I love you Singapore. Happy 46th Birthday Singapore!
Our Pledge to you, Singapore:
We, the citizens of Singapore,
pledge ourselves as one united people,
regardless of race, language or religion,
to build a democratic society
based on justice and equality
so as to achieve happiness, prosperity and
progress for our nation.
For Peace and Harmony, We strive for our best.
About the Pledge:
The National Pledge was written in the mid-1960s in the aftermath of the racial riots that had affected communal harmony in Malaysia and Singapore. Rajaratnam believed that race, language and religion were the main factors contributing to the division of the people. In wording the Pledge he sought to bring across the message that these differences can be overcome if Singaporeans were committed to and caring enough for their country. The dream for Singapore is spelt out in the ideals of the Pledge. It calls for a sense of nationhood to be fostered despite differences, and encourages all to bring reality to the dream of building a country which all Singaporeans could be proud of. Rajaratnam remembered taking only a day or two to pen the words although it was refined further by Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew before submissions to the Cabinet. Some sources suggest Ong Pang Boon had a hand in the writing of the Pledge, but generally, Rajaratnam is credited for its entirety.
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