Singaporeans are by and large unconcerned, unaware and uninterested in terrorism-related issues, according to a recent survey conducted by the Ministry of Defence. The poll also revealed that Singaporeans might not be psychologically prepared to deal with the fallout of a terrorist attack on the country.
The findings are hardly surprising considering that many Singaporeans have always displayed a couldn't-care-less attitude towards national and global affairs. Nothing short of a bomb explosion in their homes will wake these Singaporeans up to the gravity of the threat we face.
Such surveys are necessary in that they show Singaporeans up to be rather ill-prepared psychologically. Many will doubtless be thrown into panic should a disaster strike.
True, we have always expressed a sense of patriotism on National Day and carried out civil defence exercises in an orderly manner “duing peace time”。 But we will only know just how far we will go in showing our love for our country when we are put to the test.
There is an old Chinese saying that “only sturdy grass can withstand strong winds”。 “A Song of True Spirit”, which is the best-known writing of Chinese patriot Wen Tianxiang during the Song dynasty, also contains an oft-quoted phrase that “a man's true qualities are revealed only in times of adversity”。
The weakness in our psychological defence is something we must take seriously. What forms the basis of psychological defence？ It is the deep sense of affection we feel for the country and an equally strong sense of duty to protect it.
However, if everyone is only concerned about “what can the country do for me？” and not “what I can do for the country？” or if everyone is asking “I love the country, but does the country love me？”, then I think our psychological defence is far from impenetrable and we should also take the display of peace-time patriotism with a pinch of salt.
A sense of duty or obligation is the most reliable premise upon which loyalty to the country and psychological defence can be developed and strengthened. The love for our country and the willingness to defend it should never be motivated by material gains.
Perhaps Singaporeans ought to ask themselves these soul-searching questions： Do you feel for Singapore because it has given you high status and a good income to match and many chances to get rich？ When such opportunities are no longer available, would you still feel the same and would you fight to safeguard Singapore if war broke out？
In Chinese history, patriots such as Qu Yuan and Dr Sun Yat Sen were not loyal to the country because they had been given a cosy life. On the contrary, the country only brought them humiliation and suffering.
However, we have for a long time been used to measuring one's achievements and social status by means of wealth and many are ready to “forsake good for the sake of gold”。 To them, citizenship is like a piece of clothing that can be changed anytime.
The inadequate sense of psychological defence is also demonstrated by Singaporeans' general indifference towards politics - they do not care about what happens here and in the world.
People usually adopt one of three types of attitudes towards politics. Firstly, they are unhappy with existing circumstances and the people in power and will push for change.
Secondly, they are comfortable with the status quo and will respond to any calls from the leadership which they trust. Thirdly, they are not completely satisfied but have no intention of rising against the authorities either. Basically, they belong to the “bo chap” category. The last two groups are generally unconcerned about politics, even if they are concerned, they are unlikely to be galvanised into action.
We should obviously eschew political fanaticism. We have seen how people in some countries will take to the street for the slightest reason. Some demonstrators will sometimes even vent their anger by burning cars and foreign embassies. In the end, the government has to apologise and use taxpayers' money to pay for the damage.
Political apathy is equally undesirable. When the people are panic-stricken when caught off-guard in a crisis, can they be counted on to protect the country？
From the facts detailed in the government White Paper on terrorism, it is clear that Singapore is not spared from threats. But since they have been taken care of by our capable government, many will continue to feel that we are in safe hands and there is little to fear.
For a small and affluent country like Singapore, the lack of a sense of crisis among its people is perhaps the biggest crisis for us.
