Fri 26 May 2006
So they’ve denied Ike See deferment of NS to go study the violin in one of the best music schools in the world.
And Singapore wants to be an international arts hub? Go figure. This whole deal really upsets me because being the age I am, most of my friends have already gone through or are going through National Service and I can’t see what’s so dadblamed important about it that they should deny a world-class talent his chance at world-class education just so he can rub camou stick on his face and run around the jungle eating frogs.
As Michael Phelps (19-year-old winner of eight Olympic swimming medals) put it most succintly: “Phew, thank God I’m not Singaporean. I’d be shooting blanks instead of breaking world records.”
What really, really pisses me off is that the gahrermen readily hands out dispensations and deferments to their own scholars to go study abroad – I have quite a few friends who did this, including my own cousin – but won’t allow Ike to defer his own NS.
“Min*def is prepared to grant deferment to pursue university studies under very exceptional circumstances. Such cases are rare and can only be considered when there are exceptionally strong reasons.”
-Col Benedict*Lim, Min*def
Oh please. That’s a bare-faced lie. It’s not rare at all.
They talk a lot about nurturing talent and encouraging creativity because Singapore aspires to be a regional if not international arts center. Ha. HAHAHA. WHAT FRICKIN’ IRONY.
I can’t believe they’re standing firm on this. Consider this:
What is Ike’s value to Singapore as a world-class young violinist who is so damn good he received an unanimous 12-judge vote from the auditioners at Curtis Music School – the best music school in the whole world?
Compare that to Ike’s value to Singapore as a bored, uninspired NSman – of whom we have so many.
We’ve got tens of thousands of NS drones already. We aren’t in dire need of Ike’s ability to hold a gun.
I hope Ike gets out of Singapore before it completely stifles his talent. Go! Leave this suffocating place. I have no talent to quash or NS to quash it with so I have no real impetus to leave – but you, Ike, you deserve a heck of a lot better than this.
Read the Min*def reply and assorted other comments at:
Mr Wang Bakes Good Karma
Singapore’s very strict on NS. Consider how the court banned all Jehovah Witness’ materials and forbade them to have fellowship because they refused to serve NS. They even had surprise checks on them!
NS is a load of shite.
Considering how watered down it is now after people kept dying, I’m not really sure what it is other than a token show of (implied) strength.
Jobeth, you’re wrong. The deferments handed out for scholarships are only applicable to government scholarships, which include bonds, which means the men are legally required to return and serve their country (in NS) and then their country (in work). Ike See will have no such commitment if he is granted a deferment, apart from the monetary bond he’d have to post. Allowing him to leave the country at this point would be a mistake. Non-scholars are not granted deferment either; I have plenty of bright friends who were given places in universities overseas who had to serve out their entire NS term first. Ike is no different.
Granting Ike deferment would in this case be setting a very bad precedent for all other of-age Singaporean boys. If Ike can be granted deferment to pursue higher education, which is a “want” rather than a “need”, then what about the boys who are the sole breadwinners in their families? What about the boys who are already fathers and need to support their wives and children? There’s a whole slew of reasons why someone might be granted deferment under such emotional logic, but there is no room for such argument. Either you hold fast to the law, or you throw it out the window.
Singapore is very strict about NS, and rightfully so. Without NS we’d be sitting ducks. Oh, I have no illusions about our NSFs being of any real use on the battlefield, but the SAF does serve as a very strong deterrent against foreign military powers thinking to expand their borders just by a little bit. Much as I hate to admit it, we need the SAF, we need NS, and we need the NS policy to be strict.
Jobeth, you ask about Ike’s value as a bored, uninspired NSF. The answer is none, of course, except perhaps as potential cannon fodder. But what is his value as a symbol, if he is granted deferment? Too great for MINDEF to ignore, certainly.
If Ike’s really that talented, he’ll have no trouble getting Curtis to keep a place for him for 2 years, or getting into another good music school after he’s completed his NS. Don’t cheapen his talent by arguing that he’s only got this one chance to make it in life.
As for Jehovah’s Witnesses, the problem runs deeper than that. It’s not simply that they refuse to serve NS, but their dogma prevents them from even pledging allegiance to Singapore. JWs are a liability to our nation. In any case, the JWs are happy to make their “martyr” stand for their beliefs, and they’ve found a useful place in SAFDB where they can serve their country without being bound by such silly things as commitment, patriotism, and loyalty. Don’t waste your pity on them.
