National Day Pride of Heartlanders / 組屋民眾為國慶自豪

National Day Pride of Heartlanders Chen Jing Wen	組屋民眾為國慶自豪 陳靜文
HOW do you feel about our 35th National Day?	“國慶35周年，你有什麼感想？”
I posed this question to some friends and the common reply was “Nothing. Just stay home and watch the parade on TV”. Their tone gave the impression that it would be just an ordinary day for them but watching the parade was a must even though they didn’t sound enthusiastic.	我向幾位朋友提出這個問題，得到的回答都一樣：“沒什麼；只是待在家裏，看看國慶遊行的電視轉播罷了。”那口氣給人的印象是，他們覺得這一天只是個平常的日子，但遊行是非看不可的，儘管聽起來似乎不很熱衷。
Maybe they were looking forward to a day of rest. Or have they taken the significance of National Day for granted? Are they “bored” because they have been to the parade and seen it umpteen times on TV?	他們或許盼望有一天的休息，或許國慶的意義對他們已是理所當然，或許曾經參加過遊行、在電視上也看過不知多少回了，因此覺得“乏味”。
Or are they just shy of expressing their love of their country? Or maybe they were feeling solemn — for National Day is a respectable and serious occasion, unlike, say, New Year’s Eve.	或許他們其實是熱愛祖國的，只是羞於表達？他們也許感到莊嚴肅穆，因為國慶畢竟是個可敬而嚴肅的時刻，與除夕之類的節日不同。
I feel that as long as they bothered to catch the grand parade of the new millennium on TV, it is already a good sign. They, like me, wanted to witness those taking part in what was a truly Singaporean celebration.	以筆者之見，只要人們還有心追看電視轉播新世紀2000年的這個盛大遊行，已是個好現象了。像我一樣，人們都想一睹同胞參與這場地道新加坡慶典的風采。
We wanted to hear the National Anthem, the pledge and the Sing Singapore songs. The songs, which sounded contrived when they were launched, have become a part of us. They gave me a warm feeling inside, and no longer eeky goose bumps. All of us — even the couch-potato participant — I believe, felt proud to be a Singaporean especially on that day.	我們也都想聽人奏國歌、念誓約，唱 “Sing Singapore” 歌曲。這些歌曲在當初推出時，聽起來似乎刻意造作，但如今已經深入人心了。我聽著這些歌曲，身上不再起雞皮疙瘩，而是心裏騰起一股溫暖。我想，尤其是在那一天，人人都會因身為新加坡人而自豪——連倚在沙發上看電視轉播的人也不例外。
We were proud of our military might when we saw the mobile columns making its way through the housing estates. I told a friend that a mobile column would be appearing in his HDB estate in Tampines according to the newspaper. His eyes lit up and I could see great excitement in them. He kept asking me for details. I wondered: “Why would a national serviceman, who has seen the best of tanks and weaponry, be so turned on by the presence of a mobile column in his neighbourhood?”	看到機動部隊的軍車駛過組屋區，我們都為新加坡的強大軍力而自豪。筆者告訴一位朋友，報紙上有消息說，軍車隊將要駛過他居住的淡濱尼組屋區，他立即興奮得兩眼發亮，直向我打聽詳情。我覺得奇怪：“一個當過兵的人，什麼尖端的坦克、武器都見過了，怎麼一聽說機動部隊要經過他的組屋區，還是那麼興奮呢？”
I asked another national serviceman what’s the importance of showing off our defence hardware. His reply: “The region isn’t exactly stable. We have to tell others that they cannot take advantage and bully us.” He was also one of those who had earlier told me that they would be doing “nothing” on National Day except watching the parade on TV.	我又問另一名戰備軍人，展示國防武器裝備的意義何在，他答道：“本區域的局勢還不很穩定，必須讓人知道不可趁機來欺負我們啊。”這位朋友，就是回答說國慶日那天只打算在電視上看看遊行的那幾個人之一。
