kops21 SG he should be jailed for AWOS as well. just because he is some celebrity that why he is giving special treatment.
[email protected] SG who what how? don't u know some people are more equal than others? say if u give up singapore citizenship and become a citizen or permanent resident elsewhere, are u still obliged to serve NS? Also I'm wondering, where is the morality of serving a master whom you do not believe in? just some interesting questions with even more interesting answers.
kops21 SG 2day sundaytimes main page about this famous pianist, run after for 28 years. come back pay fine and do a show at esplande. what is $ to this famous pianist? PEANUTS
lwflee SG That is damn terrible. I once picked up this late 20s to early 30s malay guy from DB for failing to attend IPPT repeatedly. He was a sad sight.
[email protected] SG hmm... well maybe the govt recognise now his talents are put to better use in the cultural world. like i was asking, whats the morality in serving a cause u do not believe in?
[email protected] SG i must say if i am him I won’t even bother to come back. Singapore dun appreciate me, then they don’t deserve me.
[email protected] SG what if? all the what ifs. if there is a war, then say lah. if there is a war then come back to die also not too late right? the govt dunno how to appreciate their people, don't expect the people to think the govt deserves them. this has gone beyond the "ask not what your country can do for u" logic anymore. The question is, where is the morality in serving a cause you do not believe in? If u're an Iraqi and Mr Saddam comes on national TV saying USA going to attack Iraq so u should go fight for your country, would u?
[email protected] SG The thing is, Singapore so desperately wants to become cultured, produce our own cultural artists etc. But I bet u Mozart, Chopin, Bach all never had to serve in the military. Some people are more suited for the military, others aren’t. Put people to do what they do best instead of misusing talent in such a wasteful and blatently stupid way.
dragg SG shouldnt he be treated as a deserter? knn just because he is a pianist he gets special treatment? double standard at its best!!!!
iveco SG If that guy is musically talented, he could have gone to MDC if he allowed himself to be drafted.
[email protected] SG the topic is a bit ambigious here. Did he not do reservist or did he not do NS? Anyways, the govt is in a forgiving mood. Maybe they realises their draconian ways have been keeping local cultural talents away from home, and now they want to rectify this error.
[email protected] SG in any case all of u can cry foul here, but the govt never listens b4, they aren't about to do so now. Accept it because there is NOTHING else u can do. nothing that's not in vain anyway. your choice for choosing to serve a cause not worthy. u can't blame the pianist for getting a fine only can u? U can only blame the very cause u serve.
Rhonda SG I'm wondering if he has connections that helped to oil the gears for him, so to speak. It isn't fair, to be honest, cause now that he has set an 'example', people will realise that they can pull a copycat stunt as well. I mean, it's just a monetary fine, that's hardly a deterrance for some folks. I can imagine parents sending their precious sons off to escape NS and gladly paying the fine.
[email protected] SG Actually it depends on a case by case basis. I'd say, in this pianist's case: "After he finished his course, he stayed on in England to study at the Royal College of Music instead of coming home to serve national service in 1977. He said: 'When I was at the Royal College and I got my final call-up, I was just on the brink of starting a career. I thought about it and thought about it and realised that I was not going to get this chance again." Do u seriously think he should abandon all chance at stardom and come back? I mean, we DO want some proper cultural personalities in singapore don't we? Or do we really just want half baked ones who came back and never quite managed to take off again?
Rhonda SG There are many guys serving NS who made personal sacrifices too. No doubt these are your guys who don't gain stardom in their careers but IMO, taking three years out can be pretty disruptive to your career, in a way. Just because he happens to have 'made it big' doesn't mean that those who wouldn't have 'made it big' have to go through the national service that he got out of.
[email protected] SG Well so u're saying he should have came back and given up the chance of having a sterling career in music? Rhon given that IF u had to make that choice back then, would u have come back then? Can u instantly say for sure u would definately come back? Its so easy to make 'correct' judgements when we're not in their shoes. We're not talking about a disruption to the career in his case. We're talking about his career never happening. That sort of choice. Never an easy decision. And honestly, no right or wrong really. But it would be a pity if he had returned for NS, in my opinion.