（The writer is an Executive Sub-editor of Lianhe Zaobao. Translated by Yap Gee Poh.）
國(guó)防部不久前公布了一項(xiàng)調(diào)查結(jié)果,顯示一般新加坡人對(duì)于與恐怖活動(dòng)相關(guān)的課題不關(guān)心、不知情及不感興趣。調(diào)查結(jié)果也顯示,如果新加坡遭恐怖分子襲擊,國(guó)人未必有足夠的心理準(zhǔn)備去面對(duì)襲擊的后果。
了解新加坡國(guó)情的人對(duì)于這樣的結(jié)果并不感到意外,原因是好多新加坡人長(zhǎng)期以來(lái)對(duì)國(guó)事、天下事,事事不關(guān)心,炸彈不在自己家中爆炸,很難驚醒夢(mèng)中人。
但無(wú)論如何,這樣的調(diào)查是很有必要的,它讓我們看到,新加坡人的心理防衛(wèi)水平不高,如有大難臨頭,很多人會(huì)驚慌失措。
國(guó)慶日表現(xiàn)的愛國(guó)情緒,民防演習(xí)的有條不紊,那都是在和平時(shí)期做的。有句老話說(shuō)：疾風(fēng)知?jiǎng)挪?歲寒知松柏,文天祥的《正氣歌》還有句名言：時(shí)窮節(jié)乃見。新加坡人的愛國(guó)熱忱熱到什么程度,得經(jīng)過考驗(yàn)才知道。
但是我們的心理防衛(wèi)基礎(chǔ)不夠堅(jiān)實(shí),卻是我們必須正視的問題。心理防衛(wèi)的基礎(chǔ)是什么？是人民對(duì)這個(gè)國(guó)家的深厚堅(jiān)實(shí)的感情以及對(duì)國(guó)家的強(qiáng)烈責(zé)任心。如果人人都只會(huì)問：“國(guó)家能給我什么？”而不問“我能給國(guó)家什么？”或者都在問：“我愛國(guó)家,國(guó)家愛我嗎？”那么,這個(gè)國(guó)家人民的心理防衛(wèi)就談不上固若金湯了,愛國(guó)熱忱也要打折扣。
愛國(guó)精神、心理防衛(wèi)的可靠的基礎(chǔ)是建立在“義”而不是“利”之上。不妨問問新加坡人：你為什么愛這個(gè)國(guó)家？是因?yàn)檫@個(gè)國(guó)家給你提供高官祿位,帶來(lái)發(fā)財(cái)致富的機(jī)會(huì),你才愛這個(gè)國(guó)家嗎？一旦這些機(jī)會(huì)都沒了,你還愛不愛這個(gè)國(guó)家？你愿為她而戰(zhàn)嗎？
中華民族歷代的愛國(guó)者,從屈原到孫中山,都不是因?yàn)閲?guó)家能給他們舒適安逸的生活,他們才愛國(guó)的,相反的,國(guó)家給他帶來(lái)是屈辱、災(zāi)難與痛苦。
愛國(guó)應(yīng)當(dāng)是基于“義”而不是“利”,見利忘義,還談什么愛國(guó)？
然而,長(zhǎng)期以來(lái),我們習(xí)慣于以擁有的財(cái)富多少來(lái)衡量一個(gè)人成就的大小,以及社會(huì)地位的高低,很多人重“利”輕“義”。在他們看來(lái),國(guó)籍不過是一件隨時(shí)可以更換的衣裳。
心理防衛(wèi)不強(qiáng)還表現(xiàn)在新加坡人普遍上不關(guān)心政治。不關(guān)心政治,說(shuō)到底就是不關(guān)心國(guó)事與天下事。
人們對(duì)政治無(wú)非是三種態(tài)度：一是不滿現(xiàn)狀,不滿當(dāng)權(quán)者,老是想造反；二是滿足現(xiàn)狀,對(duì)政府說(shuō)：你號(hào)召,我響應(yīng),你辦事,我放心；三是雖有不滿意,但不想造反,基本上不管。后兩種態(tài)度的人對(duì)政治都不關(guān)心,或是只關(guān)心,不熱心。
對(duì)政治熱心過頭,導(dǎo)致狂熱,絕非好事。像世上有些國(guó)家的老百姓,動(dòng)不動(dòng)就上街*,*的時(shí)候就目無(wú)法紀(jì),人家的汽車跟他們無(wú)冤無(wú)仇,他們看不順眼就砸汽車,一怒之下就放火燒別國(guó)的大使館,讓政府去給人家賠錢道歉,所花的還不是納稅人的錢？
對(duì)政治冷漠麻木,那也不行,不知國(guó)家有難,一旦危機(jī)浮上水面,人民如驚弓之鳥,這個(gè)國(guó)家怎么保？從恐怖活動(dòng)白皮書揭露的事實(shí)看來(lái),新加坡并非沒有危機(jī),只是由于政府非常能干,化解了一個(gè)又一個(gè)危機(jī),很多人就以為沒有危機(jī)。
對(duì)于小而富的新加坡來(lái)說(shuō),人民缺乏危機(jī)感,這本身就是危機(jī),沒有憂患意識(shí)就是大的憂患。
The findings are hardly surprising considering that many Singaporeans have always displayed a couldn't-care-less attitude towards national and global affairs. Nothing short of a bomb explosion in their homes will wake these Singaporeans up to the gravity of the threat we face.
