Singaporeans, Be Proud of the Heartlands

heart⋅land   [hahrt-land, -luhnd]
–noun
1. the part of a region considered essential to the viability and survival of the whole, esp. a central land area relatively invulnerable to attack and capable of economic and political self-sufficiency.
2. any central area, as of a state, nation, or continent: a vineyard in California's heartland.

IN SINGAPORE, heartland is a term used with disdain, or even disgust. Heartlanders, a term popularized by former Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong in 1999, refers to the masses in Singapore - the less education, less refined crowd. They general live in the Housing Development Board flats. They are unlike the cosmopolites who live in condominiums and landed properties.

Yet, look up the meaning of heartland in the dictionary and you will see that it actually refers to the economic and political center of a country. If one thinks about it, it is true that the masses in Singapore form the basis of our economic and political survival. They are the lifeblood of our country. 80 per cent of our population live in HDB flats.

While it is undeniable that they are more plebeian in their words and in their actions, they should not be viewed with the contempt. They are not just an integral part of our country, they are a very important part of our country. There is certainly room for improvement in terms of their education and economic standards and the nation should continually work towards raising them.

But for now, the perspective of heartlands needs to change. Heartland should not be a derogative term, heartlanders should not be held in little regard. Respect the heartlands, be proud of the heartlanders (or in the case of 80 per cent of Singaporeans, be proud to be a heartlander).