National Day Parade from a Critical Eye

Went to the National Day Parade with a project to photograph the most clear expression of Singaporean national unity in diversity. In doing so I took in the National Day Parade, or NDP, from a more critical angle than the average spectator — though I have never seen so many amateur photographers or DSLRs in one place at one time.

The NDP was set in the heart of downtown Singapore, situated between the Central Business District, the touristy Boat Quay, and the Marina Bay Sands Resort. A stage and grandstand was set up for the celebration on one side of the marina, but for a kilometer in any direction the whole of Singapore came out for the celebration.

The whole event really did bring the country together. Since I arrived in Singapore, I’ve been open minded, but also mindful of my sensitivities to national hubris, yet I was happy to find everything in taste. Paratroopers parachuted trailing lines of red smoke, jets flew above, chinook and apache helicopters swept down just above where I was standing.

The People’s Action Party, Singapore’s ruling party for thirty years running, even had a contingent march in their characteristic white uniforms, yet, somehow, it was all in context. Think children painting their faces with Singaporean flags, not grown men dressing in Uncle Sam costumes singing “God Bless America”.

Singaporeans love that their country works. They won’t be driving with country music blaring and over sized flags fluttering, but they are not going to have a 14% approval rating of their legislature either.

Advertisement