How Switzerland and Singapore celebrate their National Days
From our Correspondent
A country’s image of itself is often judged by the way it celebrates National Day and the contrast between Switzerland and Singapore cannot be greater.
Switzerland just celebrated its National Day on 1st August, 8 days before Singapore.
The way Switzerland commemorates its founding can hardly be considered as celebrating. there are no military parades, grandiose speeches or lining of state flags in the cities.
The first of August is celebrated solely in the municipalities. Only one radio and television broadcast a speech by the President of the Confederation currently in office.
The whole country gathers in public places around bonfires and listens to speeches about the independence of the country from the Austrian rulers.
Thought-provoking words from an eminent cultural or political speaker, songs and music, gymnastic shows and group performances of the Swiss national anthem are the traditional elements of the holiday.
Many municipalities set off fireworks, and these spectacular light shows are often ignited from the mountains and hills.
The children march through the streets at dusk with candle-lit Chinese lanterns. Flags with the arms of the Confederation, the canton and the municipality fly proudly above public and private buildings alike. Even the bakers get involved, decorating their rolls of bread with little Swiss flags.
In Singapore, millions of dollars are spent each day to organize a “National Day” parade. There will be a two hour speech by the Prime Minister which is screened across all the major broadcast station and published in the newspapers (which are all owned by the government).
More state resources are expended to decorate the roads, streets and public places with banners and flags. However, there are few spontaneous hanging of flags by the citizens themselves.
With the exception of the site where the National Day Parade is held, the event was not celebrated anywhere else on the island. After all, any gathering of more than 5 people is considered illegal under the law.
Only the Prime Minister will be giving a speech. All speeches in public places must have the prior approval of the police of which a permit is almost always never granted. Therefore Singaporeans will never get to hear speeches from any prominent “cultural” or “political” speakers if they exist in the first place.
The Singapore children will probably be playing computer games at home or tucking in burgers at McDonalds. You won’t find them “marching” through the streets because that too, will get you arrested by the omnipresent police.
The Swiss hang their flags proudly to demonstrate their love for their homeland. Singaporeans dare not do so out of fear for being fined for showing “disrespect” to the national flag if they hang it the wrong way.
Nevertheless, if the Singapore government were to pass a law mandating all citizens to hang the national flag one month before 9 August every year, the entire island will surely be decked in the national colors of red and white.
Welcome to Singapore, the only modern one-party state in the developed world.
If you choose to celebrate National Day (at your own peril), please bear in mind the following acts are against the law and may land you in jail:
1. Displaying the national flag in public places without permission.
2. Speaking about your love for Singapore in public places without a permit.
3. Cheering for Singapore in the streets on your own or with friends may be misconstrued as a protest.
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a singapoorean on Wed, 5th Aug 2009 10:51 am
aiyah, its not that bad! Im sure they will gladly let you if you register at hong lim park to tell people about your NS glories, inspire PRs to join our country as citizens.
And we are not the sit around bonfires and camp type. We prefer more aerial acrobats/stunts, flaunting of our prosperity through massive performance, pop champagne in hotel rooms and reflect on which next LV bag to buy. We are probably not rich enough like Switzerland to have so many fireworks coming out from bt timah hill, sembawang park and jurong island. So we gather at one central location to see them or stay at home to see fireworks display multiplied many times on our screen.
there’s nothing perilous about it showing our love for the nation. going on to mrt is more dangerous. Almost died from the stench from non-singaporeans recently.
in any case, i love singapore! Our development from the fishing village to now is truly phenomenal! We should be proud of it.
The Singapore Daily » Blog Archive » Daily SG: 5 Aug 2009 on Wed, 5th Aug 2009 11:07 am
[...] our National flag and its reality – Oikono: Where are the Singaporeans Left? – The Temasek Review: How Switzerland and Singapore celebrate their National Days – the kent ridge common: Singapore: A young-nation on the rise – Article 14: Celebrating National [...]
randomnessinmind on Wed, 5th Aug 2009 11:18 am
I look forward to the PM’s speech every year. Because every year he says something we get something to laugh about the next day. I’m guessing this year it’s on our “political reforms” and “negative wealth added”….and how we’re going to “SPUR” economic growth by making 10 do the job of 11 or 12, like we aren’t already doing that.
assembly of MIWs on Wed, 5th Aug 2009 11:45 am
National Day = PAP Day = FamiLee Day = Assembly of MIWs
The citizens of Switzerland celebrate without military and political party presence, unnecessary showing off of military hardware, etc.
To me Spore can only be a fake nation, simply because we have fake Leaders….
Desmond on Wed, 5th Aug 2009 12:35 pm
Gathering of 5 or more? Hasn’t it been changed to gathering of 1 or more?
bjorn on Wed, 5th Aug 2009 12:36 pm
wat utter rubbish. this blogger simply has a thing agst singapore and focuses on the lack of legal assembly and celebrations in public as contrast criteria agst switzerland.
