Happy Birthday, Singapore!

Today marks the 43rd birthday of Singapore as a nation.  People are gearing up for the celebrations.  (Though as I look out the window, it seems as if people won’t be fully able to enjoy the spectacular fireworks…hmmm…it’s gonna raiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin!) ;(  And am supposed to go out on a dinner date with some friends. *sigh*

I am amused with the fact how different nations would have different problems.  As I listened to the Prime Minister’s National Day Speech, it brought a smile to my face that he had to urge Singaporeans to ‘reproduce our population’…Statistics came out weeks earlier that the country only had x number of  baby’s born last year.  Tsk…tsk…and then the Prime Minister urges some by saying he hopes that Singaporeans will see raising a family as a very fulfilling endeavor, something that is part of life, etc, etc…

If you shift your attention to other countries however, you’d realize that governments are doing the reverse thing: encouraging family planning, etc. Waaaaaaah?

But that aside, I would like to pay tribute to a very great nation: one that other countries can truly look into as a model of how governments should be.  I would like to pay tribute to the Singaporeans in general: hardworking, efficient…One cannot help but admire how they are able to peacefully coexist together, despite having different beliefs and despite coming from different ethnic backgrounds.

As your nation turns 43, I wish you nothing but the best. *ya lor*