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by Augustine Low
It is incredible how many people equate the criticism of the government and its policies with disloyalty to the country.
Is this an authentic or feigned ignorance?
These confused or ignorant souls should take into account the enlightening words of the great American writer Mark Twain:
"Loyalty to the Country ALWAYS Loyalty to the Government, when it deserves it."
Our duty and our loyalty are first and foremost the country. Some call it patriotism; it boils down to the love of the homeland and to a strong bond with the homeland.
As for the government, its duty is to serve and protect, it must win the loyalty of citizens.
Citizens have the right to call the perceived wrongs, incompetence, delay and injustice.
What good is a country if its citizens perpetuate the silence of the lambs? What happens if citizens choose to see no evil and hear no harm and leave their fate in the hands of those who do not deserve this blind and infallible trust?
For those who choose to express behind criticism often determines its validity. Fair enough.
Do most of us have an ulterior motive? We criticize the government because we aspire to a better Singapore (and not only materially), and because we have an interest in the country's future.
But there are times when motives become questionable. For example, if Malaysia and Singapore were to embark on a craze and applaud Malaysia, what is our motivation? Do not we shoot then in the foot?
A word of warning also to those who find every man and woman in disgusting white, and every action (or inaction) by the disgusting government. If we group everyone in one basket and label it as offensive and unpleasant, we risk being barked and not biting, and we end up shooting white people.
Finally, there is nothing worse than being silent and indifferent.
The day we stop talking and defending Singapore, it's the day we leave our country and those who run the country.
Would not it be a sad day? 19659003] Augustine Low is a proud but concerned citizen. Expressing one's independent and disconnected opinion is his contribution to citizen engagement
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