ErniesUrn on Wed, 5th Aug 2009 1:11 pm
Sounds like a modern North Korea to me.
Anonymous on Wed, 5th Aug 2009 1:16 pm
Come on, saying that Singaporeans do not display their flags is ridiculous. Haven’t you seen any flags displayed? Sure not everyone does it, but it is not that rare either.
Also, there are celebrations for National Day in the neighborhoods as well.
Omnipresent police: A tad bit much don’t you think?
Article seems exaggerated and over the top. I am sure you can criticize Singapore without resorting to hyperbole.
Anonymous on Wed, 5th Aug 2009 5:04 pm
The Swiss flag is square in shape and is symmetrical with the white cross located in the middle. Hang at any direction will not go wrong.
)
There is a time and place to show off military powers like SAF day or RSAF day, NAVY Day or total defence day. For National day, showing how much we achieved or progress in the year before would be great, showing the arts scene (that’s how the nation progresses), caring for the oldies who contributed to our nation, and even revealing the newly converted Singaporeans. Achievements that make us proud to be Singaporeans. It should be more software than hardware. It should tingle the heart strings.
Lets not over glorify the President, PM, and government. It’s the people that make the nation, not the government. The President, PM, and government are in fact appointed servants to the country. When we serve the country, we are called servants. They are no kings, but servants.
Lets honour the people from all walks of life who in every way helped to make Singapore a better place to live in. People centred to be precised.
George on Wed, 5th Aug 2009 6:19 pm
The format of the NDP is older than most Singaporeans.
It is as stale as a 44 year old loaf of bread.
Any mystery why the vast majority prefers to do something else on 9 Aug 09?
To turn even more off, the parade will surely pander to the so called new citizens. This is the only country in the world that went out of its way to adapt to new arrivals while foe the rest of the world, its the reverse – the new citizens learn to adapt to their new country of adoption.
If the newbies are thinking people, they surely must smell something fishy and be wary of such obsequious behaviour of a govt. Like what the proverbial spider said to the fly, “Welcome, into my parlour!”
blueballs on Wed, 5th Aug 2009 10:30 pm
You know what the NDP always feels like? It feels like yet another of the garmen’s endlessly tedious campaigns – no different from “Speak Mandarin’ or “Don’t Smoke” or “Flush the toilet or else”. It’s just a bit more elaborate but the bullying tone’s the same.
This time “Loyalty and Patriotism” is the product being rammed down your throat and we’re tired of the lecture. Tired of the lying flag-waving politicians with their hypocritical smiles that never reach their eyes, tired of the GDP hype and their greed, fed up at being told the ludicrous story that an earth-shaking event occurred at XX minutes on day YY as if it was the equal of D-Day. We know very well that the MSM’s propaganda BS spin dept is hard at work. We’re simply sick of PAP’s idea of give-and-take. We always give, they always take.
NDP waves a cynical middle finger at the ordinary hard-working Sinkie salaryman desperately trying to provide for his family. It celebrates the fact that they have us all so firmly by the balls that our hearts and minds must surely have to follow. And that is why I and 99% of sinkies will bo chap this party political show unless coerced into participating.
AcidFlask on Thu, 6th Aug 2009 5:53 am
This comparison is fundamentally flawed as it fails to acknowledge the basic difference between Singapore as a city state vs. Switzerland as a federation. Each individual canton of Switzerland has a strong identity that sets it apart from all the others. Furthermore, each canton has a long separate histories that in many cases far precede their shared legacy as a federation.
FPC on Thu, 6th Aug 2009 8:41 am
you know the funny thing, LKY’s daugther made a lot of noise about issues some time back including this one and we didn’t hear anything from her about her sister in law’s failure in TH…
She seemed so righteous all this while…
Global Voices Online » Celebrating National Days in Singapore and Switzerland on Thu, 6th Aug 2009 9:43 am
[...] Temasek Review has an article comparing the National Day celebrations in Singapore and Switzerland. Cancel this [...]
Passerby on Mon, 10th Aug 2009 10:28 am
I felt that the reason behind nonchalance of Singaporeans is that we are clever, smart but at the same time ‘docile’. We all know what’s best for us. We all know what’s going to happen if we were to ‘disobey’. We also feel in our mind that by doing or showing too much is just for the sake of doing, in other words, ‘wayang’. Of course, it will not be good to maintain that attitude, but what can we do? Demonstrations? Strikes? Then you call Singapore a true country? What is a country’s definition to you? You will find tonnes of different version from everyone. What I am saying here is not helping but to highlight the differences and imperfections in life.
We are simply too young a nation to see storms and downs. If there is to be a bombing somewhere in Orchard or City Hall, it will have a deeper impact on Singapore than if it is to happen elsewhere. That is because we just do not know how to react.
