Be a world-beating S'porean, Mr Brown posted on Tuesday, January 24, 2006
I wish to congratulate our President for the adjustment to his salary to $2,507,200, an increase from the last adjustment in February last year.
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I really feel Mr President deserved it. And it is also a good sign for all Singaporeans because it was done in view of "higher projected bonuses", which is the case because the economy has performed better than expected.
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I am sure many Singaporeans are looking forward to adjustments to their salaries too.
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It is a good time to be in Singapore. The headlines are carrying good news.
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COE prices are at all-time lows. Consumer confidence is up. Low-wage earners are getting $1 billion in help. Our foreign trade hit a record of $712 billion. Low-wage workers will be getting a housing grant to help them own flats. Even Buangkok Station has opened — rejoice!
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Other good news includes stiffer penalties for National Service (NS) evaders.
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Hey, every Singapore male should experience fond memories of NS camaraderie. Don't think of it as tougher sentences, think of it as encouragement to partake of nation-building.
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Sure, there are some who think that we should allow NS to be served in other non-military forms, if people have other talents such as piano playing and scientific research.
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I agree wholeheartedly! Singaporeans who are world-beaters (our latest buzzword) in piano playing should be allowed to serve their NS in their area of talent.
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I don't think we should let all that world-beating talent go to waste. The young fellow can serve his NS days playing piano.
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It will be good for the morale of his comrades if he plays in the rest period between the 24km route march and the four-day field exercise (without a shower).
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I recently read a letter in the press written by a young man who has a Thai father and Singaporean mother.
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The writer, Pavin Limanont, who is one year away from serving his NS, said that he has plans to emigrate to the United States.
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He grew up watching American movies and cartoons, and listening to American country music.
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His paternal aunts and uncles are Ivy League students who "speak with a slight American accent and use American grammar in speech". He has plans to renounce his Singapore citizenship and hang on to his Thai one.
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Given all these factors, and also that he feels no allegiance to Singapore, Pavin suggested that those who plan to emigrate, like himself, should be allowed to opt out of NS.
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After all, he argues, if war breaks out between the US and Singapore after he has made the US his new home, he will defend the US and fight against Singapore if necessary.
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Wah! Strong words indeed. I too grew up on American movies and cartoons, and did listen to some American country and gospel music. In fact, I believe there are only two kinds of music worth listening to: Country and Western.
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And sometimes, I even speak with a slight American accent when I am around Westerners. I got that from my paternal aunts and uncles, who let me watch American TV shows at their homes whenever I visited. So sometimes, when I am not paying attention, I roll my "r"s and speak with a nasal drawl.
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Too bad, both my parents are Singaporeans. So I cannot make as strong a case as Pavin. I wish him all the best in convincing the Government to allow young people who plan to emigrate the choice to opt out of NS.
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No, really, I hope he gets to opt out. Because it is not a good way to start NS after declaring in the papers that you would fight against Singapore in a war.
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There was a banner ad above that letter when I read it online. It was an ad for getting a US Green Card. I am sure that was unintended, but I thought it was quite funny and apt. (Incidentally, I just checked and the banner ad is not there any more.)
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In Singapore, you have to be 21 before you can renounce your citizenship. But by that time, you would have served NS.
-
Maybe, parents who want to avoid that can fly to another country just one month before their kid is due to be born. Some enterprising businessman can set up a Choose Your Own Citizenship Tour package for these parents.
-
The only hiccup I can foresee is that most airlines will not let heavily pregnant women fly. So, I think you will have to choose a country near by. Somewhere you can drive to — like Malaysia or Thailand.
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On a totally unrelated note, Singapore's blood banks need you. They are running very low on blood supplies, to the extent that elective surgeries are being postponed. So give blood, people!
-
I remember giving blood as a child and how fun it was. You always got some hot Milo and some biscuits to eat. As well as a packet of iron pills.
-
In JC, when there were blood drives, the boys had to ensure that they showed courage, since there were girls present. Guys had to pretend they were not afraid of the needle. Fainting from a blood donation was social suicide.
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But really, don't be afraid. Donating blood is easy and a good thing to do. As long as you are above 18 and healthy, you can give blood. If you do go, get a few more packets of biscuits for me, can? I miss eating those.
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Thanks y'all, mighty kind of yer.
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mr brown is the accidental author of a popular website that has been documenting the dysfunctional side of Singapore life since 1997. He thinks Johnny Cash is da bomb
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http://www.todayonline.com/articles/96314.asp
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Serve your NS proudly, roll your 'r's when convenient
I wish to congratulate our President for the adjustment to his salary to $2,507,200, an increase from the last adjustment in February last year.
