View attachment 52712
If you have not realised by now, National Service has become a religion for Singaporeans.
Something that cannot be questioned, lest the act of criticism or comment become blasphemy and you risk excommunicated by the nation for being a non-believer.
That generals who are akin to the bishops cannot be questioned as they are the leaders of the faith appointed by God or in the case of the armed forces, infallible civil servants who are the elites of our society.
In the cases of child abuses, the fault of the churches is to protect those who are guilty of the offence. Whereas in the case of SAF, we just have to recall what happened to the officers in Dominique Lee's incident where they only had a deferment of promotion.
No one is saying that no NS means no nation defence for Singapore and throw our hands up in the event of an invasion, just like one can choose to renounce one's religion without falling to immorality and vices.
And for many, what they ask for, is a re-look at NS and also to explore the deep rooted issues that led to the unfortunate incidents that have shook the country.
But yet, staunch defenders of NS, the system, and its leaders, ask that these should not be questioned, for they protect all that we hold dear. Look at South Korea and Taiwan which are clearly at a higher risk than that of Singapore, and the way how they talk about conscription versus how we touch on the topic.
What room is there for discussion on the matter especially for the male conscripts and their parents/guardians? Also on the viral Facebook posts made by officers, former officers and warrant officers, how much truth and emotions do the posts represent for the bottom ranks?
Singapore is no longer surrounded by countries that are run by despots like Suharto and one-party rule such as Barisan Nasional where a war can be started without the approval of the general populace.
If our army personnel don't understand this simple logic, what kind of sound strategic maneuvers can they think of in times of real war and what common sense to rely on. But of course, if they refer NS as their religion and the one and only truth.
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Faith is all that matters.
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