NATIONAL Day celebrates a nation-state’s independence and sovereignty. It also commemorates nation-building, which can be regarded as a dialogue between the past, present, and future generations. A nation-state is a “going concern” where citizens have an innate belief in the collective future and the national purpose, vision and values are often founded by past generations.

This was the recurring salient theme in Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s National Day Rally speech last Sunday (Aug 20), which exclusively focused on domestic concerns. Using “semangat yang baru” from the national anthem, PM Lee rallied Singaporeans to imbibe the same reinvigorated spirit of our forefathers to take the country forward in the face of complex challenges.

Images and references to founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew were not in short supply at the Rally. PM Lee observed that the commemoration of the 100th birth anniversary of Lee Kuan Yew in a few weeks’ time makes it timely to reflect upon the values and ideals championed by Lee and the founding fathers, and to renew the commitment to these enduring values and ideals.