Singapore: If We Launched the Rocket… · Global Voices
Kirsten Han

Following North Korea's reported failure to launch their rocket, a hashtag popped up on Twitter: #ifSingaporelaunchedarocket.
In no time at all Singaporean tweeples began to contribute their observations of Singaporean culture and foibles.
Mr Brown refers to the expensive naming competitions Singapore had for the Budget Terminal and Marina Bay, which ended up in the two places being named the Budget Terminal and Marina Bay:
@mrbrown: #ifSingaporelaunchedarocket The rocket would be named, after a million-dollar naming exercise, The Singapore Rocket.
@jeffcheong: #ifSingaporelaunchedarocket & failed it will be known as air survey. Singapore never fail one. Like how ‘ponding’ is used to cover ‘flood’.
@contrabandkarma: #ifSingaporelaunchedarocket that failed, Lui Tuck Yew would say that breakdowns are unavoidable.
@dingneng: #ifSingaporelaunchedarocket it would be near GE, so politicians can brag about it.
@kixes: #ifSingaporelaunchedarocket that failed, @STcom‘s headline would read, “Min of Defense says Singapore Rocket good first effort”.
JohnnyBoy refers to Yam Ah Mee, who shot to fame after announcing the results of the 2011 General Elections:
@MrJohnHoHoHo: #ifSingaporelaunchedarocket Yam Ah Mee will be the one to do the countdown.
@visakanv: #ifSingaporelaunchedarocket we would have a cheesy song with hand-gestures, like YOG's Oh Yeah x3
@weizhu: #ifSingaporelaunchedarocket Must get aunties to pat the launchpad first.
Adine refers to the Singaporean penchant for taking note of auspicious numbers so that they can bet on them in the lottery:
@axixe: #ifSingaporelaunchedarocket people would be asking if it had a number plate.. For auspicious reasons.
These tweets from Singaporeans are just yet another example of the Singaporean aptitude for trolling, turning events and memorable quotes into memes for satire and amusement.