The Social Studies Corner

I have to disagree with you, Adeline. Money cannot buy you good health and love. I would not compromise my family for whatever money one pays me. The reason is simple: the love and loyalty I have towards my family. Many Singaporeans are equally committed to their families. Do you have similar loyalty towards the nation?
 

I don't think flag raising and learning of social studies imply that Singaporeans are not loyal and we need to teach them to be loyal. Social Studies is not peculiar to Singapore. In other countries esp european countries and america, social studies also exist - it is called citizenship studies though. As for flag raising, again i ought to disagree that it shows lack of loyalty. flag raising takes place in schools and this is part of educaiton. you cannot expect a child to develop loyalty without learning something about the nation, can you?
 

The world is evolving such that people don't feel that there IS A NEED to have a sense of belonging and should remain patriotic to their country..More and more people have been migrating overseas due to reasons like their jobs requires them to do so, some are just not contented ,and have a view that overseas living are better.Singaporeans are lacking the sense of belonging that they should have and must always remember that singapore is their homeland, the place where they were born in. they lived in,This a something which everyone should bear in mind,but in reality,a lot of people are not bother over this fact.well,* i'm not sure if this sentence is used appropriately,'most singaporeans think that singapore own them a living, but in actual, it is we [singaporeans] who own singapore a living,*pardon me if its wrong.
 

Good point Jocelyn. However, what is loyalty all about? I think that a Singaporean can veture out, settle down overseas and still be loyal to a nation. Isn't that possible?
 

Adeline, loyalty to families vary as well. There are people who are not loyal to their own families. I am not saying Singaporeans are loyal to the nation - it is a matter for discussion here. However, I cannot agree that people generally tend to be materialistic. And you mentioned that in times of war, Singaporeans would not waste their lives on war - where do you place people like Lim Boh Seng and Adnan then? How many people ran away from Singapore during the Japanese occupation? If war breaks out, I am confident many Singaporeans would remain behind to serve and fight for the nation. The NS men can be trusted to serve the nation loyally.
 

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I believe that many Singaporeans have a sense of belonging and rootedness in Singapore.

We may dream that living overseas is much better. However. usually when we dream we want to live overseas is because of media gimmick. The media like Japan Hour, tends to make the overseas country so beautiful and serene. Where there are no stress. People would then be encaptivated by it.

However, after some time, we would usually forget or place aside what we had seen and once we step out of our house and see the real wonders of Singapore, we would be rooted to it.
 

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I do not agree with Jocelyn's quote of us owing Singapore a living.

We do not owe Singapore anything neither does it owe us. However, why is it that there are 4 million people here in Singapore who are still SINGAPOREANS. It is because we were born here, and the first roots take place.

Education then plays a key role in encouraging students to have a sense of belonging by allowing students to understand the nation's history. It is only by understanding what the country had been through to where it is today will students understand and feel connected to it.
 

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To Adeline :

I agree there are those who are not loyal to the country. However, they make up a small number.

But why should not there be loyalty to these few. There is this old saying : First to country, second to familiy and third to self. No matter how much they deny it, they will always feel a sense of pride for Singapore.

Perhaps, it is only when they live overseas and after time, when they look back will they realise that Singapore was a much better place. Is that not a sense of belonging to Singapore ?
 

Education then plays a key role in encouraging students to have a sense of belonging by allowing students to understand the nation's history. It is only by understanding what the country had been through to where it is today will students understand and feel connected to it. justin, youu said this right?.. well.i agree to this point of yours..but then did you think of whether the majority of students would be encourage to understand our nation's history..?
 

I agreed with Justin and Jocelyn that people always tends to think that life aboard may be better, because it is human nature to think that the ‘pastures at the other side is greener’. I agree that this assumption may because of media gimmicks. The most common media , mediacorp, have been importing drama which, more or less portray how life will be at that particular country. However only the best and the most positive side of the country will be portrayed in these dramas, the dark side of the country is hidden behind these images. People may also not be able to know of the true culture of these countries from imported books because of censorship.
 

Adeline, you brought a very interesting point for discussion. If youngsters lack a sense of belonging to Singapore, what can we do to bring about this sense of belonging in them?
 

agreeing with some of them had said, about youngsters lacking in the sense of belonging..THe way we turn out in the future is the way how we ,youngsters are educated and the decisions we make
Does it sounds right?..Its basically our mindset and our decisions.THe key simply lies in our decisions
 

I think that S'poreans have that sense of belonging and rootedness to s'pore but i think that they move to other countries because s'pore's law can be said as to be too srict and they have better opportunities abroad than in S'pore..
However wouldn't it be a problem if too many are living abroad?
 

