On March 7, 2007, Captain America was assassinated on the steps outside a courthouse while on the way to an arraignment. Once America's favourite superhero, he was soon vilified by the public when he stood against the Superhuman Registration Act, which he saw as a threat to civil liberties.As America reeled from the death of a superhero, I stood in mourning as well.
We can all identify with the loss of a hero.
Many of us used to have heroes at one point of our lives. They are people we look up to and aspire to be. They reside in the posters on our bedroom walls and on our television sets. They are the larger-than-life figures that represent our dreams and ideals, that somewhere along our adulthood was exchanged for mediocrity.
To some, Captain America's death symbolised the end of the dominance of American idealism in US foreign policy. However, as I relate this story back home, it soon dawned upon me that Singapore doesn't have a hero.
Perhaps it is useful to first define the Singapore Hero. The Singapore Hero must be relatable to the current generation, born and bred locally, and preferably under 40. In the age of globalisation, the Singapore Hero must have an international presence; somebody who is prominent in the minds of both locals and foreigners.
Try to think of a prominent figure that has captured the hearts and minds of the Singapore population, and you realise that you'll draw a blank.
The Singapore Hero is a champion of our values and ideals. However, in a nation where pragmatism was often described as the key to its survival, is there room for defiant idealism?
The absence of a Singapore hero: a political problem?
Singaporeans who have lived through the nascent years of Singapore's independence often value job security and good grades above passion, and comfort above risk-taking. This is in contrast with the current generation of youths who see more value in an arts education, and who are more willing to pursue their dreams.
This clash of values was illustrated in a recent The Straits Times article on 19 November where a top A-level student gave up a prestigious scholarship in Nanyang Technological University and opted instead for a diploma at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts. Her parents were extremely upset at her decision.
The Singapore youth today is also more influenced by Western values, which emphasise individualism and the relentless pursuit of ideals.This ongoing paradigm shift would mean that the next generation of Singaporeans would be more given to risk-taking, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
With Democracy as the dominant form of governance in the world, freedom of speech, individuality, and diversity of opinions have become celebrated values. Dissent is treated with respect, debated in the public sphere, and evaluated for its usefulness to the well-being of society.
In a Democratic country, an individual can shape the entire nation. Singapore enjoys no such benefit. With dissent oftened suppressed by the government, the PAP is sending a message that conformity and blind compliance is the way to go.
The concept of heroism has shifted with Democracy. Once god-like figures of legends and myths, the heroes of today are simply ordinary people who have done extraordinary things. This can be explained by the fact that Democracy puts power in the hands of the common people, rewarding initiative and tenacity. It sacrifices governmental influence in exchange for citizen involvement, planting in every individual a potential for greatness.
Heroes: nurtured, not manufactured
However, in melding Western democratic ideals with an authoritarian government where citizen participation is minimal, the PAP has manufactured generations of Singaporeans that are driven but politically apathetic, hardworking but lacking in originality. In removing the teeth of citizen involvement from the mouth of the Democratic tiger, the PAP has disarmed the greatest asset it possesses: the people.
In essence, we have assassinated the Singapore Hero even before he or she was born.
Singapore has been desperately trying to produce sporting heroes. Millions have been pumped into the various Sports Associations with the hopes of producing the nation's first Olympic champion since Tan Howe Liang in the 1960 Olympic Games.
While there is nothing wrong with seeding funds for a national cause, we must remember that heroes are not manufactured; they are shaped by circumstances. Better financial backing alone is not enough to create a hero: what it takes is tremendous character and substance.
The government has reacted to the 'No U-turn syndrome', which was first proposed by Sim Wong Hoo as the social behaviour in which Singaporeans have the tendency to comply to the higher authorities before proceeding with any action. The education system is changing in such a way that creativity is nurtured and developed.
However, if the PAP is unwilling to loosen its reins on its people, it is essentially shooting itself in the foot, stifling the talents that it is trying to nurture.
Removing the Crucifix
The media plays a crucial role in the birth of a hero, fulfilling the traditional role of storytelling that creates a glowing legend out of the hero figure. It builds upon the deeds and achievements of the hero, creating a reputation that is awe-inspiring and larger-than-life.
Singapore has had heroes in the past, but none for the present.