I really hate to have to defend our government’s actions in this way, but all your arguments here are way off base.
Btw, Michael Phelps’ remark is a great example of exactly what NS is not about: self.
I hated BMT, I hated most of my MP training, I enjoyed DB life but I look back at my entire time in the army as wasted years in my life. Sure. But I also see them as very necessary wasted years. I don’t like having to serve my country is this particular regard, but I acknowledge the necessity of it.
Arrogant prats who think they’re too good for the system and that they’re too precious to fulfill their constitutional duty have no place in our society.
You win a prize for longest comment evar!
No, I win a prize for completely pwning your blog post!
Well I do think it’s different. We have architects and doctors and lawyers in plenty. How many world-class violinists do we have?
I know there is a precedent and that NS is ‘important’ but surely they can work out some other solution than be bull-headed about it and stop at ‘No’.
They bring in foreign talent in droves but ignore local talents.
Singapore is still too science-minded despite its pathetic attempts to shore up the arts front.
We need architects and doctors and lawyers. How many world-class violinists do we need?
This isn’t a policy I necessarily agree with, but Singapore has always been nothing but pragmatic. Their decision here makes complete sense.
I’m not happy about the foreign talent thing either, but that’s a completely separate issue.
I think it is a fight between PERSONAL ASPIRATION vs THE GREATER GOOD OF THE NATION. Personally i think this issue is laughable. We have moved into a new era of modern warfare that do not need a huge base of soldiers. Witness how the US subdue Iraq and Afghanistan. By the time the soldiers and special forces enter the nation, almost half of the country’s resistance is gone due to aerial bombing and other sophisticated weapon. Even if a foreign nation would invade Spore, what can the army do other than wait for the help of their allies? Come on and be real……it is almost impossible to defend Spore or even any country in this modern world from a full frontal invasion.
So, why do we need another NS man in Ike See? His talent would be better used to promote Spore in the music arena. I am sure the government is capable of coming up with a similar bond for Ike See type of students. Just make him legally bonded to come back and serve NS later. If he doesn’t, then the government can sue him until he becomes a bankrupt (sorry the pun).
In the end, it boils down to one question; do you want forced loyalty or true loyalty to the country?
PS. To Ketsugi, i doubt Ike See would have such fabulous chance again after NS. I am not belittling his talent but i feel that one must be realistic. If he can reach for the stars now and maximise his potential, why delay it for 2 years and end up in a less prestigious music school and less chance to succeed? Timing is always the fine line between a true genius or another “so-so” genius.
Yes, I do understand S’pore’s stand on NS and their bull-doggedness in sticking to policy.
Completely agree with Jason.
Yeah, perhaps they could create a bond-type thingy for people like Ike. I’m sure he’ll gladly come back to ’serve’ Singapore if they give him leeway to defer NS and finish his studies first.
I agree that this should be the case, and hopefully the government should take it into consideration. With any luck such a policy should be implemented within a few years.
My point is that under current law this is not doable, and as Ike See’s case falls under current law, there is no provision for an exception to be made for him without breaking the law. Laws cannot be changed on a whim. Well, they shouldn’t be, anyway. And I honestly don’t believe the government would or should consider making an exception for him at this point; one person’s personal aspirations are NOT worth sacrificing our NS policy for.
The only reason why the government is doing so is because this case has come so soon after the Melvyn Tan issue. If this happened later, I doubt there would be so much furor over the issue. Too many Singaporeans feel that if Ike See were to go overseas, he probably won’t come back.
Ketsugi, have you ever watched Daejanggum, the Korean show where aristocratic ‘Yangban’ rules clashed with the Protagonist who basically broke almost every rule there was to break in the Palace, eventually to become Korea’s very first and only female King’s Physician?
Narrow-minded folks like you belong to the 15th century patriarchial system – As a parent of a young child myself, I shudder to imagine the likes of you governing the country in which my son will grow up in. If what you have argued is correct, then LKY must have wasted his time making higher education important and accessible to many of us since it is only a “want” not a “need”. Your narrow-mindedness has also made you fail to realise that exceptional talents like Phelps can do as much if not more for his own country than a bunch of soldiers welding guns in the battlefield…
And your comment about “how many world-class violinists do we need” is insensitive and totally misses the mark. It is precisely because we only have this one world-class violinist-in-the-making that we should not stifle him with unbendable rules!
