Thursday, January 19, 2006

Singaporeans, grow up!

I reproduce the letter from Cheyenne Yee, that was printed in Today 19 January. I agree with the views expressed in the letter. We need to mature as a society.

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SORRY FOR THE INCONVENIENCE

Dear Mervyn Tan,

I pity you.

I pity you because you were born in a country where we would rather see you in jail than embrace your talent. Although you left the country and renounced your citizenship, we still want you to pay for an offence you commited almost 20 years ago.

You did not go through the same suffering as we did, and maybe we bear a grudge against people like you. We will not forgive you since we are not mature enough.

Maybe if you were a woman, it would be easier since women in Singapore do not serve National Service (NS). It is okay for them not to do it. But it is not okay for you. You have no choice.

The moment you are born male here, you have to serve NS even if your family decided to raise you elsewhere - even if you have few memories of this place, and no longer have a sense of belonging here. Sounds illogical, but this is how we work.

So, stay away. We really do not want you back. Even if you are world-famous. Come back ony when we grow up.

Cheyenne Yee

2 comments:

Ronin said...

I disagree with her (sarcastic) view. The current laws let off NS dodgers lightly and make a mockery of enlistment.

We have to ask ourselves Meryvn's intention of visiting S'pore. His main objective was to visit his grandparents who are too old to travel. He is talented, but is how is he contributing to Singapore? He is British and probably carries a British passport. He represents UK, rather than S'pore, whenever he performs.

What if he isn't a talent? Do we maintain 2 sets of NS law: one for commoners and the other for talents?

What is a few thousand dollars fine when the 2 years can be used to progress one's career. One can earn much more than the puny fine in 2 years' time. NS men are go AWOL for even 1 day are thrown into detenion barracks and the detention period is not counted towards the discharging of NS!! Mervyn dodged draft for decades!

If the government was to let dodgers off lightly, we might as well scrap NS. Why waste S'pore men's time if military defence is not important?

Ronin said...

Chey,

Maturity of a society and national defence are 2 separate issues. It is a mistake to lump the 2 together. Does metting out appropriate punishment for NS dodgers mean S'pore is an immature society? Obviously not.

Do you really believe Meryvn stepped foot on S'pore soil without first seeking legal advice? Do you you think an accomplished (and presumably wealthy) pianist will risk a jail-term by performing in S'pore? And you said he is "brave"? Get real!

His lawyer must have advised him and pointed out the precedent court cases concerning NS dodgers and the potential penalty. What is $3,000 compared to what he stand to make from a concert in S'pore? Also, did he travel to the little red dot just to perform for us? You are kidding yourself if you chose to believe so.

The issue here is NS-dodging. Meryvn's case happens to highlight the shortcomings of current laws. I have nothing against Meryvn. But I take issue with your attempt to whitewash his NS-dodging act simply because he is an accomplished pianist. Now, who is being myopic and immature?

I don't know what you are hearing, but I am not the least bit jealous of his accomplishment. I am happy and contented being who I am and what I do for a living. I didn't serve NS to be macho-man. I served simply because it is a service to the nation (and for selfish reason of protecting my loved ones should war erupt).

I hope you are enlightened.

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