What makes us Singaporean?

I went for some DMP named 'More than the Singapore Story', which I didnt know what it was all about before I signed up.

Anyway, it got me to think what to be truly Singaporean truly means. What represents us? Many would definitely jump to say that we are multi racial, mutli religious society, but will mosques, churches or temples cut it? They might represent that particular religion, sure, but they do not represent us as a whole.

So what abt the merlion? A social construct of 'practical people', from some poem in some notes I got, it seems to supposedly represent us. And it is of great success, at least in terms of bringing tourists in. But in Singapore, response is lukewarm. The legend about the merlion going to sentosa every yr to look after Singapura, then a storm ravaging sg, then it using magical powers to stop it is totally FALSE, something we created.

But then again, does it really matter? Its lion head represents our roots (Singapura), and the fish tail our port origins. Perhaps it also sheds light on what Singapore is, an artificial construct. The whole city is artificially created, with only 5% of forest left today, none of it untouched. Without technology, we can say goodbye to Singapore. We get our water and food almost totally from overseas, even our exams is based on the UK cambridge N, O and A standards ( I think)

So what is truly Singaporean? Singlish? ugh. Merlion? o.O... What do you think?