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Scant national flag displays ignite debate on patriotism in Singapore on Reddit
A Reddit post on 4 August showing a lone national flag on an HDB block has ignited a debate about patriotism in Singapore. The picture, which highlighted the solitary and incorrectly hung flag, led to discussions about the decreasing presence of flags and reasons behind it.
SINGAPORE: Singaporeans across the country were encouraged to display the national flag between 1 July and 30 September in anticipation of the National Day celebration.
However, a recent Reddit post highlighted a noticeable lack of flag displays, sparking a spirited discussion on patriotism and civic pride.
On 4 August, a Reddit user posted a picture of an HDB block with the caption, “Whole block only see one unit put up a flag.”
Whole block only see one unit put up a flag
byu/mingz insingapore
The photo showed a single flag hung in the middle level of the block, and it garnered attention not only for its solitary presence but also because it was hung incorrectly.
Lack of Participation
The post prompted a flurry of comments from other Redditors.
One user observed that this lack of flag displays was not unique to HDB blocks.
Another comment suggested that the hustle and bustle of daily life has diminished civic engagement.
Practical Concerns
Some users cited practical reasons for not displaying the flag.
One Redditor explained:
Another user responded to the comment:
Demographic Changes
A more critical perspective was offered by a user who implied that the demographic changes in Singapore were a factor.
Humor and Cynicism
Some comments took a humorous or cynical tone, with one user quipping:
Another added, “KPI not reached.”
Skepticism About Symbolism
Others expressed scepticism about the symbolism of flag displays, arguing that true patriotism involves more than superficial gestures.
One Redditor commented, “Being patriotic doesn’t mean hanging out a piece of cloth once a year for others to see.”
Another stated, “If any people in the world could replace you, what is the point of showing love to your country? It is just pathetic and hypocritical to even fly our flag on our home ground.”
Socioeconomic Concerns
Some users shared their struggles with socioeconomic issues.
They shared that they do not need to put up flags to show patriotism and questioned the practicality of such displays amid challenges like the high cost of living and job insecurity.
Comments like “Being patriotic feed my family?” and “When I’m not equal in my own country, what patriotism is there to speak of?” reflected a sense of disillusionment among some.
Positive Responses
Despite the criticisms, the post also prompted responses from users who shared images of their neighbourhoods where flags were proudly displayed.
One Redditor posted a photo of HDB buildings with flags being hung after seeing an earlier post with only one flag.
Saw the post with only one flag… Here's my neighbourhood with all voluntarily put up flags 🇸🇬
byu/5377jay insingapore
The poster revealed that the location of the buildings is at Fernvale after being asked by another.
Others mentioned that certain circumstances, such as building restrictions or personal limitations, prevented them from hanging flags.
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Instead of majulah singapura, increasingly it’s more like habislah singapura…
What does the flag represent? What do the colours, the crescent moon (Which is a waning crescent by the way) and the five stars mean? Do you as a Singaporean see the values of the flag reflected in today’s Singapore? Red – Do you feel the brotherhood? Do feel equal? Or do you feel like you live in one country two systems? Where the haves and have nots have ossified and there is no way to move from one to another? (I’m also not talking about absolute wealth) White – Can we can say that Singapore is pure? What virtues… Read more »
Perhaps, … they just don’t feel it !!!
That the ND spirit, elation, or an over abundance of joy and the wanting to celebrate, … is just not there !!!
Still SillyPorean though, … paying taxes, tariffs and ticking that pap box !!!
Ain’t that sufficient, … that an absent flag should negate the above, three T’s !!!
Five more years !!!
More ND songs !!!
,Loyalty to the country always. Loyalty to the government when it deserves it.
-Mark Twain.
Wise words.
What happened,RC,papee porlampars boycott because they did not receive enough goody bags for their 3Gen family members???
There are two flags opposite me. One is grey. Probably not washed after last year’s display. People are just too angry with the PAP to celebrate National Day. The National spirit has been lost. So let them celebrate with the new citizens. They don’t need us.
Another mega-failure of our million$ PM/ministers. We are taking in an average of about 23,000 new citizens EACH year, shouldn’t we expect 23,000 more flags being hung during ND period??? Oh, the pappies are taking in Free Riders, hor?
Copying off DTrump’s ✌️words ,
We need to” Drain the Swamp” and make SG Great Again…!
In United State, you can wear the flag as bra or underwear or condom or sex toy, you can put flag in your garage, you can place it on your property 365 days, you can make it into wallet, display on your t-shirt, and tattoo on any part of your body… You can even burn it, step on it, as long as you bought it and you did not damage public or others properties while doing that. Patriot? Our MillionDollar ministers will most likely first to run-road when things happen. Nationalism? For who? Like the Chinese which are injected high… Read more »
Sorry about going off-topic 🙂
Pay more for GST, COE, HDB, Insurance, etc and be patriotic!
