Early this month, I mentioned that Singapore needs more good news. Today, Team Singapore delivers us a silver medal. I don’t know how my fellow citizens feel. I am ecstatic. And in my state of ecstasy, two questions still linger on my mind: What does ‘Singapore will at least get a silver medal’ mean? And how do you measure Singaporean-ness?
The first question is a strange one. Of course any country that enters the final match will get a gold or a silver medal. So why this mindset that we would at least get a silver? No clue. I have watched the match and I think we have proven to be a worthy opponent against China. Well done Team Singapore. You guys have done us proud.
The second question puzzles me too. No offence to some of my friends who may not regard our national table tennis team members as Singaporean as they could be. I too come from a far away land and call Singapore my home since 1998 – the year that I sworn in. Is a one year old Singapore born baby more Singaporean than a new citizen who has sworn in for a year? Hmmm …
To measure Singaporean-ness, I guess we can only observe actions. Check these out:
- One who is born or sworn in as a Singaporean
- … and he/she has done something very patriotic
- … and he/she has done something very unpatriotic
To me, only case #3 makes me roll my eyes. Otherwise, you are my beloved country mate whether or not you have yet exhibited observable patriotic actions.
Last October, I was at the airport waiting for Cynthia’s plane to touch down. There was a huge crowd with people all cheering. That puzzled me. I would be shocked if I was to come out from the gate and meet this crowd. Some foreigners smiled in awe. Then I caught the Welcome Back Team Singapore signboard (see picture above). And that was the first time I heard of Team Singapore.
To those who are in the Team Singapore and are out there in the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, many congratulations. You all have only yourself to challenge and better. One world, one dream!