Before I start this entry, my motivation for such writing would be my trip home on the bus today. Yes, I’ve finished my exams (as an unrelated sidenote). As I was on the bus, I heard a group of people talking about the IB programme in ACS(i), at that moment, I felt a immense amount of pride.

Now, let’s differentiate between nationalism and patriotism. From what I can see, nationalism comes from the root latin word natio (which means obviously, nation; people; birth). While patriotism springs from patri (or father, for those who did Dulce Duce Decorum Est). Many use these two words interchangably, however, they are not synonymous. Patriotism means to feel a sense of pride in one’s country and support of one’s country. On the other hand, nationalism is patriotism to an excessive degree, where one sees one’s country as superior to others.

Well, I’ve just thrown you a red herring. No, I’m not going to blog about patriotism towards Singapore (for the guys going into NS). But as my first paragraph suggests, I’m more interested in school spirit, but for the sake of differentiating the two extremes, I’ll use the terms normally used for countries.

Ok, let me tell you a couple of things (this is going to be immensely unstructured). I dislike ‘nationalistic’ tendencies towards schools. When I say dislike, I mean, intensely. I personally am a generally apathetic and realistic person. Yes, I will defend my school with a passion, should I be called to (Ask David about how I blasted him when he insulted St. Marg’s). But to me, I’m able to appreciate the good things and criticise the bad. When I first started at AC, people asked me if I was from MG because I hung out with the MG clique (as it was then), to which, I replied with a vehement “NO!” (no offence to you MG girls).

When I first came to AC, I was struck by the number of girls who went on and on and on and on and on and on (and you get the idea) about how much they missed their Secondary School. “Oh, I miss my teachers!” “This uniform is so ugly and uncomfortable! I’m going to wear my uniform for as long as possible!” “I want to go back and eat [some food or another] from my school canteen.” Then they refused to move from their cliques and mix with others. Now, that’s when I got irritated with the whining, I felt like telling them, “Suck it up lah. You’re in this school. Shut up and stop living in your nice, rosy, pathetic past.” Ok, so that would have been a lil’ harsh, but I was irritated.

Then you have this attitude of superiority. Now, that irks me… GAH. I dislike it when a person gushes over someone else and goes, “Only an AC boy!” (just an e.g.) It gives the impression that only someone from their school/country or whatever, can be as great, caring, accomplished and what have you. Perhaps unintentional, but you have to admit that it does make someone from outside feel out of place, irked and so on.

Believe me, I appreciate school spirit and I believe that a school should inculcate a sense of belonging and pride in every student. But when one becomes arrogant or clingy to that institution, there is a problem.

There’s nothing wrong with having a sense of identity, but when it becomes discriminatory, then it just becomes too much.

Sorry, been meaning to get this off my chest for a mighty long time. Some people will know who and what I’m referring to, but don’t ask, I won’t tell you.