-
I really feel Mr President deserved it. And it is also a good sign for all Singaporeans because it was done in view of "higher projected bonuses", which is the case because the economy has performed better than expected.
-
I am sure many Singaporeans are looking forward to adjustments to their salaries too.
-
It is a good time to be in Singapore. The headlines are carrying good news.
-
COE prices are at all-time lows. Consumer confidence is up. Low-wage earners are getting $1 billion in help. Our foreign trade hit a record of $712 billion. Low-wage workers will be getting a housing grant to help them own flats. Even Buangkok Station has opened — rejoice!
-
Other good news includes stiffer penalties for National Service (NS) evaders.
-
Hey, every Singapore male should experience fond memories of NS camaraderie. Don't think of it as tougher sentences, think of it as encouragement to partake of nation-building.
-
Sure, there are some who think that we should allow NS to be served in other non-military forms, if people have other talents such as piano playing and scientific research.
-
I agree wholeheartedly! Singaporeans who are world-beaters (our latest buzzword) in piano playing should be allowed to serve their NS in their area of talent.
-
I don't think we should let all that world-beating talent go to waste. The young fellow can serve his NS days playing piano.
-
It will be good for the morale of his comrades if he plays in the rest period between the 24km route march and the four-day field exercise (without a shower).
-
I recently read a letter in the press written by a young man who has a Thai father and Singaporean mother.
-
The writer, Pavin Limanont, who is one year away from serving his NS, said that he has plans to emigrate to the United States.
-
He grew up watching American movies and cartoons, and listening to American country music.
-
His paternal aunts and uncles are Ivy League students who "speak with a slight American accent and use American grammar in speech". He has plans to renounce his Singapore citizenship and hang on to his Thai one.
-
Given all these factors, and also that he feels no allegiance to Singapore, Pavin suggested that those who plan to emigrate, like himself, should be allowed to opt out of NS.
-
After all, he argues, if war breaks out between the US and Singapore after he has made the US his new home, he will defend the US and fight against Singapore if necessary.
-
Wah! Strong words indeed. I too grew up on American movies and cartoons, and did listen to some American country and gospel music. In fact, I believe there are only two kinds of music worth listening to: Country and Western.
-
And sometimes, I even speak with a slight American accent when I am around Westerners. I got that from my paternal aunts and uncles, who let me watch American TV shows at their homes whenever I visited. So sometimes, when I am not paying attention, I roll my "r"s and speak with a nasal drawl.
-
Too bad, both my parents are Singaporeans. So I cannot make as strong a case as Pavin. I wish him all the best in convincing the Government to allow young people who plan to emigrate the choice to opt out of NS.
-
No, really, I hope he gets to opt out. Because it is not a good way to start NS after declaring in the papers that you would fight against Singapore in a war.
-
There was a banner ad above that letter when I read it online. It was an ad for getting a US Green Card. I am sure that was unintended, but I thought it was quite funny and apt. (Incidentally, I just checked and the banner ad is not there any more.)
-
In Singapore, you have to be 21 before you can renounce your citizenship. But by that time, you would have served NS.
-
Maybe, parents who want to avoid that can fly to another country just one month before their kid is due to be born. Some enterprising businessman can set up a Choose Your Own Citizenship Tour package for these parents.
-
The only hiccup I can foresee is that most airlines will not let heavily pregnant women fly. So, I think you will have to choose a country near by. Somewhere you can drive to — like Malaysia or Thailand.
-
On a totally unrelated note, Singapore's blood banks need you. They are running very low on blood supplies, to the extent that elective surgeries are being postponed. So give blood, people!
-
I remember giving blood as a child and how fun it was. You always got some hot Milo and some biscuits to eat. As well as a packet of iron pills.
-
In JC, when there were blood drives, the boys had to ensure that they showed courage, since there were girls present. Guys had to pretend they were not afraid of the needle. Fainting from a blood donation was social suicide.
-
But really, don't be afraid. Donating blood is easy and a good thing to do. As long as you are above 18 and healthy, you can give blood. If you do go, get a few more packets of biscuits for me, can? I miss eating those.
-
Thanks y'all, mighty kind of yer.
-
mr brown is the accidental author of a popular website that has been documenting the dysfunctional side of Singapore life since 1997. He thinks Johnny Cash is da bomb
-
http://www.todayonline.com/articles/96314.asp
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