Originally posted by BillyBong:
I have already addressed those points. I'm just not sure whether
you're listening.
A increased bond and stiffened criteria has already been imposed
after the Melvyn Tan case to deter people from defering in the
first place. Obviously that condition isn't enough for you, and you
choose to 'ignore' it. Therefore, i can safely say NO CONDITION is
enough for you since you blindly prefer to champion the NS cause
WITHOUT deferment, without even looking at potential merits on a
case by case basis. Do i need to 'jolt your memory' then? Or
haven't you convenienly ignored my points?
I also never concluded that Music > daily lives of average
singaporeans. Nor did i ever degrade such people as 2nd rate.
Parallel assumptions on your part then?
The only potential you have mentioned is to the arts scene.
However, how does it contribute to the operational capabilty of
SAF? I blindly champion the the NS cause WITHOUT deferment just
like you champion pursuing arts that is of NO VALUE to SAF
operational status. I will say we are both guilty of it. I did not
conclude that you say music > daily lives of average
singaporean. I was just asking you why is violin plucker's music
education more important than daily lives of average singaporean.
The fact that the regulations have been tightened to disallow any
more deferment, so why should violin plucker still carry on and try
his luck? Given the fact that his deferment has been rejected based
on the new regulations, why should his appeal to be approved (which
at this point have not been)?
Like you, I have addressed your points to as best an effort as I
can. It is just too bad we both see things in different
light.
Originally posted by BillyBong:
To have world class musicians, one has to be acknowledged as world
class first. Since we have no such institute and are far away from
establishing one, isn't it conceivable that we need musicians to
champion such a cause and establish a foundation before we even
talk about establishing a world-class institute to produce
'world-class' musicians?
This is a classic chicken and egg loop. Without one, you can't have
the other.
Nobody is questioning the need to establish a good music school
here and the need of musicians to do that. However, why should that
be of more important than maintaining the operational capability of
the country. Why can't violin plucker just shelved his education
(as required by law for him to do his NS) and go later.
Originally posted by BillyBong:
Stop sounding like a one-who-knows all. You speak with such hollow
conviction, its no wonder you are so gutless when it comes to
fighting on home soil.
Everyone is trained to fight based just behind a FEBA line at least
40km into enemy territory. SAF doctrine dictates that any fight
should take place on foreign land to attain a decisive result.
Anyone who served knows that.
Have you heard of the term 'pre-emptive strike'? If we're suddenly
taken unaware and have to fight an attritional retrograde war on
home ground while waiting for support from allies, are you going to
immediately concede defeat and throw down your arms in surrender?
If your mission is to 'fight to the last man', will you carry out
your mission in the face of hopeless odds?
I'll gladly share my foxhole with the 'plucky violinist' if he has
even a marginally better attitude than you.
I am not a know all, but at least I know what I need to do
during in times of war. If you view that as gutless, then I have
nothing more to say. You don't know well enough about my vocation.
To use us as an asset to fight in a foxhole is as what my brigade
commander, S3 and S2 have said during my NS and ICTs that amounts
to point where the sub-units have been overran. The doctrine which
you mentioned are applicable to infantry, guards and armour line
companies where the whole battlegroup fights together and it
doesn't applied to us. Like I said you are welcome to share your
foxhole with the violin plucker, that's not my problem. Just don't
grumble if he refuses to use the spade to help you dig the foxhole.
Originally posted by BillyBong:
Did he deliberately get his story published? Or, as with the Melvyn
Tan saga, did the ST choose to deliberately provide huge coverage
on their front page as a tactic to create a negative fallout form
the people (like yourself) to ultimately dissuade him from
deferment? A standard conditioning style that our media plays with
consistency every time a topic of national interest crops up?
Nobody except those involved knows whether did he delibrately
get his story published. However, he had a chance to stop it from
happening simply by just refusing to the interview. Why didn't he?
What ST is doing, and how they are doing it is not of my concern.
You should address that point to ST instead.
Originally posted by BillyBong:
One less fight man now = one more rifleman when he returns. Has
that ever crossed your mind?
If the SAF does not make MTV or music, then how do you explain the
exploits of the professional MDC arm of the SAF?
Until the appeal is answered, he has not 'failed' in his request.
It's up to the Ministry of Defence to decide his case.
Of course it has crossed my mind. That's why I say it is all
well and dainty if he returns. The fact is that if he is allow to
defer now, there will be an immediate decrease in a soldier. Name
me the MTVs which MDC has filmed and when and where was it aired as
I could have missed it. I would like to apologise for the mistake
on my part, I should have say that SAF's main business is to deter
aggressors. The MDC are there to provide entertainment to the
soldiers during BMT. Saw their show during BMT, the only thing that
caught my eyes was the girls not the actors nor the musicians.
Of course he has not 'failed' in his request, and if Mindef should
allow violin plucker to defer so be it. However, there must be a
reasonable explanation to the rest of us who have walked the talk.
Till then, I guess it is no point continuing this discussion, you
are entitled to your own views just as I am entitled to mine. It
has been a robust discussion. Thank you and have a nice day.
