the thing about propaganda.


HAPPY NATIONAL DAY... not.


It's that season of the year again. With national day approaching, national tv is flooded with drama, variety shows, commercials tailored to grind into us the spirit of nationalism.


Code Red (爱上小红点) on channel u, 830pm.
Honour and Passion (宝家卫国) on channel 8, 9pm.
Corresponding commercials on channel 8 in-between honour and passion.
NDP competition on Kids Central.


It's balantly shouting out 'propaganda' in all directions. But i guess there's no other way to build up nationalistic spirits, with citizens from all races and religions, and with 1/3 of the population made up of foreigners. Moreover, Singlish is rated as broken English. So, this little city-state continues to harp on how japanese soldiers tortured us during WWII, the crying PM during separation, and how our forefathers have fought to bring us from a third-world to first-world within one generation. All and all when almost half its population has never gone through these before.


And the climax of everything is during national day parade when the fireworks go off and a (floating)stadium-ful of audience sing nationalistic songs at the top of their lungs, waving tiny singapore flags in their hands. Momentarily, i'm confused. Are we grateful to be Singaporeans because we can see beautiful fireworks?




I thank God i live in Sinagpore. It's just that propaganda makes me scringe.