national day, it’s about marches, live military display of prowess, presidential appearances, fireworks etc. In other first world nations, is about family and friends, celebrating turkey, bbq get together, fireworks, american Super Bowl eg..Which category are we in? You decide.
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Ladies and gentlemen,
First I thank you all for taking your time and effort to post your comments after reading this article here. I know it’s going to be a controversial topic. Nevertheless, I have written on this topic since our National Day is approaching. I have taken a stand on this issue which led to much counter criticism. I do not expect all to share similar views.
Whatever it is, my opinion on this issue still stand. I still feel that Singapore belongs to all of us. It doesn’t belong to any institution or political party. It’s quite sad that it’s being used as a political tool by the ppl. It shld not be the case.
National Day is about our country’s birthday. We shld set aside all differences or grievances to come together as one people and tell the whole world who we are!
I can’t stop you from thinking otherwise. It’s indeed quite a sad phenomenon that as citizens of this country, we refuse to display our flag. It doesn’t bode well for us as a nation. Before I finish my comment, why not take a look at the lyrics of the song quoted in the article to reflect on it.
Whatever it is. I take this opportunity to wish all Singaporeans a Happy National Birthday! We wish our country all the best. Hope it will still exist 100 yrs from now!
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What do American people do in celebrating their independent day?
Very few people have to work on Independence Day. It is a day of family celebrations with picnics and barbecues, showing a great deal of emphasis on the American tradition of political freedom. Activities associated with the day include watermelon or hotdog eating competitions and sporting events, such as baseball games, three-legged races, swimming activities and tug-of-war games.Many people display the American flag outside their homes or buildings. Many communities arrange fireworks that are often accompanied by patriotic music. The most impressive fireworks are shown on television. Some employees use one or more of their vacation days to create a long weekend so that they can escape the heat at their favorite beach or vacation spot.Independence Day is a patriotic holiday for celebrating the positiv
Here what we aspects of the United States. Many politicians appear at public events to show their support for the history, heritage and people of their country. Above all, people in the United States express and give thanks for the freedom and liberties fought by the first generation of many of today’s Americans.
Here the main menu is a show of arms,against who?We got no say about the day to day running of the country,our CPF. and HOME.But we have a choice not to hang the country flag
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Broadly speaking, all crime is against the state, or government, insofar as it disturbs the public order and tranquility. But there are three criminal activities that are directed against the existence of the state itself: treason, sedition, and rebellion. Treason is the crime of betraying a nation by acts considered dangerous to its security. Selling military secrets…So what the different between a country and the government.Except one is natural and one is man made
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Citizen Rights
Freedom of Religion,Freedom of Speech,Freedom of the Press,The Right to Assemble,The Right to Petition.Right to get our CPF as first established.
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I love this land and I love my country even it is not all prefect. English that we speak is different and we call it Singlish and all the leh lah lor that goes with it. I also remember the time when I was young and would always fight to put up the flag at my grandma place but sadly i dun feel the same way anymore.
sadly this place is more and more like a House to many Singaporean.. A place which which is harder and harder to be call HOME.
call it childish or unpatriotic but that is my way and I believe many other ppl of saying we are not happy, a form of silence protest.
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Can you blame them? The PAP’s presence is everywhere starting right from your childhood kindergarten. Do the citizens associate Temasek Holdings with the PAP? Yes they do, including every single company with Temasek Holdings as their main shareholder. Do our soldiers know who they are serving, the country or the government? Many civil servants are not even aware they serve the nation and work alongside – and not for – the government.
How do you expect citizens to be loyal to the country where the ruling party is constantly reminding the people WHO brought them where we are in every single National Day Parade, showing how the almighty party took Singapore from the black-and-white gloomy pictures, the teary guy to the laser-colourful present?
Face it. The citizens of Singapore can no longer differentiate between their country, the government, the ruling party and the civil service. Patriotism starts from the top, by setting a good example. Getting a foreigner to be the country’s flag bearer in the Olympics for example, isn’t a very good message to send to ordinary citizens how serious we should be regarding our state flag. Yet we are constantly told to accept things that don’t make sense all the time.
