Yushui Village in Lijiang, Yunnan, with snow mountain backdrop and cascading waterfalls.
2/07/2013
When we were all Sinkies
There was a time when we were all Sinkies, some like to call themselves Singaporeans. Every Sinkie was equal in many ways. The males got thrown into the back of 3 tonners and taken to some God forsaken place they had never been in their lives, put on some green uniforms and went charging up Pengkang Hill, with gusto, sleeping in grave yards and in the mud, under rain or shine. There were complaints of tough training and all, $90 allowance and meals that were churned out by cooks that barely knew how to boil water. They were lucky when the Inche in the cook house did the real cooking to have something nicer to fill their stomach. But they went home and slept well. They were later discharged after completing their NS, ROD and so happy.
They accepted their duties to serve the country, to die for the country. Many unfortunate parents did not see their sons any more. They gave up their lives for the country while training to defend the country. Some came back unrecognizable, with parts of the body missing. And many continue to serve the country as reservists. There were still complaints, but all took them in their stride. They were NS men, the country and the people depended on them should the day come for them to be at the front line.
Those were the days when everyone was a citizen, and everyone was equal.
Today they are still serving NS but less equal than foreigners that are called FTs and PRs, or new citizens. While they are slogging in the fields, in the jungles, in some foreign lands, the foreigners are taking over their jobs, some even taking over their wives and girlfriends or girls that could have been their wives. Foreigners who took up citizenships need not serve NS but got all the perks and handouts like the NSmen and the native citizens. And foreigners could even be ahead of the queue for public housing. And many of these shitty NSmen are not even eligible to buy a public housing flat. And they are to protect the country, the new citizens and the PRs and what not.
Why are the NSmen not complaining, or why are they complaining? Why are they feeling disillusioned or cheated, short changed, or being less equal in their country compare to new citizens and PRs? Why are the NSmen angry?
Why like that?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
38 comments:
Well when I find FTs not serving NS become citizens and got elected to Parliament to become our leaders, I know the days of sinkie are numbered!
Reading your blog reminded me that we should not call ourselves Sinkies... Sounded so much like sinking.. Which we are.
During my time the NS Allowance was $60 a month
No mistake, $60 a month and that was in 1970.
Me had declared that I never like soldiering nor do I respect military man.
AND
I say it again that Singaporeans should rally for CONSCRIPTION(NS) TO BE ABOLISHED. CONSCRIPTION IS AGAINST THE GRAIN OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIGNITY.
patriot
Right. No conscription for PRs and new citizens a good start.
I totally disagree with Patriot ...
I also hated my stint in the Army ..
but now i come to realize that we NS men are the last stand against any tyrannical government ...
If ever they should lose the support of WE NS MEN .. the party is sure to fall ...
NS MEN is the last stand against any currutp party who intends to turn our country into a fascist one
If its a professional army like the civil service ? who do you think they will take the orders from?
Bengster
" If its a professional army like the civil service ? who do you think they will take the orders from? "
The Generals and Admirals are happily taking up appointments in GLCs and Parliament.
Will you obey your Generals & Admirals?
Or will you stand up for yourself and your family?
I am a born and bred Singaporean and I previously served in the Armed Forces as a commissioned Officer.
Recently I have been asking myself, what is the purpose of serving national service and protecting my country when most are not Singaporeans?
I am afraid i will adopt an f-uped attitude when I return for reservist training.
Bengster:
Me sees the wisdom in Your Comment.
However, do bear with me; if Sinkies are found by their Leaders to be daft. I will say soldiers are much worse.
They will take orders to kill their fellow countrymen.
Me never gave ANY faith in soldiers.
patriot
My time temasek green $90 a month carrying cupboard in a hot afternoon around the parade square as punishment. Knn betrayal by pap gahmen.
Hi Patriot ... i feel your pain ..
But i once i asked my reservist OC what are we do do if we are called upon to shoot our own ppl?
he smile and said tongue in cheek ... then the first bullet will be for the person who gave that order :)
So don't lose fate ... when push comes to shove the generals are paper tigers ... NS MEN will never shoot our own fellow citizens ... they have the Gurkha for that
Just they try and it will all fall apart
@so1trg,
when your at your in camp training pls adopt an f-uped attitude!! have your men also do the same !! then they will let the higher ups know all is not well !!
Bengster
Not only Singaporeans must get NS abolished. Voters should not vote for any Ex-military man into the Government. Firstly, soldiers are poor people managers, they only use and depend on command and order to work.
Another characteristic of soldiers is that they only learn to kill and to defeat
others. They do not learn how to care for others and how to make others live better and happier.
Secondly, soldiers are like robots that only take order and command. Most are like narcotic dogs. Hopefully our NS Men are more sensible and intelligent. From Bengsters' exprience and the Comment from the Commission NS Officer, the Hope is not too wishful. At my time; the NS Boys and their parents were as good as circus animals. The very reason why the Land is ruked by one single party with many military men co-opted into the Regime.
