http://comment.straitstimes.com/showthread.php?t=23193
ST Discussion
Board, 8 Aug 2009
How do I love Singapore? Let me count
the ways
Posted by: Shutruk_N
Today, 10:31 AM
I too, wish to take this opportunity as our
country celebrates 50 years after shedding its colonial shackles
and 44 years of nationhood, to pay tribute to my fellow
Singaporeans who contributed much to making Singapore what it is
today.
I am specifically referring to those who answered the call from the
country (not that we had any choice since it was compulsory
military conscription) to serve Singapore in National Service
during the initial years since its inception. We gave two to two
and a half years of the best years of our lives to the defense of
our country and many of us came away being permanent physical and
mentally damaged as a result. We trained under Israeli “military
advisors” and led by the mentally incompetent who extracted
pleasure in subjecting abuse to those under them. How many of us
came away permanent hearing loss because we were not allowed
hearing protection when we operated our firearms and we derided as
being sissy when we cupped our hands over our ears when we served a
firing assistants. How of many further sacrificed when we served 5
in-camp-trainings over 4 calendar years when there was a desperate
need to ramp-up the reservist divisions to counter potential
external threats – much to the displeasure of our employers. How of
us then were called again to serve a second round of reservists
either in the SAF or SCDF when we were told that we possessed
certain skills or knowledge which were needed. And
then there were our wives and girlfriends, who suffered with us –
waiting late into the night to receive a phone call from us while
we queued to make a call from the only public phone located in the
cookhouse. Who bored our frustrations, our pain and distress during
the short weekends when we could spend with them – and at many
times, we were too physical drained and tired to be any meaningful
company to them. At the end of it all – how many you felt cheated when
we did all of this for our country and when we turned 50, did not
receive an acknowledgment, or a single “thank you” from an
ungrateful government as we were discharged from further reservist
liability.
And so as we prepare to celebrate this National Day, I say – cheers
to you all. But for those citizens of Singapore who answered our
government’s invitation to take up citizenship in our fine land and
are lapping up the infrastructure and trimmings of an economy which
my fellow Singaporeans made possible through our sacrifices – I say
“good for you”
BUT
don’t you dare call yourself Singaporeans – because you did not
shed sweat and blood alongside me for those two and half years and
your women did not suffer as ours did when they waited alongside us
during those years, and nursed us from our physical and mental
injuries after it was all over. Those of you with
your university degrees and your skills which our government tried
hard to convince us will help Singapore to survive in a competitive
quagmire –
how many of you will take the first plane out when
things begin to turn sour. I had the privilege of serving when men
who are durian sellers, goring pisang hawkers and even 4D runners –
but I will tell you that these men will fight and die for Singapore
if the need arises. But you, our new found fellow Singapore
citizens – not so I think.
Majullah Singapura!