Merlion. Its name combines "mer" meaning the sea and "lion". The lion head symbolises the legend of the rediscovery of Singapura, by Sang Nila Utama who sighted a lion when he landed on what is now known as Singapore. The fish tail of the Merlion symbolises the ancient city of Temasek and represents Singapore's humble beginnings as a fishing village.
Indeed the Merlion has deep historical elements, dating back to the start of Singapore and it is uniquely Singapore, but the Merlion as a Singapore icon? I don't think so. Merlion for me has always been always more of a tourist attraction than a Singapore icon. Unlike our chicken rice or Singlish, I do not feel a relation to Merlion and I see it as something that will be pasted on a tourist souvenir to make it sell. Design to make money, similar to what casinos are for.
Unlike the Merlion, stuff like Singlish which many people can relate to on a daily basis would be a better icon. A national icon should not be just be unique, it should be something that all Singaporean can relate to and identify with. Thus I do not agree that the Merlion should be a national icon.
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