It may be a good thing to reduce the people to apathetic economic drones where they don’t give a damn about politics. Overdoing it may see them not giving a damn about their country as well. For they can’t differentiate and they no longer feel. Flying the flag is the last thing we should worry about my friend, if we are concerned about the people’s loyalty to the country here.
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I see where you are coming from. I quite agree with your points raised here. I can’t refute most of your valid points raised here. Infact, a majority feel the sane way as you. That explains why so few are doing it. Nevertheless, we shld stoically display our flag on National Day to show our love for this country. It is our country after all no matter how one views it. The country is apolitical. The rulers may fail you but the country is our motherland. The mother never forsakes her own flesh and blood!
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How well u put it the mother will never forsakes her own flesh and blood…
She may be crying now also becaue the chosen leader is allowing outsider to replace her own.
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Then you don’t choose them lah. It’s a fair system of one man one vote.
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One man one vote, but it is only 100% free but 0% fair until 2011 due to you and many others, thank you.
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You don’t see my point Gintai.
The citizens cannot differentiate their country, their rulers and their roles anymore. I have never disagreed with you on your message. You are absolutely right. The country is apolitical and it should remain so.
If you think about it, so are our municipal issues, our education, our housing…. almost all aspects of our living is politicized. All these contribute to the way we think about the country. Instead of urging citizens what to do or not to do, we can try looking deeper what causes them to behave the way they do.
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Ok. I got your point now. Maybe, this simple story will explain what you are trying to say?
https://gintai.wordpress.com/2011/10/24/psychology-101/
“This is a brief note on Psychology.
If you start with a cage containing five monkeys and, inside the cage, hang a banana on a string from the top and then you place a set of stairs under the banana, before long a monkey will go to the stairs and climb toward the banana. As soon as he touches the stairs, you spray all the other monkeys with cold water. After a while, another monkey makes an attempt with same result …. all the other monkeys are sprayed with cold water. Pretty soon, when another monkey tries to climb the stairs, the other monkeys will try to prevent it. Now, put the cold water away. Remove one monkey from the cage and replace it with a new one. The new monkey sees the banana and attempts to climb the stairs. To his shock, all of the other monkeys beat the crap out of him. After another attempt and attack, he knows that if he tries to climb the stairs he will be assaulted. Next, remove another of the original five monkeys, replacing it with a new one. The newcomer goes to the stairs and is attacked. The previous newcomer takes part in the punishment… with enthusiasm. Then, replace a third original monkey with a new one, followed by a fourth, then the fifth. Every time the newest monkey takes to the stairs he is attacked. Most of the monkeys that are beating him have no idea why they were not permitted to climb the stairs.Neither do they know why they are participating in the beating of the newest monkey. Finally, having replaced all of the original monkeys, none of the remaining monkeys will have ever been sprayed with cold water. Nevertheless, none of the monkeys will try to climb the stairway to the banana. Why, you ask? Because in their minds …. that is the way it has always been !”
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Do you think that a family reunion dinner would have lost it’s meaning if you have 1/3 of step siblings who do not see eye to eye with the original occupants while the dumb parents bury their heads in the sand?
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Hi Will,
Maybe, we shld invite all our prodigal sons and daughters back home for the re-union dinner with all expenses paid to counter those step-children you mentioned. Hopefully, they will return for good.
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1. What is the source for your assertion that HDB installed hooks in flats because of residents’ suggestions? Could you please identify?
2. See http://politicalwritings.wordpress.com/2011/10/26/stars-stripes/ to understand a little more about why Singaporeans don’t fly flags.
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Hi “politicalwritings”,
I can’t answer your 1st question. Pls enlighten me.
As for your 2nd question, almost every one knows the reason(s). I’m just trying to see things differently from another angle. Thks for dropping by.
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1. If you don’t have a verifiable source for the ‘hooks’ thing, maybe you should remove that assertion from your post.
2. My view is that more people don’t fly the flag because they don’t love the country than because they hate the PAP. It’s not about being anti-PAP, although some people think that is a form of silent protest. It’s more because Singaporeans aren’t patriotic the way Americans or Britons or Australians are.
