I
settled in to watch the parade when the Olympic coverage was preempted. I
was enjoying the 1500-meter and long jumps when Dr. Tony Tan (president of
Singapore) took the reins of the airwaves and began the celebrations in
Singapore to mark 47 years of Independence. I figured I could watch an
hour or so of floats, clowns, and various parade sights but was shocked when I
realized I had been watching this show for five hours. Parades in
Singapore are not akin to parades in North America. With all the seriousness of
Singapore and who they are, I witnessed the president inspect the troops.
When finally I saw an actual parade, it brought a smile to my face.
Still no floats, no clowns, no frivolity.
There were many groups all dressed in identical uniforms marching past
the president while carrying flags of whom they represented. No little scooters
keeping things in order. No horses. Many
corporations were represented in this area of the parade. Unlike a parade back home, one pays for a
ticket to watch and sits in a sort of Amphitheatre, in this case, on the marina
bay area of Singapore. Unsmiling faces
march past with their flags and groups, taking their role very seriously. Once completed, they march through the crowds
and disappear into the stairways of the theatre. I thought – well that was an interesting
parade and was ready to tune back into the Olympic coverage. Not so.
After about and hour or so of this inspection of the groups, the
president then took a seat in the crowds and the show began. Six parachuters were dropped overhead after
some amazing fighter planes dodged each other in the sky. The parachuters managed to drop one at a time
in the front of the stage after they frolicked in the sky with a performance
there. Hollywood and Disney could not outdo what I saw. There were songs, which the audience joined,
espousing their pride in country and inclusiveness, there were costumed dancers
and singers representing the three main races of Singapore, all equally
represented on stage. Then, when I
thought it must now be over, the afternoon sun set and darkness descended on
the stage, giving the backdrop screen that was always present, more
illumination so that we could see the constant shape of Singapore depicted in
various themes being presented.
Fireworks and flashlights in the audience made the whole scene look like
twinkling stars on land.
Children then took their place under a filmy tarp on the stage rolling
and stretching to music, and presented scenes of various times over the years.
At times appearing to be massive waves on the ocean, monsoons and flooding,
fires of historical periods, and whatever else they pulled from the history of
Singapore. These children somehow stayed under the tarp and took their places there so that the tarp was in the shape of Singapore the entire time as a special effects presentation showed the various events over the years not only on a screen behind them, but also all around them like a hologram. It was breathtaking. Once
this segment completed, somehow, this enormous tarp measuring over 70 meters by
45 meters disappeared before your eyes, by shrinking down into a tiny spotlight
on the stage. I dont know how that happened. I dont know where the children went.
The final acts completed and then again, with pride, the Singaporeans
stood and recited their pledge, national anthem, and song of Singapore. It was
moving to watch the crowd sing – they sounded more like a choir than an
audience at a gathering. My only disappointment was there was no offering of Saving Gaia, Singapore Style. save my world Singapore Style I think all their rules has demonstrated they are doing their part in saving Gaia.
I began watching this telecast at
3:30 and turned the television off at 8:30.
Quite a parade huh? Congratulations Singapore - you did a fine job!
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