Figures like Lim Bo Seng can be considered a hero, but he's more of a historical figure now. Lee Kuan Yew is way past eligibility at 78 years old, while Fandhi Ahmad has already retired. Sim Wong Hoo of Creative Technologies may be considered a Singapore hero, but his mp3 players and sound cards are even more well known than himself.
While we can blame the government all we want, it is we ourselves who are ultimately responsible for the absence of a Singapore Hero.
Sun Ho, Singapore's first truly international pop star, has all the makings of a heroine. She is making waves in both Asia and America, being the first Asian artiste to top the Billboard Dance Chart not just once, but three times. She has collaborated with Wyclef Jean to produce the single 'Chinawine', which received mostly positive comments on YouTube. She is making inroads into China as well, impressing the Chinese authorities so much that she is made the music ambassador for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Beyond the realm of entertainment, she is a female entrepreneur who has opened several fashion boutiques in Singapore, a philanthropist, and is a trained counselor who herself has an incredible life story to tell, having overcame severe depression to get to who she is today.
Yet the local press chose to talk about how revealing a certain gown is. What an acute practice of newsworthiness!
However, in melding Western democratic ideals with an authoritarian government where citizen participation is minimal, the PAP has manufactured generations of Singaporeans that are driven but politically apathetic, hardworking but lacking in originality. In removing the teeth of citizen involvement from the mouth of the Democratic tiger, the PAP has disarmed the greatest asset it possesses: the people.
In essence, we have assassinated the Singapore Hero even before he or she was born.
Singapore has been desperately trying to produce sporting heroes. Millions have been pumped into the various Sports Associations with the hopes of producing the nation's first Olympic champion since Tan Howe Liang in the 1960 Olympic Games.
While there is nothing wrong with seeding funds for a national cause, we must remember that heroes are not manufactured; they are shaped by circumstances. Better financial backing alone is not enough to create a hero: what it takes is tremendous character and substance.
The government has reacted to the 'No U-turn syndrome', which was first proposed by Sim Wong Hoo as the social behaviour in which Singaporeans have the tendency to comply to the higher authorities before proceeding with any action. The education system is changing in such a way that creativity is nurtured and developed.
However, if the PAP is unwilling to loosen its reins on its people, it is essentially shooting itself in the foot, stifling the talents that it is trying to nurture.
Removing the Crucifix
The media plays a crucial role in the birth of a hero, fulfilling the traditional role of storytelling that creates a glowing legend out of the hero figure. It builds upon the deeds and achievements of the hero, creating a reputation that is awe-inspiring and larger-than-life.
Singapore has had heroes in the past, but none for the present.
Figures like Lim Bo Seng can be considered a hero, but he's more of a historical figure now. Lee Kuan Yew is way past eligibility at 78 years old, while Fandhi Ahmad has already retired. Sim Wong Hoo of Creative Technologies may be considered a Singapore hero, but his mp3 players and sound cards are even more well known than himself.
While we can blame the government all we want, it is we ourselves who are ultimately responsible for the absence of a Singapore Hero.
Sun Ho, Singapore's first truly international pop star, has all the makings of a heroine. She is making waves in both Asia and America, being the first Asian artiste to top the Billboard Dance Chart not just once, but three times. She has collaborated with Wyclef Jean to produce the single 'Chinawine', which received mostly positive comments on YouTube. She is making inroads into China as well, impressing the Chinese authorities so much that she is made the music ambassador for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Beyond the realm of entertainment, she is a female entrepreneur who has opened several fashion boutiques in Singapore, a philanthropist, and is a trained counselor who herself has an incredible life story to tell, having overcame severe depression to get to who she is today.
Yet the local press chose to talk about how revealing a certain gown is. What an acute practice of newsworthiness!
Furthermore, many Singaporeans harped incessantly on her alleged 'religious infidelity', revealing their archaic beliefs and immature thinking. As a collective, many Singaporeans have failed to appreciate the fact that Sun is putting Singapore on the world map.
It is perhaps not altogether surprising that heroes are often the most persecuted people. Joan of Arc, liberator of the French, was burned at the stake at the age of nineteen. Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatmas Gandhi, both great civil rights figures who stood up for their beliefs, were cruelly assassinated. I am not trying to elevate anybody in particular; I am just stating a historical fact.
It is time we remove the threat of crucifixion that hangs over the Singapore Hero.