Looks like SGs are in “Silent Protest” mode all over the island..
Did any miw notice yet , the no flags flown outside hdb units this year ..all over the island ???
Hahaha… waiting for their “eyes” to inform them …
Wonder what kinds of wayang theyll come up with later.
Patriotism to SG, YES. NOT to selfish self caring power hungry PAP Scumbags
They treat SG as them and us.
Nationalism, stand up for SG when bullied, when need to, against any forms of external aggression or, within in local context F all extra territorial aliens come here to steal jobs, contribute to price increases, like food and accommodation whether rental or what.
Natonalism AGAINST PAP, it’s a RESOUNDING YES because the PAP polarised SG into 2 camps, FOR and AGAINST them, evidence ABUNDANT.
Has PAP forged a Nationwide Nationalism Character in Singaoreans – ZERO
In any civil war, both side will claim to be patriotic.
What is patriotism?
It is just a social construct, not an absolute good. It is relative.
It is people who want you to follow their causes that ferment this fervour.
Just pay your taxes (on time), obey the laws of the land and contribute to the well being of the community where you see fit.
With that, you are already a decent citizen.
With so many issues facing Singaporeans, does the G think we have the time to worry about a piece of red and white cloth to demonstrate our patriotism?
Singapore is well known as Singapore Inc. What does it then say of our relationship vis-a-vis the G?
Frankly, speaking as part of the Merdeka Generation, I despair of what Singapore is now all about.
No heart, no soul!
The flags put up by the RCs seem to be new every year. One wonders what happened to the previous year’s flag? Destroyed? So that somebody’s mistress’s factory in China will get new orders every year? I think if those barely used flags were to be made available for free, maybe MAYBE … more people will put up more flags.
Patriotism is dead here. The moment we got sold by our own G everyone just lost hope and can’t be bothered with all this facade anymore. Bet you lots of locals going to JB for long weekend. Leave the celebrations to the elites and NC.
Display State Flag on ND isn’t a sign or patriotism. One MUST be NUTS to agree it is.
Ask oneself, has the PAP Administration been patriotic themselves. First. Olebty6of egs.
Secondly, why didn’t the PAP Administwgichbmeans ration ORGANISED a National Movement for citizens to DISPLAY anger towards PRC when PRC detained few of our SAF armour vehicles? The mfkr Minister of Defence, has the cheek to thank the PRC Communist Govt. Different from Don Trump who thank Putin for Americans release?
To scold SGpns NOT voting PAP Free Riders – which means as SG citizen must vote PAP, 😂.
Patriotism in Singapore is being buried bit by bit over all these decades by this white termite colony. The white termites choose monetary gain over patriotism. We can see around all our national entities being sold out to foreigners. Before the old National Stadium is teared down, they promised we all Singaporeans after the new one is built, we can held our National Day Parade every year there and the Float will be teared down for other development in that area. Over a decade now, how many times NDP is held there? We have also built Esplanade to boost Arts… Read more »
Its the Party-Against-People’s fault..
…made our SG brothers & sisters into 2nd class citizens…
Sold us out …
The aliens brought in by the planeloads are “taking over”..
Those with eyes to see will see.
Also 1000s are “running away from home” on ND..to JB , Batam etc …
The signs are not too pretty..
Asking for sacrifices whereby the joke is on the locals and indigenous populace of SG, only imbeciles abound to talk anything near patriotism.. even in Wee Chats the imported Chinese are taunting SG as if they own this island…pathetic down spiral is the soul of many suckers.
I feel what Nothing has written, if the citizens don’t even feel proud of themselves, don’t expect them to feel proud of the country.
I won’t speak for my fellow countrymen but I didn’t put on my flag not because I am not a patriot but because I am siding suffering under our current government. For me, ridiculous cost of living, lose of good paying job, being long term underemployed which lead to strenuous relationships are the key reasons. After losing a good paying job to foreigners, now I drive around for a living drawing a fraction of what I use to. There may be some who voluntarily put up flags, mostly I do see flags at landed properties but I don’t think they… Read more »
Lawrence ah ….Lawrence….your vouchers not enough lei….cost of living too high liao…the peasants in the HDB areas tu lan liao…..you think throw them each a few hundreds to buy their votes ah?
This election really jia liak ah, after lost a few more GRCs how?
Just take over s PM, votes precentage drop to 50 plus %…..but still win lah!😆😆😆🤣🤣😆😆🤣🤣