Such surveys are necessary in that they show Singaporeans up to be rather ill-prepared psychologically. Many will doubtless be thrown into panic should a disaster strike.
True, we have always expressed a sense of patriotism on National Day and carried out civil defence exercises in an orderly manner “duing peace time”。 But we will only know just how far we will go in showing our love for our country when we are put to the test.
There is an old Chinese saying that “only sturdy grass can withstand strong winds”。 “A Song of True Spirit”, which is the best-known writing of Chinese patriot Wen Tianxiang during the Song dynasty, also contains an oft-quoted phrase that “a man's true qualities are revealed only in times of adversity”。
The weakness in our psychological defence is something we must take seriously. What forms the basis of psychological defence？ It is the deep sense of affection we feel for the country and an equally strong sense of duty to protect it.
However, if everyone is only concerned about “what can the country do for me？” and not “what I can do for the country？” or if everyone is asking “I love the country, but does the country love me？”, then I think our psychological defence is far from impenetrable and we should also take the display of peace-time patriotism with a pinch of salt.
A sense of duty or obligation is the most reliable premise upon which loyalty to the country and psychological defence can be developed and strengthened. The love for our country and the willingness to defend it should never be motivated by material gains.
Perhaps Singaporeans ought to ask themselves these soul-searching questions： Do you feel for Singapore because it has given you high status and a good income to match and many chances to get rich？ When such opportunities are no longer available, would you still feel the same and would you fight to safeguard Singapore if war broke out？
In Chinese history, patriots such as Qu Yuan and Dr Sun Yat Sen were not loyal to the country because they had been given a cosy life. On the contrary, the country only brought them humiliation and suffering.
However, we have for a long time been used to measuring one's achievements and social status by means of wealth and many are ready to “forsake good for the sake of gold”。 To them, citizenship is like a piece of clothing that can be changed anytime.
The inadequate sense of psychological defence is also demonstrated by Singaporeans' general indifference towards politics - they do not care about what happens here and in the world.
People usually adopt one of three types of attitudes towards politics. Firstly, they are unhappy with existing circumstances and the people in power and will push for change.
Secondly, they are comfortable with the status quo and will respond to any calls from the leadership which they trust. Thirdly, they are not completely satisfied but have no intention of rising against the authorities either. Basically, they belong to the “bo chap” category. The last two groups are generally unconcerned about politics, even if they are concerned, they are unlikely to be galvanised into action.
We should obviously eschew political fanaticism. We have seen how people in some countries will take to the street for the slightest reason. Some demonstrators will sometimes even vent their anger by burning cars and foreign embassies. In the end, the government has to apologise and use taxpayers' money to pay for the damage.
Political apathy is equally undesirable. When the people are panic-stricken when caught off-guard in a crisis, can they be counted on to protect the country？
From the facts detailed in the government White Paper on terrorism, it is clear that Singapore is not spared from threats. But since they have been taken care of by our capable government, many will continue to feel that we are in safe hands and there is little to fear.
For a small and affluent country like Singapore, the lack of a sense of crisis among its people is perhaps the biggest crisis for us.
