National Day Special: United World

Posted by tyan (Singapore, Singapore) on 5 August 2012 in People & Portrait.

At the special request of a dear friend, Sue, I did a National Day Special series of postings related to National Day.

This gigantic sculpture is called United World, where many people held hands to form a circle. Didn't manage to get a whole view of it here. Probably aptly named, now that non-resident foreigners are taking more than a third of Singapore's population. Changes to the demographics of Singapore society have come so swiftly and drastically, I find it hard to feel at home anymore. I wonder how many Singaporeans have left for greener pastures overseas? I already know quite a handful personally. As we sat there looking at fireworks and listening to patriotic songs played, somehow the lyrics of 'This is home, truly, where my heart must be' don't seem to resonate deeply in our hearts like in the past. I think the challenge to 'unite' the 'world' in Singapore is an increasingly uphill task.

Comments (4)

Viewfinder from Bradenton, FL, United States

This is a wonderful portrait of your two growing boys. I like the smile on Caleb, minus the one tooth. And Ian's own enigmatic smile; what is he thinking about inside there? Mischief? Haha!

5 Aug 2012 12:44pm

@Viewfinder: Thanks Uncle Glenn. Ian is really quite a dreamer, just the other day, he was lagging behind all of us. I shouted at him to catch up, just to see that he had been slow in walking because he was trying to look for a flower to pluck for me. He is a sweetheart, alright!:)

Joanie from Singapore

Where's this?

5 Aug 2012 6:03pm

@Joanie: Marina Bay Link. If driving, you can park at this open air carpark beside MBS, and walk to this large promontary. There are food outlets at the Marina Bay Link Mall, and the space at the promontary is so big you can let kids scoot/cycle.

Sue from Melbourne, Australia

Love...love...love it! Thanks for posting this awesome picture babe! I did feel a tinge of sadness when reading your post about how hard it is to feel at home. I am one of those who left and will be taking up citizenship on 15 Aug here but my heart misses the Singapore that was. It can never be the same. I too feel that we have lost the fabric of the nation - what used to define us before is now lost. Still despite the loss, it still houses beautiful families like yours who continue to shine :)

Happy National Day, sweetie! I hope you all enjoy the parade and the holiday. Will be watching it live on the internet and will be thinking of you then...xoxo

6 Aug 2012 1:40am

@Sue: Hope you like this series. Wished I can add more photos but these two weeks have been quite bad-we took turns to fall sick, Caleb's eye stye,etc...:)

Judy aka L@dybug from Brooksville, FL, United States

It is so sad to read of the changes in your country, but I say similar things about our United States. Life isn't the same, values aren't the same. Every segment of the population is more concerned about their rights than what is good for the nation. Our government leadership is in question, there seems to be no compromise at the top, and the almighty $$$ is ruling everything.

I don't know if you know of Max Lucado, but his devotional this morning included this:
Psalm 37:7 reminds us, “Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for Him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.”
Avoid Pollyanna optimism. But neither do we join the Chicken Little chorus of gloom and doom. “The sky is falling.” “The sky is falling!”
Somewhere between Pollyanna and Chicken Little, between denial and blatant panic, stands the follower of Christ.
Psalm 27:3 says, “My heart shall not fear—though war arise against me, yes, I will be confident!”

6 Aug 2012 12:49pm

@Judy aka L@dybug: Thank you for bringing me back to perspective,nana. I learn the new term Pollyanna optimism today! Indeed we shall not fear,thank God for His sovereignty!:)

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