5 Jan 11
1. What Shapes A National Identity?
Your first stop for NE-related
News!
WHAT SHAPES A NATIONAL
IDENTITY?
HOW do you put a finger on a
country's national identity?
According to ST writer Ravi
Shankar Buddhavarapu,
nationhood
“...is an idea, or an ideal, that
lives in the consciousness of a
nation's inhabitants, it needs to
arise from within... So, to be an
Indian or even, say, American is
to be born with a national
identity forged through
collective experience over
time.”
A defining moment for
Singaporean
Ravi felt that Singapore's
union with and eventual
divorce from Malaysia have
shaped the Singaporean
What about other countries?
identity.
What defines them?
“...it (merger with Singapore)
was marred by 'conjugal strife' American Identity: Ideals
over whether the merged entity above all
should be a truly multi-racial
society or one dominated by the
majority, in this case the
Malays. This central cause of
discord – equality of the races
under the law – remained key to
the self-definition of Singapore
in the years to come, and today
is as much a part of the
Republic's identity...”
Events such as Merger and the
1964 racial riots have led to
certain principles becoming
deeply entrenched in our
psyche. Even today, students
“...cite meritocracy, racial and
religious harmony as the
IN THIS ISSUE
2. What Lies Ahead in 2011?
3. Not That Difficult To Do!
4. Make Your Own “Home” Video
Contest!
defining traits of These ideals underpin the US
Singaporeanness... It was this Constitution. Historians such
concept of meritocracy and as Walter A. Mc Dougall
equal privilege that caused the believe that the development
rift bringing (Singapore's)
of the American identity can
independence in the first
place.” be traced to its colonial roots:
“...Where did the United States
Is this what the Singaporean
of America come from?
identity is all about? Are there American students have long
other things that define our been taught that the new nation
identity? What about elements was founded by colonists who
such as the Singapore Spirit had fled Tudor-Stuart England
which PM Lee said is and Hanoverian British in search
something that makes of religious freedom and
Singaporeans special? economic opportunity, taking up
arms to escape British
“Success also depends on imperialism.”
Singaporeans having the right
spirit – the daring to try new Japanese Identity:
things, the confidence to face Learning to be Japanese
fierce competition, the
In the case of Japan, being
willingness to always give our
best...We must nurture and Japanese is a birthright; you
are born one, you cannot
strengthen this spirit which
makes Singapore work, and “become” one. This notion of
Singaporeans special.” a Japanese identity can be
traced back to 1868 when the
- PM Lee, New Year Message
leaders of the new Meiji state
2011
wanted to inculcate a
conscious national identity
among its citizens. Since then,
education has been used to
reinforce “Japaneseness”:
“the role of
Similar to Singapore, the education...developing
American identity is shaped by students' self-awareness as a
a shared commitment to Japanese person and emotional
ideals. attachment to the nation.”
- Lynne Parmenter, Fukushima
“...American identity University, Japan
is...grounded in actions and
attitudes rather than racial, Students are taught how to be
religious, or ethnic identity... Japanese in schools through
It...encompasses a strong civic learning the national
commitment to individual language, literature, music,
freedom and to a representative culture and traditions, and
government of limited and way of life.
clearly defined powers that
respects that freedom.” Does Singapore have a clear
- Michael Jay Friedman, an national identity? Other countries
American historian and writer are going through social changes
that continue to shape their
identity. What do you think
shapes the Singaporean identity
today?
[Sources: The Straits Times, 25
Dec 10; PM's New Year Message
2011; American Identity: Ideas,
Not Ethnicity by Michael Jay
Friedman; Constructing National
Identity in a Changing World:
Perspectives in Japanese
Education by Lynne Parmenter;
The Colonial Origins of American
Identity by Walter A. McDougall]

WHAT LIES AHEAD IN 2011?

THE News team's tongue-in-cheek wishes for Singapore in 2011! Make your own wishes for
Singapore!
1. Showing 2. Using 3. Becoming a 4. 5. Learning the
pride. reusable bags. United Nations. Singaporeans correct way to
It defeats the keeping fit. do CPR .
purpose if you put
your purchases in
plastic bags, and
then into the
reusable bag
We are known for We love food :) But No matter how
embracing we're developing much you kiss that
By all means, get diversity. With our love handles : frog, it will not turn
creative in low fertility rates, ( Fight the flab. Be into a prince. Spend
expressing your maybe Singapore inspired by Raj, the your time learning
love for families will look winner of The CPR instead! It
Singapore...but like Brangelina's in Biggest Loser Asia might turn out to be
maybe not in such
though. We've seen the future? 2, who lost 67kg a better way to
a “hot” way! over six months!
some people doing meet The One!
that! (Carefully!)

NOT THAT DIFFICULT TO DO!

FINDING it tough to start when you are “arrowed” for an NE session? Learn from LTC Adrian
Lee, Head Project Officer, GS (Ops), who shares his experience about giving a talk to
River Valley Primary School in this interview.
Q: How did you feel Q: What support/resources did you need?
when you were asked How did you get them?
to conduct this A: I linked up with my good friends in the SAF
session? to get some resources (e.g., posters,
A: I was excited and souvenirs) from Army Recruitment Centre, G1-
apprehensive as it was Army and Nexus. The posters were used as
my first time doing it. It talking points to engage the students.
was enriching and rewarding to engage the
younger generation. Q: What is your advice for others who
might get similar requests?
Q: What was your aim for the session? A: To prepare the materials well.
A: To share what the SAF and the Army are all
about. [Tip from NEws : Aspiring NE facilitators can
go to the NE Hub (on the Intranet for the SAF)
Q: What was the worst and best part? or Connexion.sg (on the Internet) to get
A: I thought it was fun, so not much of an issue some ideas and resources for your NE
doing the talk. The best part was to be able to sessions!]
interact with the students.

MAKE YOUR OWN “HOME” VIDEO

CONTEST!
 Theme for Total Defence 2011: “Home – Keeping It
Together”:
The campaign seeks to remind Singaporeans that Singapore is
worth defending on all fronts, simply because it is home.

Total Defence 2011 is anchored on the song “Home”, a

Singaporean classic written by Dick Lee and originally sung by
Kit Chan. The lyrics of “Home” reflect Singaporeans' treasured
memories and shared dreams for the future, whether they are
living in Singapore or abroad.

Make Your Own “Home” Video Contest

Home means different things to different people. Tell us what
Home means to you by creating your own video featuring the
song “Home”.

Why not get your school or SAF unit to produce and submit a
video for Total Defence Day? Do so by 31 March 11 and stand to win fantastic prizes worth over
$8,000! Contest details are at www.thisishome.sg.