We will be celebrating Singapore’s 36th National Day next Thursday. Older Singaporeans have experienced the arduous task of nation-building, but what do young Singaporeans think about the country?

　　The arrival of the men in white - a segment on the annual televised National Day parade I’ve always looked forward to, perhaps conditioned by my mother’s eagerness.

　　Every year, without fail, she will stay glued to the goggle-box at that very moment and comment on how so-and-so from the Cabinet looks well despite reported illness, or how Mr X has shockingly grown a head of white hair.

　　But more than just an ogle-fest, if I can put it that way, the entrance of the Cabinet ministers in their immaculate shirts and trousers never fails to remind me of one thing that Singaporeans have enjoyed for a while - stability. It is no secret that Singapore owes it all to its uncorrupt leaders for where it is today.

　　Stability, in every sense of the word, is a rare and prized asset for any country. But for Singaporeans as young as I am (I am 22 years old), it is the norm. I was born into stability.

　　Every morning, I wake up certain that the invincible fighter jets from the Republic of Singapore Air Force will guard the skies overhead in this place I call home. Or so the television ad tells me. I walk the streets assured that no car parked next to the curb will suddenly blow up. Or so I take for granted.

　　I have become complacent, and as a result, apathetic. And I know I am not alone. For instance, if I am displeased with any governmental decisions, my initial violent protests are often watered down to gripes so common of disgruntled taxi drivers.Then, in no time, the grudges are forgotten.

　　The government’s watchful eye on actions that are non-establishment is one major deterrent to anything more ambitious than a bitching session. (Read: demonstrations, whether peaceful or not.) Having said so, I have my doubts as to whether my peers will take any further action in the absence of the watchful eye.

　　You see, things are fine just the way they are. Why change them? At least, I for one would think that way. Status quo is perfectly fine. And status quo has it that my family can afford to live in a five-room HDB flat and that I can still buy my favourite CDs regularly.

　　Since Singapore’s shaky independence in 1965, the government has worked hard to ensure economic prosperity and worldwide recognition, chalking up a few “bests” along the way.

　　The Singapore Changi Airport is one of the world’s best, and the Singapore Cruise Centre was voted the “Best Turnaround Port” from1997 to 1999 in surveys conducted by the UK publication “Dream World Cruise Destinations”.

　　My generation has grown up in the era of such achievements. We have only read about the Maria Hertogh riots that broke out in 1950 that involved the Malays and the Europeans. We have only glanced through study notes that detailed the political strikes in the 1940s and 1950s.

　　But we never did experience them. We are only reminded of them, so that we do not repeat a turmoil history.

　　I must stress that I’m not trying to incite any social disharmony here, but my point is: the passion that charged the twenty-somethings 50 years ago, when they fought for their cause, is almost non-existent in the people of the same age group today.

　　Instead, we have taken things for granted. We cannot bring ourselves to care enough. And sadly, that’s the price of political stability. The price of peace.

(The writer is a final year student at the School of Communication Studies, NTU.)

　　下星期四，新加坡人将欢庆独立36周年。年长者都深切体会崎岖的建国历程，可是年轻人又怎么看自己的国家呢？

每年电视现场转播国庆检阅礼时，总是我最期待的片段。

　　每年电视现场转播国庆检阅礼时，穿着白衣白裤的国家政要的莅临，总是我最期待的片段。这大概是受我妈妈的影响。

　　每一年，在那段时间，她一定会守候在电视机前。然后，她就会开始发表意见。例如，虽然报道某某内阁成员患病但却看来气色不错，或者某某人居然已经满头白发了等等。

　　当然，我不是喜欢对别人品头论足。穿着一身洁净白衣白裤的内阁部长到来时，总会提醒我新加坡人多年来享有的稳定。众所周知，新加坡的成功得归功于我们廉洁的领导人。

　　对任何国家来说，稳定都是不可多得的资产。但是，对于像我这样的年轻新加坡人，我今年22岁，稳定似乎是理所当然的。我可以说是出生在太平盛世。

　　每一天，我都能带着一份安全感起床。我们的空军毫无疑问的，会保卫我们的家园的领空，就如电视广告中所说的那样。走在大街上，我也不必担心停在路边的车辆，会突然间爆炸；至少我不认为这样的事情会发生。

　　我已经变得自满，甚至因此对周遭的事务变得漠不关心。当然，有很多人也和我一样。如果我对任何政府政策觉得不满，开始时的强烈抗议总会逐渐的变成抱怨，有如一些满腹牢骚的德士司机。最后，就什么也不记得了。

　　政府密切注意反对现有体制的行动，是人们只敢抱怨，不敢进行例如示威等强烈活动的一大原因。另一方面，就算没有政府的密切监督，我也怀疑和我同一代的人，会有什么惊人之举。

　　理由很简单。目前的一切都很好，为什么要改变现状呢？至少我的看法是这样。我完全不反对维持现状。因为我和父母及兄弟姐妹，可以继续住在我们的5房式组屋，我也可以照样时常购买自己喜欢的激光唱片。

　　自从新加坡在1965年前途茫茫的情况下独立以来，政府便努力不懈，为国家争取经济繁荣和国际认可。在建国的道路上，我们甚至获得了几个“第一”。

　　新加坡樟宜国际机场是全球最佳机场之一，从1997到1999年，新加坡游轮中心连续3年，被英国刊物 “Dream World Cruise Destinations”选为最佳客运港。

　　我们这一代，在国家不断取得显著成绩的情况下成长。1950年马来族群和欧裔人，因为荷兰籍女子玛丽亚抚养权问题发生的种族暴动，我们只从书本中得知。1940和1950年代因为政治问题造成的罢工潮，我们也只从研究文章中略知一二。

　　但是，我们没有亲身的经历。我们只是时常被提醒，不要让动乱的历史重演。

　　我必须强调，我不是要激起任何社会纠纷。我要说的是：50年前让当时20出头的人，为他们的理想奋勇向前的激情，在这一代同年纪的人身上，几乎已经不存在。

　　我们把一切视为理所当然。我们无法让自己付出更多关怀。可叹的是，这却是政治稳定、和平的代价。

·作者是南大传播学院四年级学生·叶琦保译

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