national karma
i've never had a penchant for national day. never knew what the excitement was all about, even as a kid, at an age where i should probably be fascinated by the colourful displays and well-rehearsed and intricate formations. neither was i ever impressed by the marching soldiers, their smart uniforms, nor in awe of the fact that they fired things from cannons that can actually hurt human beings. the fireworks never really caught my attention either, they were lacklustre on tv, because i've never, in my 30 years of existence, ever sat through the national day parade live.
lack of patriotism? perhaps. but more so, a huge disinterest in the repetitive way our nation's independence is being celebrated. but seriously, how much interest do they expect of me when the organising committee doesn't even show enough interest to make a big enough difference to our national day parade? by changing taglines, displays, themes and costumes, the committee tries to fool us into believing that there is something really different and exciting about the celebrations. kudos to them nevertheless, they've had a good 50,000 at the parade, and many more at home, fooled.
ok cynicism aside, i guess there IS a cause for celebration. after all, my wonderful life that i am so grateful for, will not exist if not for the 9th of august, 1965. however, i will not subscribe to the fact that we have to celebrate this important day in the same mundane way for 40 years. what really gets me, is how everyone stares at the tv, watching with bated breath, the unfolding of a procession that's been repeated year after year. are we naive or are we just conditioned into believing that THIS will be the special year; this will be the year that our national day parade will go down in history as the most memorable parade ever to be hosted? 4 months later, nothing is remembered.
but remember national day 2005, i will. call it karma for my lack of patriotism. (but then again, what does patriotism really mean in our materialism-infected nation?) i received a deep gash from a knee-to-chin landing on a backroll on national day this year. the flesh under my skin split wide open, and blood gushed out of the wound turning the bit of water around me into a sea of red. amidst my wails, i could see and hear those around me trying to maintain a calm face, pacifiying me that it's really just small. as i was rushing to the hospital, every tv i came across had the national day parade on, (yes, even the tv in the doctor's waiting room) mocking my nonchalance. so while the nation was celebrating its 4th decade, i was in the hospital receiving 4 stitches on my chin.
lack of patriotism? perhaps. but more so, a huge disinterest in the repetitive way our nation's independence is being celebrated. but seriously, how much interest do they expect of me when the organising committee doesn't even show enough interest to make a big enough difference to our national day parade? by changing taglines, displays, themes and costumes, the committee tries to fool us into believing that there is something really different and exciting about the celebrations. kudos to them nevertheless, they've had a good 50,000 at the parade, and many more at home, fooled.
ok cynicism aside, i guess there IS a cause for celebration. after all, my wonderful life that i am so grateful for, will not exist if not for the 9th of august, 1965. however, i will not subscribe to the fact that we have to celebrate this important day in the same mundane way for 40 years. what really gets me, is how everyone stares at the tv, watching with bated breath, the unfolding of a procession that's been repeated year after year. are we naive or are we just conditioned into believing that THIS will be the special year; this will be the year that our national day parade will go down in history as the most memorable parade ever to be hosted? 4 months later, nothing is remembered.
but remember national day 2005, i will. call it karma for my lack of patriotism. (but then again, what does patriotism really mean in our materialism-infected nation?) i received a deep gash from a knee-to-chin landing on a backroll on national day this year. the flesh under my skin split wide open, and blood gushed out of the wound turning the bit of water around me into a sea of red. amidst my wails, i could see and hear those around me trying to maintain a calm face, pacifiying me that it's really just small. as i was rushing to the hospital, every tv i came across had the national day parade on, (yes, even the tv in the doctor's waiting room) mocking my nonchalance. so while the nation was celebrating its 4th decade, i was in the hospital receiving 4 stitches on my chin.
so now, i have a scar under my chin that will remind me forever of national day 2005; my one and only tribute to the nation.
posted by princess vaderess at
4:30 pm
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home