Luckily, the People are beginning to appreciate the perilous situation they have got themselves into.
It is not too late to make amend and we should work together for a better society and for a better future.
patriot
Soldiers,Wake up.They have trained you all well ,gave you free foods ,uniform and lodging but fail to make you guys understand the purpose of NS.
I said it is a privilege to be call up for NS and this special privilege is only given to Sinkies that can be trusted so consider it an honour.
You can force new citizens Ah Tiong,Anae or Hongkies to don on the uniform but that will not be effective as having local born Sinkies as soldiers.Protect our country at all cost and serve NS with pride.
I am looking forward every year for reserve service but they seems to miss out my name.How to keep myself fit for any unexpected events.How to protect my countrymen if I am not train to shoot well.
Just wondering if Agongkia is able to protect his own rice bowl when he gets old.
Or is he a senior civil servant collecting handsome pension or waiting to collect his/her gratuity by the hundreds of thousands and pension?
Anyway, is he sure that he can protect himself?
There shouldn't be any NS anyway.
The fact that FT's don;t have to do it is CORRECT.
The fact that local boys have to do it is WRONG.
It is not "unfair" that the FT's have to do it -- the judgement of "fairness" is confined to a context of whether something is right or wrong in the first place.
Equality? There is no such thing. So fucking get used to it. For e.g. if one Singaporean gets cancer, then should every Singaporean also get cancer so that everyone can be "equal"?
Wake the fuck up, and grow the fuck up lah!
Bro, shoot well in bed ok Liao.
Worse Singaporeans cannot even shoot straight due to the stress created by the papies.
Anyway NS is a farce.
Created jobs for those who cannot survive in the civil world.
Put you to torture and discipline you during active service to remind you who is the Master and who are the slaves.
Afterwards Reserve Service to keep you in check and have an axe over your head to remind you that you are under their mercy
Protecting your country is just a propagana. Protecting the assets of the rulers is the bloodly truth. We are descendants of immigrants, we go anywhere that offers peace not stay in a place that want us to do silly things like protecting assets of some shitty rulers. We love peace and freedom and thats deep in our genes and thats the reason our forefathers risked their lives to come here. THey did not risk just to come here to be imprisoned by another stupid evil greedy regime.
Why need NS when anyone without any experience can operate an automatic gun and killing many without any training? We are not living in stone age. Weapons these days do not even need humans to operate.
Redbean, your first paragraph described accurately what I had gone thro when I was enlisted in Oct 1970. We camped and slept at the cemetery in CCK area before, and also, we had to do guard duty after midnight while others slept during the field camp.I don't know if NS men today still do this, eh?
In two weeks the sheeplike masses of any country can be worked up by the newspapers into such a state of
excited fury that men are prepared to put on uniforms and kill and be killed, for the sake of the sordid ends of a FEW interested parties. Compulsory military service seems to me the most disgraceful symptom of that deficiency in personal dignity from which civilized
mankind is suffering today. (Albert Einstein, 1934)
"Why are the NSmen not complaining, or why are they complaining?"
Of course they are bitter and angry. But to add insult to injury, the PAP gave each of them $100 a short time ago, and made that into a big issue. My son felt insulted about that $100 - 'pui chow nuah' he said, or 'spit smelly saliva'.
STFORUM Online
[Don't rock the boat]
"The progress of our country is dependent on its people, which includes S'poreans and immigrants.
I hope the voters will realise this and not rock the boat
that is sailing smoothly.
B.H. Melwani"
http://www.straitstimes.com/premium/forum-letters/story/dont-rock-the-boat-20130208
TODAYonline
[MP apologises to Low for comment on hearing aid]
"...with Nee Soon GRC MP Lim Wee Kiak making a personal remark against WP chief Low Thia Khiang, for which he subsequently apologised."
http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/mp-apologises-low-comment-hearing-aid
TODAYonline
[Without growth, insufficient tax to meet needs: Wong Kan Seng]
"He is the 3rd former Cabinet member — after Goh Chok Tong and Mah Bow Tan — who stepped down after 2011, to weigh in on the White Paper debate and, like the others, it was his 1st Parliamentary speech since then."
http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/without-growth-insufficient-tax-meet-needs-wong-kan-seng
Voices, TODAYonline
[Invest in social cohesion, stem growth of new citizens]
"From Soon Sze Meng
I refer to the report, “White Paper to ensure a good quality of life, says DPM Teo” (Feb 5).
I agree with Mr Teo that some young S'poreans would inevitably choose to leave because of their economic calculations.
However, I also believe that many other young, mobile S'poreans would stay if they continue to feel that this is their country.
http://www.todayonline.com/voices/invest-social-cohesion-stem-growth-new-citizens
TheOnlineCitizen
[Population growth: Losing the debate with an unsubstantiated case - By Gordon Lee]
"Recent days have seen much scaremongering by politicians, businesses and the mainstream media about perils of calling bluff on the Govt’s Population White Paper.
