I'm not going to bother refuting her points because everyone's entitled to their opinion. But I *am* proud to be Singaporean, and there are countless reasons I can think of. Just a few from the top of my head:
1) We've done well for a nation with such a short history.
Haven't we? Yes, inflation is always there, the trains break down, we wait a long time for flats (I'm among them) but let's not forget that there are a lot of things that we have always taken for granted. The lack of a need to fear when you walk around late at night, the extensive transportation network (to most areas), the generally pleasant environment. Public housing isn't spoken of in low tones of horror here. There is of course room for improvement but definitely here, today, it's pretty damn good.
In the commercial aspect, the mark of Singapore and Singaporeans has been here and there. Creative lost the fight in the end, but it was not so long ago where it was still tall. Tiger Beer. Singapore Airlines. The list can go on.
2) We get things done.
Creativity aside, I'd like to think that we are always able to pull together to pull things off, when we set our mind to it. From large nation-wide mega-initiatives such as the Singapore River Clean-up to even smaller community initiatives like all the Clubsnap fund-raising efforts, we certainly know how to make things move, and fast. I don't know about you guys but I feel proud everytime I step into Changi Airport and everything just runs like clockwork compared to some other places I've been.
3) It's Singapore. It's my home.
Just like how you may defend your family because they're family. There are so many memories I have here, good and bad.. So many memories waiting to be formed. Maybe I'm a sentimental person and not everyone is like that but in so many ways Singapore is a very beautiful place. We complain that it's boring, that there is nothing to do - everytime I see those lines I think of Troy Chin's Resident Tourist:
How much of your own home have you explored today?