The many shades of patriotism

One of the most apparent things in China is the depth of patriotism displayed by China's people, especially students, where it's so clearly evident in what they say and do. It's a different form of national pride from the type I felt in the US. There, one's love for country has, over the past years, been expressed in less direct terms, in shades of reflection and doubt.

I imagine that much of this had to do with many Americans feeling at odds with the conservative ideological leanings that characterized the Bush years. As such, I think that America's joy over Obama's election victory was felt worldwide because it wasn't just a presidential victory; it was a victory over cynicism. It allowed Americans to once again feel good about, or at least come terms with, being proud of their country.

In contrast, the patriotism of China's people is less guarded. China's successful hosting of the Olympic Games and its deft handling of natural disasters such as the devastating Sichuan earthquake have given its citizens more than enough reasons to feel proud of their country. Everyday on TV, there are live programs of Chinese celebrities singing of their love for the motherland with unbridled passion and fervor.

I wonder what kind of reaction people in Singapore or America would have to similar programming. My guess is that more than a few would be cynical of such unabashed patriotism. It's a reaction that I have been guilty of on more than a few occasions. I remember once visiting the Singapore Discovery Center, only to be horrified by what I thought was an overtly hawkish tribute to Singapore's civil service. It was the same in the US; I could never take Miss America pageants or Freedom Fries seriously sans cynicism.

That's changed somewhat as I've gotten older, I am also willing to be less cynical of fervent patriotism in Singapore; I've gotten over being a rebel without a cause. Although I will always be skeptical of overt nationalism, the Chinese peoples' willingness to love their country without preconditions or cynicism, is something I look upon with tepid appreciation.

Calvin Quek

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(China Daily 06/26/2009 page8)