But with the best of efforts to assuage the growing sense of apprehension over the targeted 30% increase..
the Govt is clearly losing the debate.
This is no surprise considering the economic evidence against them, and the fact that the Govt has offered no support for their position."
http://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2013/02/population-growth-losing-debate-unsubstantiated-case/
Bro, see jack neo's movie from boys to men.
Got show how we are tekan by tiger Hong and his few good men.
Bring cupboard to parade square for failing stand by bed.
The first few batches of us compulsory active men suffered the most with such tortue and lousy facilities
@virgo 49:
Kena tekan, sure. But at least everybody kena tekan sooner or later.
Have to admit, the immorality of being FORCED by the state to serve NS notwithstanding, NS was also a lot of FUN lah.
I used to bang SAF girls on CO's and Inche's desks. Plus I was making an extra $1-2 grand a month playing poker and blackjack, get rolling drunk during guard duty, give assholes "blanket party", and play pranks on each other. Go to range at Bukit Timah -- pretend to "miss" target and shoot monkeys...alamak, damn cruel, but at that time damn fun!
Dun tarnish the image of SAF lah.
How to bang SAF girls on Inche and CO's desk .Bt Timah target range got monkeys for you to anyhow shoot?Might as well say you shoot in the sky on birds.Get drunk on guard duty?Kenna lock up in guard room why never say.You CO or Inche?suka suka?Dun Chong the lau peng here leh.Go and chong the kid at HV maybe they believe.
This guy is full of wild imaginations to boost his own ego. Another ego trip.
Lucky only one matilah soldier, if he had led or influenced the platoon, maybe Sg could have been under a Marshall Regime.
Anyway, he seemed impotent, impotent in the sense of influence lah. So, please do not read too deep.
You all believe what you want to believe lah. This was the SAF of the 1970's. Can suka suka. Anything goes.
Occasionally on duty, I used to give my uniform to my private, pay him $10 and get him to sign logbooks so that I could go Odeon or Capitol so see movie and sebok and rabah my gur-fren.
A ka liau with RP/ MP at gate. I tapau makan for them and belanja Elephant Beer and stout.
Please lah. NS can be fun too!
If only our soldiers are trained by mr matilah, there is no need for them to carry weapons. All the enemy fighters will become frens in 3 minutes on meeting each other.
The other possibility is, he offers himself to the enemy.
Don't bullshit lah. The walls have eyes and ears and you won't be able to get away with such outrageous acts lah. You want to bluff who?
@anon 629
On the contrary. I fully support the use and carrying of not just weapons, but LOADED weapons.
For e.g. when I was chosen to do pay escort detail, we were issued 5 rounds of ammo. I used to chamber one round, safety on, ready to fire on anyone who would dare to rob the pay of my comrades in arms. Fuck. I couldn't wait to shoot someone who deserved to be shot. (Mentality of a testosterone fueled teenager with an automatic weapon)
Another time, we arrested a Norwegian vessel suspected of harbouring Vietnamese refugees. My post: GPMG, lovely 7.62 calibre, can cut a human in half. My weapon is trained on people on the ship's deck, round in chamber, safety on, ready to fire anytime.
@anon 858:
>> you won't be able to get away with such outrageous acts lah
Yes, I agree. Fact is, I did :-) Which is why I say, NS can be fun too, if you're willing to break the rules, conspire with like-minded brothers, and suka-suka to the limit!
Agree, me used to offer loans to the mostly Regular training NCOs.
They in turns gave lots of reasons to avoid and refuse to pay back the installments. Me paid them visits to at their homes and they paid up. A few paid up only after negotiations.
As NS conscript, it is important to 'help' anyone higher in rank and have them mindful of repercussions and possible problems from your 'helps'.
It will be excellent if You can keep them wanting or need more of your 'helps'.
Their (higher)ranks will be rendered impotent and useless.
Try it if You are doing NS or going to.
A tip for You to use; get those married seniors or with fiance some girls to flirt, once they do, they will be afraid to ill treat You. Better still if You can get close to their spouses and fiancees. Make them(seniors) feel they may lose their partners to You. You surely will be treated very well with no corruption involved.
Wah!
Can Matilah offers some tips to handle and deal with officers?
@anon 217
"Officers" are just people, albeit with more power than you kooli-kang.
Dealing with people is an art and a collection of learned and constantly improving skills.
However the Number 1 person you need to "conquer" is firstly your own lousy, deluded, fear driven, fucked up SELF.
Once you can get over your own sense of self-importance, dealing with the most difficult or challenging examples of our species is a piece of cake.
Got self esteem and self confidence?
We are pleased to present charming, sexy, beautiful, young and hot escorts in New Delhi,please visit on.
http://www.delhiescortgirlz.com/delhi-escort-girl.php
Post a Comment