NDP 2016

On most fronts, this year's edition of NDP can be considered lukewarm and uninspiring. The absence of crowd favourites like parachuting men, fireworks porn and military display had drawn the ire of the public for the past few weeks. Coupled with an expensive bill from the hosting venue, Singapore's biggest theatre event will probably go down in history as the worst follow up to the euphoric infestation that is SG50. 

However, I would like to argue that SG51 did do something right. Or rather, they did do one thing right. 

After fifty one long years, the country is finally incorporating the narrative of dis/abled people into the national discourse. There was an active inclusion of dis/abled people's stories into the entire show. The teaching of sign to the spectators, the special (and honestly the best and most meaningful) mass display segment that paid tribute to dis/abled people and their abilities, the scripting of a dis/abled child in the grandfather's overarching account of 'Badang' are just some of the evidence that there is an effort to acknowledge disabled people, that they lead respected and dignified lives. 

Ever so often, it is easy to yield their stories for the convenience and benefit of abled people. For so long, they have been portrayed as sad, unfortunate and useless. All the charity shows all those years ago seem to infiltrate an image that this is a group of people who needs pity and sympathy above everything else. Today, I feel that there is a great difference in how their stories are being told by the country. 

There seem to be sprinkling moments throughout the past two years too. The advent of The Purple Parade, the nomination of NMP Chia Yong Yong into the Parliament, and even most recently, Ms Chia's invitation to the US State Banquet for Singapore and Ho Ching's now-famous dinosaur print pouch made by local special needs designer. These are new and refreshing ways that we are looking at dis/ability. 

I believe the popular discourse needs to happen before it can trickle down into useful and careful policies. Or rather the discourse needs to happen for policies enacted to become useful and helpful. We need to keep at it, and never forget that there is a group that exist in our society. Sometimes visible, often invisible. 

And perhaps this is the start of how we can think about people who are different from us. That they deserve respect too even though they are not the same/similar. I look forward to the day when we can extend this graciousness and care to lesbian, gays, bisexual, transgender and queer people, and also all other people who are different and who live on the fringe in society. 

Only when we can renounce our hate and accept each other, can we sing, "this is home truly, where I know I must be" with all the gusto in our hearts.