Your Thoughts On National Service

I'll be gone for 2 weeks as I'm going to serve my National Service for 2 years. All Singaporean males are to serve the country.

So while I'm gone I'd like to hear from the community what National Service means to you.

For me National Service is a waste of time in my honest opinion. However, with this time I could lose 10kg so that I would be of acceptable weight. Also, National Service opens new doors in the form of career options for individuals, especially for those who are unable to find jobs elsewhere due to the economic downturn or other personal issues.

Okay see all of you in 2 weeks time and wish me luck!

 

I think it's wrongful for it to be compulsory. Whether it is stated as being 'honorable' or not, it is forced labour, which in my opinion is unethical, and contrary to ideals our of freedom.

 

Be glad you can serve your country and repay it for everything it has given to you

 

I didn't know singapore had conscription.

Norway has conscription too, for males, only it is 12 months instead of your 24.

Conscription isn't bad, if you like your country.

However, I must ask you. Is your country what you want? Are you satisfied there? If yes then I don't see a problem with it. If no, then I feel really sorry for you.

 

No offense to any of you americans who love your country but, i'm american, born in america, raised in america. I dont like america nor am I proud to be here.

 

Exactly my point of view Sniper, I am also from the US, and hating it.

 

Would you support something you hated?

 

No, why do you ask?

 

Curiosity, since you found out you are an idealist yesterday. Idealists have principles. Idealists would be less likely to support something they hate than the other 3 types.

Guardians - the biggest group - protect institutions and do what's expected of them. They are most likely to support something even if they personally hated it.

 

Why do you think I failed soc class?

I was unlucky enough to be pitted on the side I hate 6 out of the 8 debates we had.

 

The thing I'm noticing, is that the Guardian group is about 50% of the population. So in a democracy, they are the majority, and they are the ones in power.

Conclusion: democracy creates a country in which is built around tradition, and a sense of duty... I think national service is exactly that.

 

I'ma mastermind, I do stuff.

 

democracy does not necesarily create patriotism or nationalism, in fact, traditional right tend to value more money and wealth and are way less nationalistic.

 

I'm not saying the guardian group have no sense of proportion. I imagine they cover the traditional left just as much. One of the guardian's personality traits is big business -- the act of providing a service for the people, and providing employment for staff. Business can become the focus of tradition and duty.

 

Nation Service in my opinion should be a requirement for a lot of reasons. Although some people view it as wrong I think in a much bigger picture it serves a country as a whole. As for what Edruken said democracy doesn't value the wealthy.. Capitalism does. As for people who said they hate the United States and live here. I just want to know why exactly you hate this country so much?

 

quite correct, national service is not the only option to display patriotism. I dislike national service actually. A friend of mine enlisted and i haven't seen him since then. it's quite difficult since he was quite close.

 

There is also this:
you are in a state that is fueled completly by taxes and where the people make the politics, i dont think this means you owe it a great deal

 

Patriotism is just serving your country in any means you can, national service is a good way, and can give you military training to later support you in armed struggle.

 

As a civilian?

It shouldn't ever have to come to that.

 

As a socialist, I tend to see a wider scope, in my country, several socialst leaders have been assasinated by extreme right, and our demostrations tend to be suffocated by the police (At least before this government), we have to defend ourselves, so paramilitary training is always good, plus we need to be ready to undertake an armed revolution or to defend our country in the case of imperialistic intervention, another reason to at least take basic military training and maintain a good physical condition on all times.