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Why shld I remove that unless you can disapprove it by citing authority or source which you didnt when I suggested that to you. It’s just that I can’t quote you off-hand. I remember reading it somewhere decades ago in the papers that some HDB residents suggested it. Who are you to tell me what to write? It’s just like saying if you can’t prove the existence of God or gods, then stop preaching to me. This world is not run in black and white. Pls be reasonable in your comment. I’m not in favour of your demanding attitude.
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It looks like it was just a suggestion to not make careless claims without source. I was certainly curious about the truth of the statement, though I made a note that there’s no source for that claim. You are free to leave it in, of course.
For someone who blogged about criticism lately, aren’t you rather defensive?
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Like I said if you can disapprove it, I will remove it. I stand by what I said cuz I did read about it more than 20 yrs ago though I can’t prove it. I tried searching for it but no leads. Maybe, I’ll just qualify it. Thks.
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‘…maybe you should remove…’ is a very ‘demanding attitude’?
I should disprove it before you remove?
It is expected, under our system of common law, for the person who makes an assertion to have to substantiate his assertion, and for the one who questions it to only raise reasonable doubts, is it not so?
If you call someone a whore, is it for you to prove your allegation, or for the victim to disprove it? If you go to any court of law or ask any lawyer, I’m sure you’ll get the answer.
Given today’s apathy towards flag flying, given the history of how PAP controls the country, is it not reasonable to doubt that the idea of hooks came from the people without any PAP ‘encouragement’?
That’s being ‘demanding’?
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I did accommodate your demand if you look at it. It’s now a qualified stmt.
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Yeah, thanks, I saw that. The question I raised was, was my tone ‘demanding’? And is it for you to prove or for me to disprove an assertion made by you?
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No need to prove anything. I already said that I read somewhere. It’s a qualification on the stmt I made. I felt its a bit demanding. We try to persuade. Pls look out for my coming post. Its on the way. It’s quite interesting – Msian FT. Thks.
PS: After reading the tons of insults, hatred, uncalled for remarks, I think yours is mild. I’m not going to rebut what they said abt the govt but why attack my character, my job or my personal dignity? I worry for this country. We are really in deep trouble if those views reflect a majority of locals. Remember if we fall, we are finish. There is no second chance unlike other bigger countries. We may end up as refugees. Sometimes we need to learn it the hard way. It’s got to be via trial and error which may prove costly.
I may not agree or like this govt but I won’t resort to such mindless irrational mobster behavior. There are ways to change things and not resort to thuggish behavior where you destroy everything along the way.
Look at the riots, looting and anarchy going on in some countries. Do we want that to happen here? Exciting?
Can I tell those ppl out there to remove their insults, groundless stmts against me? They hide behind anonymous ID and whack like nobody business. Is that a mark of civilized gentlemenly decorum? They are more like idiotic lunatics! Hope it’s only a small hardcore or else we are in deep trouble.
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Hi politicalwritings, if ape’s feeble memory still serve well, sometime back in the 1990s many people flew the flag ( partly ape thinks the flags were easily available suddenly). What was the actual reason ape don’t know. Apparently, guidelines wasn’t clear then and we have people putting up flags all over the place in every possible manner. Following that, HDB/Town Councils? installed hooks in every unit. Ape uses his unevolved brain to reason that the purpose was to standardize and make convenient for the residents to hang their flag. Gintai guessed it was the residents’ request. Perhaps it was both? Perhaps it was non of the above.
You want official statement? Check with the officials lah. We are not official people leh.
Whether people don’t hang the flag because they are not patriotic or because it’s a silent protest or whatever reason… we all have our own opinion. You may think it’s about patriotism, gintai may think it’s a form of silent protest and going by what ape read from the internet and comments here, ape thinks it’s about the lack of identity… the answer can be one of the above, none of the above or all of the above. Then again, gintai and ape and many other bloggers are just desktop bloggers sharing our opinion. We’re not some academic / official blog who does extensive survey or research before publishing. Take it easy.