To comment on some of the post above, ways to make teenagers feel loyal to s'pore is to encourage teenagers to take part in National Education which is implemented in our education system now. Therefore through this system, teenagers would be able to have a sense of belonging and rootedness to S'pore.
 

I agree with Justin about his example on Japn Hour in Channel Newsasia. The media painted a very 'nice' picture to the people about Japan. With reference to my personal trip there, the scenerio was different.

No doubt their country is full of greenery and beauty, but the scenerios of people visiting and eating food in Japan Hour were specially arranged.

I'll speak here as a S'porean. Whenever I come back from overseas I will feel that Singapore is the best place after all.
 

I will not agree with Adeline's, Reena's and Desiree's stand.

I found Adeline's view very negative about the youth in Singapore. I feel that the youngsters in Singapore do not give themselves a chance to feel for the country and there is where the problem lies and not being over practical about financial factors.
 

I would like to touch about the flag raising and etc subject that Adeline brought about.

I will agree with your stand if we are in the 1960s to the 1970s where we just gained independence. People might just be working for survival and who bothers about being loyal to the nation.

But for now its totally different. The daily flag raising and etc become a norm in everyone lives. If you were to remove it, we will all feel empty like something is missing. We will rather have the ceremony. It is in our blood.
 

Lets take a big example of National Day. In the national stadium, the performers are formed by various groups of people. In particular, secondary sch students.

They commit themselves into training and performing for the performance. Dont you tell me that they are paid to do it. They volunteered and they are proud of it.

Look at the spirit in the stadium at that day, it was roaring with thousands of people who came together to celebrate our independence. Are they paid to do it? Or they pay for coming together? Eg the entrance fee.

Lets not go to the national level. Lets look at our own school spirit last year. Let me ask you a question, did it look like a commemoration or celebration? It was so enjoyable and enthusiastic. Everyone was in red.

Coming back to the question, do youths lack of loyalty? Think twice.
 

Sense Of Belonging? Loyal? NAHX! NONONO! It's not just singaporeans that is not having a sense of belonging. I agree with what jocelyn brought up about people ard the world DO NOT FEEL a NEED TO HAVE A SENSE OF BELONGING to anything. Now the world talks all about qualitifications. If u are qualified for a better life at a better place you would just change a enviroment and leave the place you once called home. There is not much of a permanant place which you treat it as your home. Singaporean are like the example i have stated. The youngester these days who grow up in Singapore, start to think more than most adults do. We think of our future and whats for the best of us. Not what the country have done us. If a war just break out, most of the people will just move to a better enviroment than stay and SUFFER.
 

To add on to brian's post. Hahas, like what i said. Those people who got enough qualitifications will go. But there is still a majority who arent that talented to go anywhere. Countries do not just accept anyone from anywhere. U must have something good that they need. So i think there is still a majority who will stay and fight to protect Singapore. I agree with you brian some Singaporean really are loyal. They just love Singapore. It's just different people prepective. Maybe they grew up with an idea of migrating already and no one can change that. So it's really up to the people to love their country and be loyal to it. Singapore still have quite a majority of Singaporeans who are loyal to the country. Like S.E.A games , commonwealth games and of cause the olympics. U will always still see a big nuber of people spending their own money to support the Counrty's sportmen. Maybe and the same time have a holiday. But the main idea is still there. THEY ARE THERE TO SUPPORT SINGAPORE.
 

i do think tt s'poreans have a sense of belonging even if they r not living here anymore.one example is, every national day s'poreans in diff countries come together to celebrate our independance with a dinner, party or smth,namely in australia.
i do not agree tt youngsters r not rooted to our country.havnt u seen those teens tt represent our country in various competitons?dun u see how they sing the national anthem with pride?okay so maybe we 'normal' teens r diff but once u think abt it all the memories frm the yrs we spend here makes us rooted to this little red dot.the food,sch yrs,national days,racial harmony day,n even those food rationing days...i dunno abt u guys but i love this country n no matter where i go n stay s'pore will always be in my heart...=D
 

It is true indeed that teenagers nowadays do not have a deep sense of belonging and loyalty to Singapore. They always take things for granted. They would always complain this and complain that. Eg; they would complain about…

1)the government--->taxes too high,…very fake(when an election is nearing than they do a lot of things)
2)education---> too rigid,…not flexible,… wan to be much to America style
3)cost of living--->too high,…and the pace of the ppl r also too fast
4)weather---> too hot,… no four seasons
5)size--->too small,…not much place is close to ‘pure’ nature
6)culture--->ppl here not friendly enough

it hard for the younsters to understand and be contended, but this must be done
 

hhmm...other than parents' 'teachings' i think than juz learning abt those interesting happenings in s'pore can make us more interested in s'pore n in the process feel a sense of belonging.like the river trail at s'pore river we learn many interesting facts abt diff places n ppl in our country.