Wrong. YOU have completely missed the point. My contention is not that the system is perfect; rather, I am completely in agreement that in an ideal situation, Ike See would be allowed to pursue this excellent opportunity and (hopefully) do Singapore much credit in doing so.
However, the problem is that the current system does not allow for that. Within the confines of the system, it is impossible to expect Ike to be granted this exception and we should understand why the government makes this decision even if we don’t agree with it.
(Btw I’m a violinist too, and I would love to see a much more culture-friendly environment in Singapore.)
Trust me, I’m not establishmentarian. I would love to see the PAP overthrown and replaced with a more people-oriented government. But I’m also pragmatic enough to see that that is not going to happen anytime soon, and I’m just going to make the best of what’s available.
perhaps the problem is not so much in the principle of it, but rather that the ones who run the show cant think of a feasible way to make National Service more equitable. but I pray Ike See wont give up on his music even if he had to give up his chances to enter curtis
Ya, Ike don’t see, but we will all be “gek see” by Mindef. Old aunty will be the first to “see”. Running out of breath talking to the mean and deaf. Any country in the world will want to grab our Ike See! I heard that in China, if you are good in something like sports or music, the government will just let you do that…. focus and concentrate. No wonder China has world class atheletes and sportsmen.
We are not even asking for exemption…. only DEFERMENT.
I think i’m a bit late here, because I just remembered this piece of news while doing my chinese composition just now. But hell, I still want to say my two cents’ worth.
ketsugi, you mentioned that Ike will not have trouble asking Curtis to reserve a place for him so that he still can join the school after two years.
Now, I would like you to re-consider the legitimacy of this statement.
Firstly, being a musician myself ( in the past ), I know how it is like to study this abstract subject. You have to keep practising and learning new moves / notes / pieces in order to improve. It is something like sports. If you don’t practise, your standard will gradually drop. Especially in Ike’s case, 2 years is a very long time and during this period when he has competely lost touch with his mentor and instrument, it is highly likely that he will be ‘rusty’ in terms of skill and technique. Perhaps his memory would fail him too.
So would the most presitigious music school in the world accept a student whose standard has dropped? And why should they reserve a place for him when there are thousands of other students around the world who are competing for a place in Curtis as well, their standard possibly much better than Ike’s after he graduates from NS in two years?
Yes, you may say that Ike can apply for a place at another music school. But considering his exceptional talent, why waste his talent at a school which might not be able to develop his full potential. Just like in sports, a good footballer would definitely choose to go to a prestigious, or best club, like Barcelona, Arsenal, Chelsea, to name a few, which can offer him first-team places and win competitions. Similarly, the best musician would go to the best school to study the best materials in the best environment.
Furthermore, Ike is merely applying for a deferment, which means he has no intention of abstaining himself from NS. Okay, you may say we cannot be 100% sure, but if the Government is afraid that this issue would evolve into another Mervyn Tan saga, why not increase the bond, just to serve as a reminder for Ike to come back to Singapore after he graduates from Curtis?
One must remember that Ike does not come from a rich family, so it would be hard on his family to pay such a large amount should Ike decide not to return. So he will DEFINITELY come back after his studies.
I don’t see why he should be deprived of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to study at the best school in the world. To think that I will be attending NS in 2 years time, it surely casts a doubt over my future. If I work so hard for a prestigious scholarship and then the Government decides not to let me further my studies, I wonder whether I should have worked hard in the first place.
Opportunities are limited in Singapore, and the world is so much bigger out there!
Sign this petition for Ike if you support him. :)
http://www.petitiononline.com/ike_see/petition.html
Hi ketsugi, id like to see you play the violin and GET INTO A WORLD CLASS MUSIC CONSERVERTORY. ah heck it, anyone can play the violin even I CAN but question is, CAN YOU PLAY AS WELL AS HIM TO BE OFFERED A PLACE? NONONONONONO. dream on cause if you can, the i’ll be in hollywood acting co star with brad pitt.