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Singapore’s biggest test: Dilution of national identity

For the next 50 years, we have the prowess, experience, infrastructure and resources to achieve a standard of living among the top 10 per cent of all nations.

For the next 50 years, we have the prowess, experience, infrastructure and resources to achieve a standard of living among the top 10 per cent of all nations.

Understanding the consequences of disharmony, we will stand by the Pledge and obey the laws governing its tenets. Still, social ills and divides will persist; some, such as income disparity, may even worsen.

Also, our population will age more than those in many countries. Our biggest challenge is to prevent the dilution of our national identity and the values that made possible our achievements in the past 50 years. The current factors include the diminishing status of the family, declining birth rate and increasing individualism, consumerism and nonconformity to authority, especially among younger citizens.

National identity can be measured by two aspects: Citizens’ sense of belonging and their obligation, or patriotism, to the nation. Some of us are too ready to blame our country, Government or anyone else except ourselves, on many issues, policies, happenings or even things that have nothing to do with the targets. Our dependence on foreigners to fill jobs and population shortfalls is another source of uneasiness. As their numbers grow, their share in the economic and other domains will expand. The issue with their obligations will be raised constantly.

The convergence of these discontents may lead to distrust of the Government and dilution of the sense of belonging and patriotism among some of us. This will lead some people to put their interests before the nation’s, treat Singapore as a hotel, rely overly on the Government to fix problems —big and small — and become indifferent to national issues.

Were it to develop into a crisis, future citizens may have to surrender themselves to a stronger nation or turn the country into an authoritarian state.

We should strive to analyse issues better and acquire the right values and attitudes in managing our relationship with our vulnerable nation, amid uncertainties around us. Education must play a greater role in this respect. Teaching good values at home and having campaigns to help citizens become more knowledgeable and analytical in social, national and external issues are needed.

The issue of national identity must be at the top of our agenda when we reset our nation’s vision and goals for the next 50 years.

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