Singabloodypore

From Alex Au of Yawning Bread...

Shine for Singapore
This is our song
Reach out for the sky
Far and beyond
As one we'll stand
We're Singapore
It's here that we belong
Nowhere I'd rather be
This is home to me
This star shines strong and free

Every year, as National Day comes around, we are inflicted with these patriotic songs. Don't be fooled by the sugary melody. The cringe-inducing lyrics are on par with what North Korea produces.

It's a bad joke that that last word is "free". Will somebody please tell the government that singing "free" doesn't make us so.

In fact, our lack of freedom is there for all to see in that very same music video. It's like this: Far from convincing people about anything that Singapore can be proud of, it has quite unexpectedly shone a spotlight on the way we have systematically stifled originality through curbs on freedom of expression. Too many Singaporeans have learnt to play safe. All we can do is copy the tried and tested. We treat anyone with unconventional ideas exactly the way the Japanese ad warns us against.

It's a schadenfreude moment: Just weeks after Vivian suggested that the PAP is ready for the YouTube age of politics, it is through YouTube that the first goal is scored -- an own goal.