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Ape,
Perhaps the gods ordained it. So I can’t prove it lah. You are correct to say that in the early 90s, state flags were hung all over the place in a messy manner until HDB decided to standardize it. Under whose instruction or idea? Not sure. But I remember reading it that some residents gave them that idea. At least I’m honest to declare how my stmt came about. If I were to make malicious false inflammatory stmt where I could be sued in court – that’s a totally different story. I won’t do it.
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Dear Gintai
I agree with your sentiment and wish to encourage Singaporeans to fly the Singapore flag during our National Day. Well done, for making this call.
http://tankinlian.blogspot.sg/2012/07/singapore-flag.html
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Mr Tan,
Thank you. You are one of the few who can see thru this misty haze clearly. Sad to say, many of us just can’t see the wood for the trees.
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Gintai,
I have to disagree with you on this issue.
Without the ability to have peaceful protest against the poor policies of the government, the only thing Singaporeans can do is to show their displeasure by not flying the flag. Flying of the flag had become synonymous with support for PAP (rather than for Singapore) in recent years.
I’ll take a rain check for your call until the opposition comes to power.
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Put it this way,separate politician that is PAP from the country that is Spore. When everything is fine who get the credit? PAP or the country a piece of rock surrounded by seawater. When the politician or government act it is in the name of the country. So when economy is bad citizen has to sacrifice for the country. When it is good the government get the huge increment. So where is the country role,but a piece of rock silent on the suffering of its dwellers
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A country exist because of its citizen without its citizen Spore would be one of the thousand islands of Indonesia.Has the country trustee the government been good to us. Our throat are forced with their delicacies,only NTUC or NTWU or NWC. They push into our throat that one baby is enough and later one is not enough and must do it otherwise we bring in foreigners. This country shaft into our throat that we are not like Malaysia we practice meritocracy and dont give handout,so what is HDB? A PUBLIC HOUSING or private. ….? Flip flop as and when the government want it.Yes a country in not a political body,it’s just a piece of rock run by politicians and the the name is PAP. We need talent people and yet our Universities are so few and we have to struggle to get a seat when we can produce our own talents. So Singapoordah
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Beside the reasons of apathy & protest, perhaps also cos’ the flats/houses are inhabited by nonSingaporeans aka FT or PR who refuse to take up citizenship?
I fork out a princely $10 for a pair of undergarment looking car window flags, reminded my kids to ensure grandma hangs our flag out the window and generally try to hype up whatever info shreds we can on national day. All these, in the hope that my children will endear themselves to this country and collective little efforts like these by all others to avert a bad tangent that our country seems to be heading…..
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Let me give a very practical suggestion,our PM is the leader of this country,so I suggest he start it by calling on all political leaders especially those from the opposition parties,to joinyly issue a statement calling on all our citizens to hang out our flags mainly to convince those die-hard 40% who are against dead PAP to hang out for Singapore.
What do you think?PM Lee
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1) Flying the flag is just symbolic. what is more impt is what is in each of our hearts?? country is just a shell.. what defines it is the ppl inside it… eg: when a singaporean who have migrated says: i miss singapore.. does he mean he miss the country per se? or does he mean he miss his family, friends, neighbours, food etcc etcc??
2) govt is not equals to country. country is not equals to govt. but i dont blame ppl if they put both together…. after all, we have been brought up to believe so and the govt till today have not refuted it. in fact, this reason has been touted as the success of this country.. (ie: the argument that if so and so govt does not come into power, this country will collapse and we will all become maids and prostitutes). you live by the sword, u die by the sword… simple as that.
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I didn’t blame anybody. It’s just my personal opinion. They are free to choose whether to live and die by the sword! No problem.
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after 2 years of NS , I hate singapore who make me a slave for 2 years.
I also hate FT who come in take my job without doing a single day of NS.
F NS. F Sg.
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Hi Gintai. Perhaps you are looking at flats with majority of foreigners. Yes, they make up 40% of the total population if going by official statistics. 50% and more if unofficial. This is the real world. The world where Singaporeans are a minority in the island call ‘home’.
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