Back to our mobile column in Tampines. The day after the parade, I asked my Tampines friend whether he managed to catch it. This was his report: “Do you know we waited and waited till 11 pm? There were many people — including grandmothers and babies. But the mobile column didn’t pass by.”	再說說機動部隊的遊行吧。遊行過後第二天，筆者問一位住在淡濱尼的朋友看到坦克軍車了沒有。他回答說：“你知道嗎？我們等啊等，直到晚上11點！好多好多人，連老阿嬤、小嬰兒都出動了，可軍車隊就是沒過來。”
Such was their enthusiasm. Anyway, the newspaper reported that the mobile column would roll down their avenue but it did not state where it would end.	可見人們的熱情是那麼高漲。報紙的消息只說機動部隊將要經過他們那條街道，可是畢竟沒指明將走到哪一段為止。
A few days later, I visited a friend who lives in Bedok, and asked her whether she saw the mobile column passing through the main road of her estate.	幾天後，我過訪一位家住勿洛的朋友，問她有否看到機動部隊經過當地組屋區的大路。
A housewife in her 30s and one who hardly reads newspapers, she raised her voice: “What? Why didn’t you tell me about it? I would have gone down to watch it.” Hers is a typical single-income HDB heartlander family. Although she is not well-to-do, she is still a proud Singaporean.	這位三十來歲的家庭主婦平日難得看報紙，聽我一說，立即高聲問道：“什麼？怎麼沒早告訴我？否則我一定會下樓去看的。”這是組屋區裏一個典型的單收入家庭；儘管不富裕，這位主婦仍然是個自豪的新加坡人。
She said: “The fireworks are much better now. When we were young, the fireworks came one at a time and we had to wait for the next one. But still, we were also very happy.” However, she was envious of the parade spectators who were given goodie bags.	她說：“如今的煙花好看多了。我們小時候看到的煙花是一次放一朵，要等一等才有另一朵看，可那時我們還是很高興。”不過，看見別人到遊行現場分得禮品包，她還是十分羡慕。
I asked: “Why do you want the goodies? They’re not expensive items.” Her reply: “No. I want just the bag.” Stumped, I asked: “Huh? Why do you want the bag? It’s just a bag. You have better bags.” She replied: “No. No. No. This bag is a historic bag.” Hmmm ... somewhat quirky idea but admirable, I thought. It’s the first time that a Singaporean has expressed to me her interest in keeping a National Day goodie bag for posterity.	筆者問：“那禮品又不是些值錢的東西，為什麼想要呢？”她答道：“不是要禮品；我是想要那個包。”回答出人意料。“是嗎？”我問道，“為什麼想要那個包？不就是個包嘛，哪有你自己的包好呢？”她連忙答道：“不，不是的，那個包有歷史意義。” 唔，不錯，想法是有點奇特，可是我覺得很可敬。這是第一次聽到一個新加坡人對我說起有意把國慶日禮品包珍藏起來。
Then she turned to her 10-year-old daughter and said: “Let’s queue up for the National Day parade tickets next year okay?” The girl jumped in approval as she said: “Yes. Yes. Yes!”	接著她轉身問十歲的女兒：“我們明年去排隊領看國慶遊行的票，好不好？” 女兒高興得跳起來，連聲說：“好，好，好！”
(The author is writer/sub-editor in SPH.)	(源文作者是新加坡報業控股的撰稿員、編輯) xx (Allen Zhuang 譯)
xxxx [譯注：“組屋”類似香港的屋邨，是多數新加坡人的居所，通常不位於濱海地段，故其居民是“heartlanders”. “Sing Singapore” songs 指愛國歌曲，如 “Stand Up for Singapore”, “One People, One Nation, One Singapore” 等.]
xxxx [ 原載新加坡《聯合早報》2000-08-20 社論/言論/天下事 (Bilingual Section) ]