CH on Thu, 3rd Sep 2009 12:37 pm
Most Singaporeans, especially the younger generations, think that nation has achieved a lot. The think that government has done alot for its ppl. A lot of ppl think that Singapore is a well-developed country that is much better than any other Asian countries. One thing they dont realize is, the Singaporeans are not ready and not capable of surviving by their own without the government’s help. It is like the big 44years kids who still need to hang on to their parents. The parents still need to hold their hands, feed them, bathe them, etc. Without the parents, they just wont survive on their own.
The SG government controls everything, even, personal matters like family planning. They control what the people should read, hear, see and think. They even control what languages, dialets the ppl should speak. In fact, they control every citizens’ (and residents) life, including their creativity and expression.
Yes, in terms of infrastucture, facilities and the economy, SG is one of the best. But, its citizen’s thinking, knowledge and mentality are just not up to that level. It is not even close to any other developed countries. The ppl are just not equipped with the knowledge of survival.
So, SG (and the ppl) will probably survive for the next 20, 30, 40, 50 years or so. But when the other nations (like Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, etc) pick up and become more developed, I can tell you Singapore will probably run into big problems that even the government cant fix them.
Ah Beng on Sat, 5th Sep 2009 5:36 pm
Friends and fellow Singaporeans,
I am a forty plus year old and I still think that Singapore’s success is not possible without a government like the past 40 years’. No, I do not belong to any party. I’m not a civil servant either. I am just a commoner like most.
Like some have mentioned, we cannot compare Singapore and Switzerland. Just mentioning the history of Switzerland would make this whole comparison futile. Singapore is only 40 years of age. Sad to say, we still don’t have enough gel factor…
Singaporeans not patriotic enough? You bet, a good number aren’t and they have not found enough reason to. Patriotism should not be valued by what a government has done or not do, its a sense of “This is my homeland. Its my home.” Governments come and go, its what we ourselves make of this nation that matters.
One good reason, I believe, why we celebrate National Day is so that we may all have a deeper sense of pride and belonging for the nation. Whether it is yielding the right results, I believe is very subjective. We can choose to criticize till the cow comes home but will it encourage other readers to be more patriotic? I prefer to give a benefit of doubt. No, I am not blind to the flaws, but i believe even if we are in Switzerland, and we choose to criticize, there will be room aplenty. Just google and we’ll see how many internal issues Switzerland (or any other country for that matter) they have.
Why do we spend so much money on National Day parades? Would we rather the government pocket the money and we have nothing instead?
Singaporeans not patriotic. You bet, and perhaps it may be getting worse. A recent program I watched on TV hosted by the Flying Dutchman blew my socks off. Three generations were being interviewed in that program. An old timer, in his sixties or seventies, was “swearing” (in a good sense) that he would defend Singapore if war really breaks out. My oh my, he’s an old man yet his words had weight. I think we should all be like him to make Singapore to be HOME. What really blew my socks off was the conclusion that the third generation representative insisted on having, he said, “Being Singaporean is to make money and if anything happens to Singapore, I’ll run, or at most I’ll just defend my own family.” (That’s one person I won’t live beside, cos he won’t do anything for his neighbors when anything happens). That attitude has penetrated our third generationers. Don’t you hear that familiar tone in your own home? That self-focused ME ME ME. “You are supposed to feed me, educate me, send me to the best school.” “Housework for the family? No time… cos it doesn’t benefit me and I don’t enjoy them.” (Aren’t your kids saying the same?) No wonder we need the National Day parades. Its a deeper social problem we have. If not, can anyone suggest anything else on a national scale that can achieve that purpose of gel-ing the nation together? Do we really think that changing our Nation Day parade tagline to “Singapore, our ATM Machine.” would yield better responses and make us all feel like a nation? Lets be real.
Whilst none of the two mentioned above represent the majority, they are contradicting voices in our society and they do reflect something about our population.
As for the foreigners, whether they are Malaysians, Koreans, Indians, Vietnamese, Philippines, etc. we should welcome them as long as they are here in peace and do their just bit to the benefit of the country. Its just fair, we give them job, they contribute to the society. They fill a gap in our societies. No? Now, lets ask ourselves, who of us readers are willing to take care of the rubbish in the housing estates? (There is nothing un-noble about such professions actually) How many moms are willing to do without the maids and be a stay-home mom? (which is actually a noble role that many choose to give up at a low price of some few thousand dollars a month). Who is willing to do night shift day in and day out? If we are not willing, who is going to do it?
Regarding foreigners, in fact we should treat them nicely in spite of the differences. What can we achieve by giving them the look? Nothing. They too left their homes like our forefathers. Remember, our next generation may one day be residing in their countries so let’s sow some good seed. We are in the position to do it now, thank God for the development we have achieved as a nation.
Does Singapore have a future? Will we be overtaken by other neighboring countries? Well, friends, it depends on you and me, not necessarily the government. If we all will take time to build a better next generation while making a livelihood, we still have a chance. Our next generation does not need more high-tech stuffs, nor entertainments, they need good mentors, parents who will let go a bit of their material goals and pay some attention. We determine what our country will be like.
I guess the above are my two cents…
Ah Beng