I REFER to the letter, 'Lack of patriotism' (Aug 9), where Mr Chua Sheng Yang rightly pointed out the absence of flags displayed in the Housing Board estates compared to past years. This has been noticed by many of my friends and colleagues as well.

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The writer is correct to say that S'poreans should stand up and be counted. Most S'poreans are ever ready to do that but the govt is not giving them the opportunity. The large numbers of FWs and so called FTs are self self-evident.

Displaying of the state flag is not a sign of pratiotism. Pratitoism is in the hearts and mind of her citizens. The Great Leap Forward is a farce in China.

here is one PR teaching citizens how to behave.
he presumes PR are all rich talented living in condos (sniffs) NOT HDB flats so less flags there not due to foreigners.
the writer even wants to criticise locals about babies policies - "My feeling is that Singaporeans are taking things for granted. People of today's generation have no idea what it takes to survive in other countries as they have grown up with the basic amenities in place. They are becoming materialistic and self-centred. An example can be seen in the ensuing debate of raising a child and the perks required to start a family".
It is rude of a guest here to criticise the host's family while enjoying her hospitality. PR are still PRs and hold their own country's passports. Perhaps their own countrymen will in turn criticise them for being unpatriotic to hang Spore flags and not their motherland's flags side by side.

Outch. The truth hurts.

Mr. Grover, is the decision to have a child based on 'love and caring, sharing of affection and warmth' or a duty to be fulfilled 'for the sake of the nation'? I certainly see it in the former, as a personal conviction, shared between two people in love and committed to starting a family.

I find it ludicrous that childbearing has come to be seen as a duty to the nation, and that suggestions that singles be placed in 'communes' (see today's TODAY paper) are actually receiving airtime. 'Totalitarianism' is the word which springs to mind.

Love for one's country must be a personal decision. I don't think the absence of a national flag hanging outside one's flat de facto equates to a lack of commitment. Nor does the decision to abstain from childbearing because a couple does not feel mentally or emotionally (or even still financially) equipped or prepared to do so.

Manish: It is foreigners like you who flood our shores and tell us Singapore citizens what to do that makes us unwilling to display the Singapore flag. They way you speak is condescending - that foreigners stay in condominiums while Singapore citizens stay in HDB flats. You are telling us Singaporeans that we take things for granted and we are self-centered and materialistic.

Let me tell you Manish - you are only a foreigner. You are not a Singapore citizen. If you want to be involved in domestic policies and issues, give up your citizenship and become a Singapore citizen. You are very rude to your host country while enjoying the perks of working and living in Singapore. You hang up the Singapore flag but are you are not a Singaporean. Are you ashamed of your own country? You are a double-headed snake by telling us Singaporeans what to do and to pretend to be proud of hanging up the Singapore flag when you yourself left your own country to live in Singapore.

#6 well said.

#6, clap, clap.

If this chap love Singapore so much, why is he still a PR. Or, was he rejected...?

Mr Manish,

Having children is indeed a personal decision, and some people are mistaken. I, for one, do not mind it if our government does not play matchmaker or give out financial packages.

The question is, can our government live with some of our citizens' decisions not to have too many children, given the high cost of living? Our government does not like people's personal decision of not having too many kids, and that's why the government is using financial perks to encourage people to have more children.

Also, having lower birth rate is not a uniquely Singaporean problem. Many developed countries are facing the same problem. So, if lower birth rate is a measure of self-centredness and less love for the Singapore, are citizens of other developed countries less patriotic too, given their lower birth rates as well?

I don't think people are blaming the foreigners for not flying the flag in HDB estates. Don't overestimate yourself. Rather the populace at large is displeased with the lenient policies of opening gates wide for all kinds of foreigners. We don't blame the foreigners, we blame the gahmen.