National Day

I made time to turn on the tv to watch Royston Tan's 'Old Places'. It really stirred up alot of memories. And I realized, alot of those memories had to do with my grandparents, not of my parents. The parents were busy climbing fast and furious up the corporate ladder, products of the system which told graduates to marry graduates and when they had children, 'Stop At Two'. With a hot chocolate in hand, I was reminded of playgrounds, swimming pools and places that my grandparents used to take me when I was a kid.

My grandfather must be the most educated fishmonger in the wet market. He spoke and wrote English, Japanese, Chinese (Mandarin), Bahasa Indonesia and Cantonese fluently. I definitely inherited his strength and aptitude for languages. He migrated to Singapore to run away from the Second Sino-Japanese War when it severely tested his loyalties, only to be thrown into another turbulent World War II in Singapore and lived through a strange and torturous period known as Syonan-To. He was a valued translator during the war and those memories, brought him alot of pain. The choice of a non-Chinese wife brought him alot of angst and ostracization within the very traditional community which pointed fingers and asked why no member of his family died in the 3 years and 8 months of Occupation. All he understood of the society then were racism, harsh judgment and criticism. In switching his trade to being a fishmonger, he probably found some relief in the simple joys of menial labor. The perks- I grew up on the best and freshest fish which nurtured my tastebuds for fine sushi and sashimi.

My grandfather believed in the politicians' vision of Singapore. He revelled in being Singaporean. He celebrated 1965. He firmly believed that it liberated him from alot of personal troubles. He had faith in the system and supported everything the government did because he saw how strong leaders wrought a fledging nation from debris and discord, bringing it to a level where there is plenty to be proud of. Yes, I don't disagree, but I feel strongly, that in terms of politics, we should be looking forward to evolve, not re-hashing history to scare little children. Economic rewards aren't enough anymore. If the electorate has matured, then the government must flow with it. The paternalistic approach does not work on a generation of younglings who have ironically flown far and wide. You cannot imagine the hours of debate I had with him as a young imp. He never bent my political opinions to his, except expressing regrets that I could not understand the situation and circumstances of those period of turbulence and cautioned about the fragility of racial harmony.

I do not like to celebrate National Day with those modern crap now that faintly reeks of political agenda. I'd like to shape my own opinions about everything and not accept what I have been blindly told. My family didn't bring me up by telling me what to do. They brought me up to question and search out what it is that I love and decide what it is that I have to do. I have not been taught to follow social norms. They have given me the luxury to define my passions in life and not tie the iron ball of filial piety to my ankle in order to bestow the freedom to choose my direction in life.

This film 'Old Places', celebrates National Day in a way that I understand. Warmth and little heartaches welled up in the various scenes that flashed across the tv screen. The film celebrates the Singapore I love. In this way. Not that. There was a period in my life when I proudly waved the flag and believed in standing up for Singapore. That resolve has weakened, and I say, don't count on me, Singapore, because the commitment it would necessitate, contain very different connotations now.