（The writer is an Executive Sub-editor of Lianhe Zaobao. Translated by Yap Gee Poh.）
國(guó)防部不久前公布了一項(xiàng)調(diào)查結(jié)果,顯示一般新加坡人對(duì)于與恐怖活動(dòng)相關(guān)的課題不關(guān)心、不知情及不感興趣。調(diào)查結(jié)果也顯示,如果新加坡遭恐怖分子襲擊,國(guó)人未必有足夠的心理準(zhǔn)備去面對(duì)襲擊的后果。
了解新加坡國(guó)情的人對(duì)于這樣的結(jié)果并不感到意外,原因是好多新加坡人長(zhǎng)期以來(lái)對(duì)國(guó)事、天下事,事事不關(guān)心,炸彈不在自己家中爆炸,很難驚醒夢(mèng)中人。
但無(wú)論如何,這樣的調(diào)查是很有必要的,它讓我們看到,新加坡人的心理防衛(wèi)水平不高,如有大難臨頭,很多人會(huì)驚慌失措。
國(guó)慶日表現(xiàn)的愛國(guó)情緒,民防演習(xí)的有條不紊,那都是在和平時(shí)期做的。有句老話說(shuō)：疾風(fēng)知?jiǎng)挪?歲寒知松柏,文天祥的《正氣歌》還有句名言：時(shí)窮節(jié)乃見。新加坡人的愛國(guó)熱忱熱到什么程度,得經(jīng)過考驗(yàn)才知道。
但是我們的心理防衛(wèi)基礎(chǔ)不夠堅(jiān)實(shí),卻是我們必須正視的問題。心理防衛(wèi)的基礎(chǔ)是什么？是人民對(duì)這個(gè)國(guó)家的深厚堅(jiān)實(shí)的感情以及對(duì)國(guó)家的強(qiáng)烈責(zé)任心。如果人人都只會(huì)問：“國(guó)家能給我什么？”而不問“我能給國(guó)家什么？”或者都在問：“我愛國(guó)家,國(guó)家愛我嗎？”那么,這個(gè)國(guó)家人民的心理防衛(wèi)就談不上固若金湯了,愛國(guó)熱忱也要打折扣。
愛國(guó)精神、心理防衛(wèi)的可靠的基礎(chǔ)是建立在“義”而不是“利”之上。不妨問問新加坡人：你為什么愛這個(gè)國(guó)家？是因?yàn)檫@個(gè)國(guó)家給你提供高官祿位,帶來(lái)發(fā)財(cái)致富的機(jī)會(huì),你才愛這個(gè)國(guó)家嗎？一旦這些機(jī)會(huì)都沒了,你還愛不愛這個(gè)國(guó)家？你愿為她而戰(zhàn)嗎？
中華民族歷代的愛國(guó)者,從屈原到孫中山,都不是因?yàn)閲?guó)家能給他們舒適安逸的生活,他們才愛國(guó)的,相反的,國(guó)家給他帶來(lái)是屈辱、災(zāi)難與痛苦。
愛國(guó)應(yīng)當(dāng)是基于“義”而不是“利”,見利忘義,還談什么愛國(guó)？
然而,長(zhǎng)期以來(lái),我們習(xí)慣于以擁有的財(cái)富多少來(lái)衡量一個(gè)人成就的大小,以及社會(huì)地位的高低,很多人重“利”輕“義”。在他們看來(lái),國(guó)籍不過是一件隨時(shí)可以更換的衣裳。
心理防衛(wèi)不強(qiáng)還表現(xiàn)在新加坡人普遍上不關(guān)心政治。不關(guān)心政治,說(shuō)到底就是不關(guān)心國(guó)事與天下事。
人們對(duì)政治無(wú)非是三種態(tài)度：一是不滿現(xiàn)狀,不滿當(dāng)權(quán)者,老是想造反；二是滿足現(xiàn)狀,對(duì)政府說(shuō)：你號(hào)召,我響應(yīng),你辦事,我放心；三是雖有不滿意,但不想造反,基本上不管。后兩種態(tài)度的人對(duì)政治都不關(guān)心,或是只關(guān)心,不熱心。
對(duì)政治熱心過頭,導(dǎo)致狂熱,絕非好事。像世上有些國(guó)家的老百姓,動(dòng)不動(dòng)就上街*,*的時(shí)候就目無(wú)法紀(jì),人家的汽車跟他們無(wú)冤無(wú)仇,他們看不順眼就砸汽車,一怒之下就放火燒別國(guó)的大使館,讓政府去給人家賠錢道歉,所花的還不是納稅人的錢？
對(duì)政治冷漠麻木,那也不行,不知國(guó)家有難,一旦危機(jī)浮上水面,人民如驚弓之鳥,這個(gè)國(guó)家怎么保？從恐怖活動(dòng)白皮書揭露的事實(shí)看來(lái),新加坡并非沒有危機(jī),只是由于政府非常能干,化解了一個(gè)又一個(gè)危機(jī),很多人就以為沒有危機(jī)。
對(duì)于小而富的新加坡來(lái)說(shuō),人民缺乏危機(jī)感,這本身就是危機(jī),沒有憂患意識(shí)就是大的憂患。