Post National Day Thoughts

The following conversation occurred at dinner today...

Mom: Eh did you watch the NDP that day?
Bro: No lah, whatever for? It's the same thing every year.
Mom: Where got same? It's held at a different location.
Bro: Aiyah, does it matter? It's still the same. Same march in, same program.
(Mom shook her head and walked off)
Me: (mumbling with my mouth full) Yah, and same fireworks.
Bro: Hehe...

After that my bro and I started listing how the program would have gone. Usually it starts off with the choir singing to entertain the audience who came early, or the politically correct way of saying this is to build up the atmosphere, while waiting for the program to start. Next, not in order, would be the fly past, the march in, the seating of the ministers of parliament, and the arrival of the president. Usually after the president arrived, there would be the inspection of the ground units, as well as the singing of the national anthem and reciting of the pledge. Oh, and did I forget to mention the gun salute?

After all these rites, there would be the usual song and dance sessions performed by the various community groups, or schools. Recent years we also see the SAF flaunting their latest toys on NDP, so I guess it would be the same this year. Last but not least (cliche), there would be the fireworks.

Sure, you tweak things a little here and there to make it slightly different every year, but the NDP is in essence the same every year. Maybe I am older, and it no longer excites me to hear songs declaring love for the country. Although I still remember the lyrics for all the songs I'd learned in school, I no longer felt the urge to sing them even on national day. My bro even commented the pledge sounds more like propaganda now that he is older. I guess it takes more than just an NDP to make us feel patriotic. :p